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To save my life I couldn't help giving a very audible, inward
chuckle at Tom's presence of mind. There was a murmur of surprise
among the crowd. Tom solemnly took off his hat. "The death rattle! "
he whispered. "The young soul has flown — yet perchance science
may yet recall it. Bear him up to the tavern. "
A shutter was brought, I was solemnly hoisted on to the top of
it, and the melancholy cortege passed along the quay, the corpse
being really the most cheerful member of the company.
We got to the Mariner's Arms and I was stripped and laid in the
best bed. The news of the accident seemed to have spread, for there
was a surging crowd in the street, and the staircase was thronged with
people. Tom would only admit about a dozen of the more influential
of the townspeople into the room, but issued bulletins out of the
window every five minutes to the crowd below.
"Quite dead, " I heard him roar. "Respiration has ceased — no
pulsation — but we still persevere, it is our duty. "
"Shall I bring brandy? " said the landlady.
"Yes, and towels, and a hip bath and a basin — but the brandy
first. "
This sentiment met with the hearty approbation of the corpse.
"Why, he's drinking it, " said the landlady, as she applied the
glass to my lips.
"Merely an instance of a reflex, automatic action, " said Tom.
"My good woman, any corpse will drink brandy if you only apply it
to the glossopharyngeal tract. Stand aside and we will proceed to try
Marshall Hall's method of resuscitation. "
The citizens stood round in a solemm ring, while Tom stripped
off his coat and, climbing on the bed, proceeded to roll me about in a
manner which seemed to dislocate every bone in my body.
"Hang it, man, stop! " I growled, but he only paused to make a
dart for the window and yell out "No sign of life, " and then fell upon
me with greater energy than ever. "We will now try Sylvestre's
method, " he said, when the perspiration was fairly boiling out of
him; and with that he seized me again, and performed a series of
evolutions even more excruciating than the first. "It is hopeless! " he
said at last, stopping and covering my head reverently with the
bedclothes. "Send for the coroner! He has gone to a better land. Here
is my card, " he continued to an inspector of police who had arrived.
"Doctor Crabbe of George Street, You will see that the matter is