ooked inquiringly at Alexis. The latter
made a sign to him to move to the other side of the tent.

"Well," the Buriat asked, "must he die?"

"There is no reason for his dying," Alexis said, "but there is no
possibility of saving his leg, it must be amputated."

"What would be the use of living without a leg?" the Buriat exclaimed.

"A great deal of use," Alexis said quietly. "There are hundreds, aye
thousands, of men in Russia who have lost a leg, some from an accident
like this, or from a waggon going over them, some from a wound in
battle. In some cases the leg is taken off much above the knee, but even
then they are able to get about and enjoy their lives; but when it is
below the knee, like this, they are able to do everything just the same
as if they had both feet. They can walk and ride, and, in fact, do
everything like others; besides, for such men there are people at St.
Petersburg who make feet of cork, and when these are on, with a boot and
trousers, or with a high boot, no one could tell that the wearer had not
two feet. I have met men who had lost a leg, and they walked so well
that I did not know till I was told that they had not two legs."

"I will speak to his mother," the Buriat said, and returning to the
women he spoke to them in their own language. At first they appeared
shocked and even terrified at the idea, but as he went on, evidently
repeating what Alexis had told him, the expression of their faces
changed. The Buriat called Alexis across.

"You cannot hesitate, lady," he said, "when your child's life is at
stake. No Russian mother would do so for a moment. It may seem to you
dreadful that he should have but one foot, but in a little time, even
with so rough a limb as I could make for him, he would be running about
and playing again, and, as I have been telling his father, he can obtain
from St. Petersburg a foot so perfect that when wearing a high boot no
one would suspect the misfortune that has happened to him."

"Can he not be cured without that?"

"No, lady. If it had been a simple fracture his leg might be bandaged up
so that it would heal in time, but, as you can see for yourself, the
bone is all splintered and broken, and unless something is done
mortification will set in, and in a few days he will cease to live."

"But are you sure that he will live if you do it?"

"I am sure, lady, that the operation will not kill him. I believe that
he will live, but that is in the hands of Go