"Like to remain with you? Well, you will have to send a file of soldiers with fixed bayonets to drive me away."
He laughed quite heartily, and said:
"We do not want you to go away. I am executive officer; Surgeon Kelley and Dr. Baxter, surgeon in charge, has commissioned me to say that if you wish to stay, he will have a room prepared for you. He hunted for you to say so in person, but is gone; now I await your decision. Shall I order you a room?"
"Surgeon Baxter! Why—what does he know about me?"
"Oh, Surgeon Baxter, two medical inspectors, and the surgeon of this ward were present this morning when you came in and took possession."
His black eyes twinkled, and he shook with laughter when I sat up, clasped my hands, and said:
"Oh, dear? Were they the men who were standing around Charlie? Why I had not dreamed of them being surgeons!"
"Did you not know by their shoulders traps?"
"Shoulderstraps? Do surgeons have shoulderstraps? I thought only officers wore them!"
"Well, surgeons are officers, and you can know by my shoulderstraps that
I am a surgeon."