Page:Ballantyne--The Battery and the Boiler.djvu/234

 "I must examine you, friend," said Sam; "you have been severely handled. Help me to strip him, Robin."

The poor man at once submitted.

"You 're a doctor, sir, I suppose?" he asked.

"No," said Sam, "only an amateur; nevertheless I know what I'm about. You see, I think that every man in the world, whatever his station or profession, should be at least slightly acquainted with every subject under the sun in connection with which he may be called on to act. In other words, he should know at least a little about surgery, and physic, and law, and carpentering, blacksmithing, building, cooking, riding, swimming, and—hallo! why, two of your ribs are broken, my man!"

"Sorry to hear it, sir, but not surprised, for I feels as if two or three o' my spines was broken also, and five or six o' my lungs bu'sted. You won't be able to mend 'em, I fear."

"Oh, yes, I shall," said Sam cheerily.

"Ah! that 's well. I 'd thowt that p'r'aps you wouldn't have the tools 'andy in these parts for splicin' of em."

"Fortunately no tools are required," returned Sam. "I 'll soon put you right, but you 'll have to lie still for some time. Here, Robin, go into the store-cave and fetch me a few yards of that white