Page:Ossendowski - From President to Prison.djvu/128

 CHAPTER XI

THE LIGHTNING IN THE CLOUDS

OON I was on my way down the Sungari to Harbin, with a detailed report of our findings and with a bad leg and foot, which grew more and more painful every day. When we reached town, I at once presented my report on the coal and returned home to go to bed, having in place of hunghutzes, Georgians, geese and guns nothing more exciting than the daily visit of my doctor, who only shook his head and repeated critically and with aggravating persistence:

"You are a madman, a real madman! With such a joint you ought to lie in bed for at least three months and then walk for six months with the aid of a cane, instead of which you make these foolhardy expeditions, go hunting, get wet and take cold."

"But, doctor," I protested, as I once lost patience under his criticisms, "what a double I made on those two geese. And besides, remember I saw a candied Cossack."

He only waved his hand and grumbled, as he went out:

"What you need is a brain specialist!"

I did not, however, employ such a doctor, as my grumbling physician brought me round again; and, if I could not think of hunting, I could, with the help of my stick, make the journey to my laboratory. During my first days about I had a joint meeting with representatives of the Railway Administration and the General 116