The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 298: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

— THE. FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. 2938 The eyes of the surgeon gradually dilated as the speaker described the bite, the pain in the arm and shoulder, and the spasmodic convulsions which he had observed in F'lin’s throat at the sight of the water, and the attempt to swallow the tea. ‘‘ Humph, ha, I thought as much,” he muttered; “but of course it would not do to let the emigrants know—it might alarm them: they would toss him over- board.” ““T thought it best,” said Ben, “ to tell you.” ‘“< Very proper—very proper, indeed.” “Do you intend to bleed him ?” “Of course—the best thing I can do for him.” Had the speaker said that it was the only thing he could do for him, he would have been nearer the mark; added to which, it would have looked like ignorance not to have persevered. ‘TI thought,” whispered Ben, “in these sort of cases they generally did summut else ?”” © What else ?”’’ demanded the doctor. ‘‘Smother’em,” replied the ruffian, coolly. The surgeon opened his eyes and stared very hard; he certainly had heard of such a mode of treatment, but had never seen it practised ; not that that would have restrained him, but he was young in his profession, and did not like the responsibility. The idea startled him. “ Are you his brother ?”’ he inquired. ‘‘ Yes, we be brothers.”’ COniiclooecl SS (SO