Omoo by Herman Melville
page 238 of 387 (61%)
page 238 of 387 (61%)
![]() | ![]() |
|
"I'll bleed him!" cried Johnson at last--"run for a calabash, one of you!" "Life ho!" here sung out Navy Bob, as if he had just spied a sail. "What under the sun's the matter with him!" cried the physician, starting at the appearance of the mouth, which had jerked to one side, and there remained fixed. "Pr'aps it's St. Witus's hornpipe," suggested Bob. "Hold the calabash!"--and the lancet was out in a moment. But before the deed could be done, the face became natural;--a sigh was heaved;--the eyelids quivered, opened, closed; and Long Ghost, twitching all over, rolled on his side, and breathed audibly. By degrees, he became sufficiently recovered to speak. After trying to get something coherent out of him, Johnson withdrew; evidently disappointed in the scientific interest of the case. Soon after his departure, the doctor sat up; and upon being asked what upon earth ailed him, shook his head mysteriously. He then deplored the hardship of being an invalid in such a place, where there was not the slightest provision for his comfort. This awakened the compassion of our good old keeper, who offered to send him to a place where he would be better cared for. Long Ghost acquiesced; and being at once mounted upon the shoulders of four of Captain Bob's men, was marched off in state, like the Grand Lama of Thibet. |
|