Part 39 (1/2)
”Oh, Dr. Martin!”
”But not just to-night.”
”Oh, I knew it.”
”Not to-night,” I said. ”I don't know what the outcome may be, but it looks as bad as it well can.”
”Oh, that's all right,” cried Mandy cheerfully. Her burden of responsibility was lifted. Her care was gone. ”I knew it would be all right.”
”Well, whether it will or not I cannot say. But one thing I do know, you've got to trot off to sleep. Show me the ropes and then off you go.
Who runs this camp anyway?”
”Oh, the Chief does, Chief Trotting Wolf. I will call him,” cried Mandy.
”He has been very good to me. I will get him.” And she ran from the tent to find the Chief.
”Isn't she wonderful?” said Moira.
”Wonderful? I should say so. But she is played right out I can see,”
replied the doctor. ”I must get comfortable quarters for you both.”
”But do you not want some one?” said Moira. ”Do you not want me?”
”Do I want you?” echoed the doctor, looking at her as she stood in the glow of the westering sun s.h.i.+ning through the canvas tent. ”Do I want you?” he repeated with deliberate emphasis. ”Well, you can just bet that is just what I do want.”
A slight flush appeared on the girl's face.
”I mean,” she said hurriedly, ”cannot I be of some help?”
”Most certainly, most certainly,” said the doctor, noting the flush.
”Your help will be invaluable after a bit. But first you must get Mrs.
Cameron to sleep. She has been on this job, I understand, for three days. She is quite played out. And you, too, need sleep.”
”Oh, I am quite fit. I do not need sleep. I am quite ready to take my sister-in-law's place, that is, as far as I can. And you will surely need some one--to help you I mean.” The doctor's eyes were upon her face. Under his gaze her voice faltered. The glow of the sunset through the tent walls illumined her face with a wonderful radiance.
”Miss Moira,” said the doctor with abrupt vehemence, ”I wish I had the nerve to tell you just how much--”
”Hus.h.!.+” cried the girl, her glowing face suddenly pale, ”they are coming.”
”Here is the Chief, Dr. Martin,” cried Mandy, ushering in that stately individual. The doctor saluted the Chief in due form and said:
”Could we have another tent, Chief, for these ladies? Just beside this tent here, so that they can have a little sleep.”
The Chief grunted a doubtful acquiescence, but in due time a tent very much dilapidated was pitched upon the clean dry ground close beside that in which the sick boy lay. While this was being done the doctor was making a further examination of his patient. With admiring eyes, Moira followed the swift movements of his deft fingers. There was no hesitation. There was no fumbling. There was the sure indication of accurate knowledge, the obvious self-confidence of experience in everything he did. Even to her untutored eyes the doctor seemed to be walking with a very firm tread.
At length, after an hour's work, he turned to Mandy who was a.s.sisting him and said:
”Now you can both go to sleep. I shall need you no more till morning. I shall keep an eye on him. Off you go. Good-night.”
”You will be sure to call me if I can be of service,” said Mandy.