"I quite understand how you feel about the
matter, and I feel quite as anxious as you do about it; more so,
possibly, since it is I who am responsible for the man's condition. I
shall be bitterly grieved if he proves to be seriously injured; but in
any case I hope you will understand that it was impossible for me to
allow him to retain possession of his revolver. He had clearly
conceived an extraordinary aversion for me, and exhibited it without
restraint. I believe that when he fired at me he fully intended to kill
me, if he could, and I was compelled to act in self-defence. If a man
allows his temper to get the better of him to that extent, he must take
the consequences. But here we are," as he threw open the door of Miss
Trevor's cabin, "and that, I take it, is the medicine-chest;" pointing
to a fairly large chest standing against the bulkhead.

"Yes," assented Purchas, "that's the chest. Better have it out of this
into the main cabin, hadn't we? Then we shan't be obliged to disturb
the lady whenever we want to get at it."

"Certainly," agreed Leslie; "I was about to suggest it."

And therewith the two men seized, each of them, a handle and carried the
box into the main cabin, placing it conveniently for pushing it under
the table, out of the way, when not required. The chest was unlocked,
and they threw it open, disclosing an interior fitted with a tray on
top, which contained a long tin tubular case labelled "Diachylon
Plaster," surgical scissors, surgical needles, rolls of bandage, and
numerous other surgical instruments and appliances; while, underneath
the tray, the body of the chest was full of jars and bottles containing
drugs, each distinctly labelled, and each fitted into its own special
compartment. There was also in the chest a book setting forth in detail
the symptoms of nearly every imaginable disease, with its appropriate
treatment, and also the proper course to pursue in the event of injury.
The book was furnished with a very complete index, to facilitate prompt
reference.

This book they took out and laid open upon the cabin table, now spread
with the breakfast equipage. Anxiously they pored over its pages,
finding more than one reference that seemed fairly to fit the case; and
at length Leslie, to whose judgment the mate seemed disposed to defer,
decided upon a treatment, which they proceeded forthwith to act upon.
It consisted in the administration of a draught, and the application of