“Can’t you let him know somehow?” I gasped, faintly.
“How can I? He’s busy packing up books.”
“Couldn’t you catch yourself in his fingers or something? I’m in a bad way.”
“I’ll see,” said the chain.
Presently I felt an awful tug at my neck, and I knew the chain had managed to entangle itself somehow with his fingers.
“Hullo!” I heard my master exclaim, “I mustn’t smash Charlie’s chain before I give it to him. I’d better put it and the watch away in my drawer till the morning. Heigho! it’ll be a sad day for me to-morrow!”
As he spoke he drew me from the pocket, and, disengaging the chain from his button-hole, he laid us both in a drawer and shut it up. I was in despair, and already was nearly swooning from weakness.
He had shut the drawer, and his hand was still on the knob, when all of a sudden he exclaimed,—
“By the way, I must wind it up, or it’ll stop!”
With what joy and relief I saw the drawer again opened, and felt myself taken out and wound up! Instantly new life seemed to infuse itself through my frame; my circulation revived, my nerves were strung again, and my drooping heart resumed its usual healthy throb. Little did my master think of the difference this winding up made to my health and comfort.