“Bolted,” said Archie laconically.
“I don’t believe you,” said Minnie.
“What! and left two defenceless women at his mercy, sir? That won’t do; will it, Mary, my dear?”
“Well, then,” said Archie, “I should have called in old Sergeant Ripsy and a couple more men to hold him. Or why didn’t you give him a dose of something to send him to sleep? But I know. You got tight hold of the tooth and tugged it out.”
“How are you going to get tight hold of a savage’s tooth when you can see him ready to pull out his kris, and your hands are trembling like banana-leaves in a storm?”
“Well, I should have asked him to give me the kris to put away in case of accidents,” said Archie merrily.
“Ask a Malay to give you his head to put away in case of accidents!” cried the Doctor sarcastically. “No, sir; I took my courage in both hands and approached him.”
“Why, you were holding the instrument in one hand, sir,” said Archie merrily; and Minnie laughed.
“Ah, you are getting too sharp, sir,” cried the Doctor. “But I can tell you it was nervous work, and for a few minutes I felt sure that if I operated on him he would operate on me; and if I had thought of it at the time, I think I should have called in my wife to stand sentry with a revolver.”
“Oh dear me!” sighed Mrs Morley, as she drew some work out of her handbag.