"It had better come out; but it is very tight in his 'ead," remarked my man. "If I only had a pair of champagne nippers, I would have it out in a trice."
"Could not you pull it out with a piece of string?"
"No, sir; could not get a purchase on it;" and with that remark my servant released the Kurd's head.
"What does he say?" said the sufferer, rather alarmed at our conversation in a language unknown to him, and the more particularly at the grave demeanour of my servant.
"He says that the tooth had better be extracted."
"Will it hurt much?" inquired the Kurd excitedly.
"Yes, a good deal."
This observation of mine appeared to afford great satisfaction to the Imaum and the Kurd's children.
"Have it out!" they all cried.
But their parent did not see the matter from his sons' point of view. He remarked in an indignant tone of voice,—