“Oh!” moaned Arthur again.
“Be quiet, sir,” said Mr Temple more sternly. “Take away your hands. You are acting like a child.”
“But it hurts so!” moaned Arthur. “Oh! don’t touch it. I can’t bear it touched. Oh! oh! oh!”
“Tut! tut! tut!” ejaculated Mr Temple, as Dick caught his brother’s hand.
“I say, do have some pluck, Taff,” he whispered. “Of course it hurts, but it will soon be over.”
“Yes; it will soon be over,” assented Mr Temple, as with his sharp penknife he cut away the thin cord to which the hook was attached, and with it the remains of the bait.
“No, no! let it stop in till it comes out.”
“But it will not come out, you stupid fellow,” cried Dick.
“Of course not, my boy. It will only fester in your leg, and make it bad,” said Mr Temple.
“Oh! oh! oh!” moaned Arthur. “Don’t touch it. How it hurts! Couldn’t I take some medicine to make it come out?”