"Nay! Bismillah! Nay, nay! I will hold them who have boils,
sitting firmly on their bellies--so--or between their shoulders--
thus--when the boils are behind! Nay, I will drink no draughts!
I am a man, not a cess-pool!"

"And I will study how to heat hot irons!" said Darya Khan, with
grim conviction. "It is likely that, having worked for a blacksmith
once, I may learn quickly! Phaughghgh! I have tasted physic! I
have drunk Apsin Saats! (Epsom Salts.)"

He spat, too, in a very fury of reminiscence.

"Good!" said King. "Henceforward, then, I am Kurram Khan, the dakitar,
and ye two are my assistants, Ismail to hold the men with boils,
and Darya Khan to heat the irons--both of ye to be my men and support
me with words when need be!"

"Aye!" said Ismail, quick to think of details, "and these others
shall be the tasters! They have big bellies, that will hold many
potions without crowding. Let them swallow a little of each medicine
in the chest now, for the sake of practise! Let them learn not to
make a wry face when the taste of cess-pools rests on the tongue--"

"Aye, and the breath comes sobbing through the nose!" said Darya Khan,
remembering fragments of an adventurous career. "Let them learn
to drink Apsin Saats without coughing!"

"We will not drink the medicines!" announced the man who had a
stomach ache. "Nay, nay!"