“I say, Crandall”—Stalky’s voice was tuned to a wholly foreign reverence.
“Well, what?”
“Suppose a chap found another chap croaking with diphtheria—all bunged up with it—and they stuck a tube in his throat and the chap sucked the stuff out, what would you say?”
“Um,” said Crandall, reflectively. “I’ve only heard of one case, and that was a doctor. He did it for a woman.”
“Oh, this wasn’t a woman. It was just a boy.”
“Makes it all the finer, then. It’s about the bravest thing a man can do. Why?”
“Oh, I heard of a chap doin’ it. That’s all.”
“Then he’s a brave man.”
“Would you funk it?”
“Ra-ather. Anybody would. Fancy dying of diphtheria in cold blood.”