led. I held on tight to his head with my knees. The chair
tottered on its legs. Letting go the hair of his head, I clapped my
left hand to my right, and with both arms redoubled the strain. The
roar rose into a terrible yowl. There was a crash like the rending of a
forest tree. I dropped the instrument, sprang up, turned the chair on
the top of the man, and cramming it down on him rushed to the door,
which I threw open, and then faced about.

"There was a huge iron pestle lying on a table near my hand. Seizing
it, I swayed it gently to and fro, ready to knock him down with it if he
should rush at me, or to turn and fly, as should seem most advisable. I
was terribly excited, and a good deal alarmed as to the possible
consequences, but managed with much difficulty to look collected.

"The big chair was hurled into a corner as he rose sputtering from the
floor, and holding his jaws with both hands.

"`Och! ye spalpeen, is that the way ye trait people?'

"`Yes,' I replied in a voice of forced calmness, `we usually put a
restraint on strong men like you, when they're likely to be violent.'

"I saw the corners of his eyes wrinkle a little, and felt more
confidence.

"`Arrah, but it's the jawbone ye've took out, ye goormacalluchscrowl!'

"`No, it isn't, it's only the tooth,' I replied, going forward and
picking it up from the floor.

"The amazement of the man is not to be described. I gave him a tumbler
of water, and, pointing to a basin, told him to wash out his mouth,
which he did, looking at me all the time, however, and following me with
his astonished eyes, as I moved about the room. He seemed to have been
bereft of the power of speech; for all that he could say after that was,
`Och! av yer small yer cliver!'

"On leaving he asked what was to pay. I said that I'd ask nothing, as
he had stood it so well; and he left me with the same look of
astonishment in his eyes and words of commendation on his lips."

"Well, that _was_ a tremendous experience to begin with," said Mr
Durant, laughing; "and so it made you a doctor?"

"It helped. When my father came home I presented him with the tooth,
and from that day to this I have been hard at work; but I feel a little
seedy just now from over-study, so I have resolved to try to get a berth
as surgeon on board a ship bound for India, Australia, China, or South
America, and, as you are a shipowner and old friend, I thought it just
possible you might be not only