A FUGITIVE 281 i i ti see, this curve makes a sort of hook; the difficulty is to get it under the bullet/ “ ‘ I understand,’ he said. ‘ Do not mind hurting me. I have seen men die of bullets even after the wound seemed to heal. I know it is better to try and get it out.’ “It was a difficult job. Pressing back the flesh with my finger, I succeeded at last in getting the hook under the bullet; this I held firmly against it, and to my delight felt as I raised finger and hook together that the bullet was coming. A few seconds later I held it triumphantly between my fingers.

“ ‘ There, Saleh, there is your enemy. I think, now, that if there is no inflammation it will not be long before you are well and strong again.’

Truly, it is wonderful!’ the man said gratefully. have heard of hakims who are able to draw bullets from wounds, but I have never seen it done before.’, “If Saleh had been a white man I should still have felt doubtful as to his recovery, but I was perfectly confident that a wound of that sort would heal well in an Arab, especially as it would be kept cool and clean. Hard exercise, life in the open air, entire absence of stimulating liquors, and only very occasionally, if ever, meat diet, render them almost insensible to wounds that would paralyse a white. Our surgeons had been astonished at the rapidity with which the wounded prisoners recovered. Saleh’s wife had stood by as if carved in stone while I performed the operation, but when I produced the bullet she burst into tears and poured blessings on my head.

“ I am writing this on the following morning. Saleh has slept quietly all night; his hand is cool this morning, and I think I may fairly say that he is convalescent.

“Abdullah’s wife came in yesterday evening and told the women here that her husband was asleep, but that he would come round in the morning. I warned her not to let him stir out-of-doors, and said I would come and see him.