neel with your
face against his. Now, Godfrey, grasp the leg just below the knee and
hold it firmly."

Godfrey did so, and then shut his eyes as he saw the doctor about to use
the knife, expecting to hear a piercing scream from the child. There was
no sound, however, and in a very few seconds he heard Alexis utter a low
exclamation of satisfaction. He looked now; the flesh was already cut
through and no cry had escaped the child. Another moment the foot and
the lower portion of the leg came away at the point where the bone was
crushed; then Alexis pushed the flesh upwards so as to expose another
inch of the shin-bone, and then took the saw and cut through it. Some
strands of silk lay close to his hand; with a long needle he took up the
ends of the arteries and tied them with the silk; then he took hold of
the stick of the tourniquet and loosened it a little. The result was
satisfactory; the arteries were securely tied. Then he tightened it
again and gave it to the Buriat to hold, wiped the wound with the damp
rag, drew down the flesh over the end of the bone, brought up the flap
of flesh from behind, and with a few stitches sewed it in its place.

"It is all done," he said, rising to his feet. Then he passed his hand
several times across the child's forehead. "Tell him softly, when he
opens his eyes," he said to the mother, "that he will soon be well now,
and that he must go to sleep." He continued the passes for some time,
occasionally lifting the eyelid. "He is coming round now," he said at
last. A few more passes and the child drowsily opened its eyes. His
mother spoke to him softly, and with a faint smile he closed them again.
Alexis stood quietly for another minute or two. "He is asleep now," he
said to the Buriat; "you need hold him no longer."

The tears were running down the man's cheeks; he seized one of the hands
of Alexis and pressed it to his lips, while the mother, sobbing with
joy, did the same to the other. To them it seemed almost a miracle.

"Have some milk kept warm," Alexis said, "and give it to him when he
awakes. Do not tell him anything about his foot having been taken off.
Keep a blanket lying over him so that he will not see it It is well that
he should not be agitated, but tell him that he must lie perfectly quiet
and not move his leg, as it would hurt him if he did so. Now, chief, it
would be as well if you called the others back and told your servant to
get some breakfast, for my friend and