It was a very simple action, but it meant a great deal; and as the lad felt the quiet, firm pressure given to his fingers, he grew more and more, as he had expressed himself, sorry for the pain he had so inadvertently caused.
“Now, then,” said the doctor, as soon as he had closed the cabin door, “I ought to be very much obliged to you, Steve, for giving me something to keep my surgical lore from growing rusty.”
“Oh, I say!” cried the boy, “don’t talk like that, sir. There isn’t much the matter, is there?”
“Not much the matter! Why, you talked about broken ribs. Don’t you call that much the matter?”
“Oh, but—”
“Here, let’s see, patient. Don’t; I’ll do that.”
He pressed the boy back on to the locker, and then proceeded to make his examination, while Steve watched his face anxiously, trying to gather from the intent countenance whether he had sustained any serious injury.
“Hum! ha!” ejaculated the doctor, as he went on manipulating the boy’s chest, back, and ribs. “That hurt you?”
“Horribly, sir.”
“And that?”