"Item:--About fifty volumes of scientific books including the British Encyclopædia."
"My bet's lost!" This from the engineer while the first lieutenant smiled.
"Item:--A ram's head snuff box. Twisted horns, tips mounted with silver and cairngorm.
"Item:--A big Bible. It is very likely--
"'The big ha' Bible ance his father's pride.'"
Well, when the surgeon himself did appear, he certainly commanded respect. He was handsome as well as well-built. Indeed among the others he appeared a perfect Hercules as he undoubtedly was an athlete.
Englishmen cannot help admiring an athlete no matter what his nation may be. Then his uniform fitted him well. He appeared to have been melted and poured into it, while little Sneyd's seemed to have been put on with the aid of a hay fork.
The surgeon's smile was a winning one, and there was a quintessence of kindliness lying half asleep in his dark-blue eyes that was very pleasant to behold.
He saluted the first lieutenant most respectfully, and the two men shook hands.
"Glad you've come at last, Surgeon McTavish We shall be friends. You are, I hear, a man of scientific attainments, and I dabble in science myself a little."