d. You see him now, the
shock has prostrated him. He has but little life in him, and if he dies
he will die from that and not from the taking off of his foot. But I do
not think he will die, he is young and hardy, and on my faith as a
Russian gentleman I believe that he will live."

"It shall be tried," the Buriat said abruptly. "God has doubtless sent
you here at this moment. Why otherwise should a doctor be brought to my
door when this has happened? Do as you will."

Alexis felt the boy's pulse. "I must wait," he said, "until he has
recovered somewhat from the shock. Give him some warm milk with a
spoonful, not more, of vodka in it. Your men have taken the knives that
I and my friend carried; they were specially made for this, and we shall
need them. Do not fear as to the operation, it is the most simple in
surgery. Let him have the milk at once. Let him remain quiet upon his
back, and do not let him attempt to move his leg. Do not tell him about
this, it would frighten and agitate him. If I had medicines that we use
in our hospitals I could send him to sleep so that he would know nothing
about it, and when he woke up would be ignorant that his foot had been
removed; but as there is none of it within a hundred miles of us we must
manage it as we best can. Please tell your men to release my friend, I
shall need his assistance."

After bidding the woman heat some milk at once the Buriat went out and
ordered Godfrey's guards to release him at once, and to restore to them
their knives and all their other possessions. Alexis informed Godfrey of
what had taken place, and what he proposed to do.

"The operation would be a very easy one if we had chloroform and proper
implements. Unfortunately there is no chance of their having such a
thing as a fine saw, and how in the world I am to make a clean cut
through the bone I do not know. The knife that you carry is just the
right thing for the job; but how about a saw? If we could have
chloroformed him, we could, after making the cuts through the flesh,
have put the leg on a log of wood and have cut clean through the bone
with a chopper. It would not be a good plan, for it would probably
splinter the bone, but it might have been tried, but without chloroform
it is not to be thought of."

Godfrey thought for a moment. "The knives are of a very good steel,
Alexis?"

"Oh yes, of the very best steel!"

"Is it hard steel like that of a razor?"

"Yes, very much the same."

"T