Page:Wonderful adventures of sixteen British seamen.pdf/22

 from agony, but by the skill of a dentist, I shuddered lest I should be subjected to similar treatment. My poor servant-girl Betty, who heard the description of this bungling operation, screamed in sympathetic recollection of what she once had suffered under the hands of a dentist. She begged of me, "for goodness sake, to give up the notion of going to have my tooth hauled out in that fashion, for she could assure mcme [sic] it was quite unspeakable for to tell the pain that must be endured. It was the most horrid scraunch that cverever [sic] was in this mortal world. Nobody could tell if their head was off or on, and it wa'nt & right way for to trcattreat [sic] any human Christian." I listened to poor Betty, bccausebecause [sic] I began to think there was one person who could apprcciateappreciate [sic] my sufferings. I hoped to escape from farther interruption by being denied, but Betty told me a gentleman had been waiting some time in thothe [sic] parlour, who said he would not detain me half a minute. HoHe [sic] camccame [sic]-a friend I had not scenseen [sic] for many years. He sympathiscdsympathised [sic] with me, while I briefly told how sadly I was afflicted.

"My dcardear [sic] fricndfriend [sic]," exclaimed he, "I can curocure [sic] you in tcnten [sic] minutes."

"How? How?2 enquired I "do it in pity."

"Instantly," said he. "Betty, have you any alum."

"Yes."

"Bring it, and some common salt."

They werowere [sic] produced; my fricndfriend [sic] pulverized them, mixed them in equal quantities; then wet a small piece of cotton, causing the mixed powders to adhere, and placed it in my hollow tooth.

"There," said he; "if that do not cure you, I will forfeit my head. You may tell this in Gath,