A HAKIM 289 He will not recover,’ the Emir said moodily. ‘ What say you, Abu? You have heard what this man says; what do you think ?

’ “ ‘ I think. Father, that it were well to try. This man has used his eyes so well that he has taken the white man’s instruments and drawn out bullets from wounds. I feel as if this wound will kill me ; therefore, if the man fails I shall be none the worse. Indeed, it would be better to die at once than to feel this fire burning till it burns me up.’

“ You hear what my son says? I am of the same opinion. Do your best. Should you fail, I swear by the head of the Prophet that no harm shall come to you.’

The wounded man was a fine young fellow of three or four and twenty.

“ If it is my lord’s will, I will try,’ I said ; but I pray you to bear in mind that I do so at your command, and without much hope of accomplishing it successfully. It would, I think, be advisable that the limb should be taken off above the elbow, so that it will be above the spot to which the inflammation has extended.’

“ The Emir looked at his son, who said : ‘ It matters not.

Father, ’tis but my left arm, and I shall still have my right to hurl a spear or wield a sword.’

“ I need not tell how I got through the operation. Everything required for it—the inhaler, sponges, straight and crooked needles, and thread—was in the chest. The young Arab objected to be sent to sleep. He said it might be well for cowards, but not for a fighting man. I had to assure him that it was not for his sake but for my own that I wished him to go to sleep, and that if I knew he was not suffering pain I might be able to do the thing without my hand trembling ; but that if I knew he was suffering I should be flurried.

I insisted that the hakims should be sent for. When they came I called them to witness that, at the Emir’s command, I was going to try to do the operation I had seen the white doctor perform, although I was but au ignorant man and feared greatly that I might fail.