"The purport of my remark went to say," continued Sit-
greaves, turning his back on Lawton, "that a bread poultice
would not set a broken arm."

" More is the pity,'' cried the trooper, "for, next to eating,
the nourishment could not be more innocently applied."

"To you, Colonel Wellmere," said the surgeon, "as a
man of education, I can with safety appeal." The colonel
bowed. " You must have observed the dreadful havoc made
in your ranks by the men who were led by this gentleman" ;
the colonel looked grave again; "how, when blows lighted
on their frames, life was invariably extinguished, beyond all
hope of scientific reparation ; how certain yawning wounds



THE SPY. 189

were inflicted, that must set at defiance the art of the most
experienced practitioner; now, sir, to you I triumphantly
appeal, therefore, to know whether your detachment would
not have been as effectually defeated, if the men had all lost
a right arm, for instance, as if they had all lost their
heads."

" The triumph of your appeal is somewhat hasty, sir,"
said Wellmere.
" Is the cause of liberty advanced a step by such injudi-
cious harshness in the field?" continued the surgeon, bent
on the favorite principle of his life.
" I am yet to learn that the cause of liberty is in any
manner advanced by the services of any gentleman in the
rebel army," rejoined the colonel.
