He drank a little, yet his face
became greyer and greyer; a bluish tinge spread about his mouth.
"Have you nothing else, sir?" asked Sewell in despair. The doctor put
down the brandy, went quickly to his medicine-case, dropped into a glass
some liquid from a phial, came over again, and poured a little between
the lips; then a little more, as Jim's eyes opened again; and at last
every drop in the glass trickled down the sinewy throat.
Presently as they watched him the doctor said: "It will not do. He must
have brandy. It has life-food in it."
Jim understood the words. He knew that if he drank the brandy the
chances against his future were terrible. He had made his vow, and he
must keep it. Yet the thirst was on him; his enemy had him by the throat
again, was dragging him down. Though his body was so cold, his throat
was on fire. But in the extremity of his strength his mind fought on--
fought on, growing weaker every moment. He was having his last fight.
They watched him with an aching anxiety, and there was anger in the
doctor's face.
Pages:
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140