CHAPTER XV
DR. GYS SURPRISES HIMSELF
Henderson was waiting with the launch at the Ostend docks. Lieutenantvon Holtz was earnestly thanked by Patsy and Uncle John for his kindnessand in return he exacted a promise from them to hunt him up in Germanysome day, when the war was ended. The countess and Mrs. Denton, sad andblack-robed, had been made comfortable in the stern seats of the boatand the captain was just about to order Henderson to start the enginewhen up to them rushed the fat Belgian woman and her two children.
Without an instant's hesitation the two youngsters leaped aboard likecats and their mother would have followed but for the restraining handof Captain Carg.
"What does this mean?" cried Mr. Merrick angrily.
The woman jabbered volubly in French.
"She says," interpreted Patsy, "that we promised to take her to Dunkirk,so she may find her husband."
"Let her walk!" said Uncle John.
"The Germans won't allow her to cross the lines. What does it matter,Uncle? We have plenty of room. In three hours we can be rid of them, anddoubtless the poor thing is really anxious to find her lost husband, whowas last seen in Dunkirk."
"He is a spy, and a traitor to both sides, according to report."
"That isn't our affair, is it? And I suppose even people of that classhave hearts and affections."
"Well, let her come aboard, Captain," decided Uncle John. "We can'twaste time in arguing."
They stowed her away in the bow, under Henderson's care, and threatenedthe children with dire punishment if they moved from under her shadow.Then the launch sped out into the bay and away toward Dunkirk.
Three days had brought many changes to the hospital ship _Arabella_. Ofthe original batch of patients only Lieutenant Elbl, the German, andAndrew Denton now remained. All the others had been sent home,transferred to the government hospitals or gone back to the front,according to the character of their injuries. This was necessary becausetheir places were needed by the newly wounded who were brought each dayfrom the front. Little Maurie was driving the ambulance again and, withAjo beside him and Dr. Kelsey and a sailor for assistants, the Belgianwould make a dash to Ypres or Dixmude or Furnes and return with a fullload of wounded soldiers.
These were the days of the severest fighting in Flanders, fighting sosevere that it could not keep up for long. There would come a lullpresently, when the overworked nurses and surgeons could get a bit ofsleep and draw a long breath again.
Gys had elected to remain aboard the ship, where with Maud and Beth hewas kept busy night and day. Two French girls--young women of good birthand intelligence--had been selected by Dr. Gys from a number ofapplicants as assistant nurses, and although they were inexperienced,their patriotic zeal rendered them valuable. They now wore the Red Crossuniforms and it was decided to retain them as long as the ship'shospital remained crowded.
There was plenty of work for all and the worry and long hours might havebroken down the health and strength of Beth and Maud had not the doctorinstituted regular periods of duty for each member of the force andinsisted on the schedule being carried out.
This hospital ship was by no means so gloomy a place as the reader mayimagine. The soldiers were prone to regard their hurts lightly, as "abit of hard luck," and since many had slight injuries it was customaryfor them to gather in groups upon the deck, where they would laugh andchat together, play cards for amusement or smoke quantities ofcigarettes. They were mainly kind-hearted and grateful fellows andopenly rejoiced that the misfortunes of war had cast their lot on thisfloating hospital.
Under the probe of the surgeon to-day, a fortnight hence back on thefiring line, was not very unusual with these brave men. The ambulanceshad gathered in a few German soldiers, who would become prisoners ofwar on their recovery, and while these were inclined to be despondentand unsociable they were treated courteously by all, the Americansshowing no preference for any nation. The large majority of thepatients, however, came from the ranks of the Allies--French, Englishand Belgian--and these were men who could smile and be merry withbandaged heads, arms a-sling, legs in splints, bullet holes here andthere, such afflictions being regarded by their victims with a certaindegree of pride.
Dr. Gys was in his element, for now he had ample opportunity to displayhis skill and his patients were unable to "jump to another doctor" incase his ugly features revolted them. His main interest, however, lay inthe desperately wounded Belgian private, Andrew Denton, whom he hadagreed to keep alive until the return of Miss Doyle and her uncle.
In making this promise Gys had figured on a possible delay of severaldays, but on the second day following Patsy's departure the suddensinking of his patient aroused a defiant streak in the surgeon and hedecided to adopt drastic measures in order to prevent Denton frompassing away before his wife's arrival.
"I want you to assist me in a serious operation," he said to MaudStanton. "By all the rules and precedents of human flesh, that fellowDenton ought to succumb to his wound within the next three hours. Theshell played havoc with his interior and I have never dared, until now,to attempt to patch things up; but if we're going to keep him aliveuntil morning, or until your cousin's return, we must accomplish theimpossible."
"What is that?" she inquired.
"Remove his vital organs, tinker them up and put them back so they willwork properly."
"Can that be done, doctor?"
"I think not. But I'm going to try it. I am positive that if we leavehim alone he has less than three hours of life remaining; so, if wefail, Miss Stanton, as it is reasonable to expect, poor Denton willmerely be spared a couple of hours of pain. Get the anaesthetics,please."
With all her training and experience as a nurse, Maud was half terrifiedat the ordeal before her. But she realized the logic of the doctor'sconclusion and steeled her nerves to do her part.
An hour later she stood looking down upon the patient. He was still uponthe operating table but breathing quietly and as strongly as at any timesince he had received his wound.
"This shows," Dr. Gys said to her, his voice keen with elation, "whatfools we are to take any human condition for granted. Man is a machine.Smash his mechanism and it cannot work; make the proper repairs beforeit is too late and--there he goes, ticking away as before. Not as good amachine as it was prior to the break, but with care and caution it willrun a long time."
"He will live, then, you think?" she asked softly, marveling that afterwhat she had witnessed the man was still able to breathe.
Gys leaned down and put his ear to the heart of the patient. For twominutes he remained motionless. Then he straightened up and a smilespread over his disfigured features.
"I confidently believe, Miss Stanton, we have turned the trick! Luck,let us call it, for no sensible surgeon would have attempted the thing.Rest assured that Andrew Denton will live for the next ten days. Morethan that, with no serious set-back he may fully recover and live formany years to come."
He was so pleased that tears stood in his one good eye and he wiped themaway sheepishly. The girl took his hand and pressed it in both her own.
"You are wonderful--wonderful!" she said.
"Don't, please--don't look in my face," he pleaded.
"I won't," she returned, dropping her eyes; "I will think only of theclever brain, the skillful hand and the stout heart."
"Not even that," he said. "Think of the girl wife--of Elizabeth. It wasshe who steadied my hand to-day. Indeed, Miss Stanton, it wasElizabeth's influence that saved him. But for her we would have let himdie."