Chapter 15
CHAPTER XV. Dr. Geese surprises himself. Henderson was waiting with the launch at the Ostend docks. Lieutenant von Holtz was earnestly thanked by Patsy and Uncle John for his kindness, and in return he exacted a promise from them to hunt him up in Germany some day, when the
war was ended. The Countess and Mrs. Denton, sad and black-robed, had been made comfortable in the stern seats of the boat, and the Captain was just about to order Henderson to start the engine, when up to them rushed the fat Belgian woman and her two children. Without an instant's hesitation the two youngsters leaped aboard like cats, and their mother
but for the restraining hand of Captain Carr. "'What does this mean?' cried Mr. Merrick angrily. The woman jabbered volubly in French. "'She says,' interpreted Patsy, "'that we promise to take her to Dunkirk, so she may find her husband.'
"'Let her walk,' said Uncle John. "'The Germans won't allow her to cross the lines. What does it matter, Uncle? We have plenty of room. In three hours we can be rid of them, and doubtless the poor thing is really anxious
to find her lost husband, who was last seen in Dunkirk. He is a spy and a traitor to both sides, according to report. That isn't our affair, is it? And I suppose even people of that class have hearts and affections.' "'Well, let her come aboard, Captain,' decided Uncle John.
We can't waste time in arguing.' They stowed her away in the bow under Henderson's care, and threatened the children with dire punishment if they moved from under her shadow. Then the launch sped out to the bay and away to Dunkirk. Three days had brought many changes to the hospital ship Arabella.
Of the original batch of patients only Lieutenant Elbow, the German, and Andrew Denton now remained. All the others have been sent home, transferred to the Government hospitals, or gone back to the front, according to the character of their injuries. This was necessary because their places were needed by the newly wounded, who were brought each day from the front.
Little Morrie was driving the ambulance again, and with A. Joe beside him, and Dr. Kelsey and a sailor for assistance, the Belgian would make a dash to Ypres, or Deemute, or Ferns, and return with a full load of wounded soldiers. These were the days of the severest fighting in Flanders, fighting so severe that it could not keep up for long.
They would come along presently, when the overworked nurses and surgeons could get a bit of sleep and draw a long breath again. Geese had elected to remain aboard the ship, where with Maud and Beth he was kept busy night and day. Two French girls, young women of good birth and intelligence, had been selected by Dr.
Geese from a number of applicants as assistant nurses, and although they were inexperienced, their patriotic zeal rendered them valuable. They now wore the Red Cross uniforms, and it was decided to retain them as long as the ship's hospital remained crowded. There was plenty of work for all, and the worry and long hours might have broken down
the health and strength of Beth and Maud, had not the doctor instituted regular periods of duty for each member of the force, and insisted on the schedule being carried out. The hospital ship was by no means so gloomy a place as the reader may imagine. The soldiers were prone to regard their hurt slightly as a bit of hard luck, and since many had slight injuries, it was customary for them to gather in groups upon the deck,
where they would laugh and chat together, play cards for amusement, or smoke quantities of cigarettes. They were mainly kind-hearted and grateful fellows, who openly rejoiced that the misfortunes of war had cast their lot on this floating hospital. Under the probe of the surgeon to-day, a fortnight hence back in the firing line was not very
unusual with these brave men. The ambulances had gathered in a few German soldiers, who would become prisoners of war on their recovery, and while these were inclined to be despondent and unsociable, they were treated courteously by all, the Americans showing no preference for any nation. The large majority of the patients, however, came from the ranks of the Allies, French,
English, and Belgian, and these were men who could smile and be merry with bandaged heads, arms a-sling, legs in splints, bullet-holes here and there, such afflictions being regarded by their victims with a certain degree of pride. Dr. Geiss was in his element, for now he had ample opportunity to display his skill, and his patients were unable to jump to another doctor, in case his ugly features revolted
them. His main interests, however, lay in the desperately wounded Belgian private, Andrew Denton, whom he had agreed to keep alive until the return of Miss Doyle and her uncle. In making this promise Geiss had figured on a possible delay of several days, but on the second day following Pat's departure a sudden sinking of his patient aroused a defiant streak
in the surgeon, and he decided to adopt drastic measures in order to prevent Denton from passing away before his wife's arrival. "'I want you to assist me in a serious operation,' he said to Maud Stanton. "'By all the rules and precedents of human flesh, that fellow Denton ought to succumb to his wound within the next three hours.'
The show played havoc with his interior, and I have never dared until now to attempt to patch things up. But if we're going to keep him alive until morning, or until your cousin's return, we must accomplish the impossible.' "'What is that?' she inquired.
"'Remove his vital organs, tinker them up, and put them back so they will work properly.' Can that be done, doctor?' "'I think not, but I'm going to try it. I am positive that if we leave him alone he has less than three hours of life remaining. So if we fail, Miss Stanton, as it is reasonable to expect, poor Denton will merely be spared
a couple of hours of pain. Get the anaesthetics, please.' With all her training and experience as a nurse, Maud was half terrified at the ordeal before her, but she realised the logic of the doctor's conclusion and steeled her nerves to do her part.
An hour later she stood looking down upon the patient. He was still upon the operating table, but breathing quietly and as strongly as at any time since he had received his wound. "'This shows,' Dr. Geese said to her, his voice keen with elation, "'what fools we are to take any human condition for granted.
Man is a machine. Smash his mechanism and it cannot work. Make the proper repairs before it is too late, and—' There he goes, ticking away as before. Not as good a machine as it was prior to the break, but with care and caution it will run
a long time. He will live then, you think?' She asked softly, marvelling that after what she had witnessed the man was still able to breathe. Geese leaned down and put his ear to the heart of the patient.
For two minutes he remained motionless, then he straightened up and the smile spread over his disfigured features. "'I confidently believe, Miss Stanton, we have turned the trick. Luck, let us call it, for no sensible surgeon would have attempted the thing. Rest assured that Andrew Denton will live for the next ten days.
More than that, with no serious setback, he may fully recover and live for many years to come.' He was so pleased that tears stood in his one good eye, and he wiped them away sheepishly. The girl took his hand and pressed it in both her own. "'You are wonderful, wonderful,' she said.
"'Don't, please, don't look in my face,' he pleaded. "'I won't,' she returned, dropping her eyes. I will think only of the clever brain, the skillful hand and the stout heart.' "'Not even that,' he said. Think of the girl-wife, of Elizabeth.
It was she who studied my hand to-day. "'I believe, Miss Stanton, it was Elizabeth's influence that saved him. But for her we would have let him die.'
