Troop One of the Labrador | Page 3

more rapidly than Doctor Joe had expected it would, and
there came a time when Jamie could scarcely see at all. Then it was that
Doctor Joe announced one day before the return of David and Andy
from the trails, that the operation could be no longer delayed if Jamie's
eyesight was to be saved, and that to attempt to delay it until the ice
cleared from the coast and the mail boat came to bear him away to New
York would be fatal.
After making this announcement, Doctor Joe revealed the fact that he
had once been a great eye surgeon. With Thomas's consent he offered
to perform the operation on Jamie's eyes. Thomas had unbounded faith

in his friend. Doctor Joe operated and Jamie's sight was saved.
In curing Jamie, Doctor Joe discovered that he himself was cured, and
that he was again in possession of all his former skill. It was quite
natural, therefore, that he should wish to resume the practice of surgery.
He was an indifferent trapper, and the living that he made following the
trails amounted to a bare existence. He decided, therefore, that it was
his duty to himself to return to the work for which, during long years of
study, he had been trained.
Six weeks before Doctor Joe had sailed away on the mail boat from
Fort Pelican, bound for New York, that far distant, mysterious,
wonderful city of which he had told so many marvellous tales. Thomas
had grave doubts that they would ever see him again, though he had
said that he would some day return to visit his friends at The Jug and to
see his own little deserted cabin at Break Cove, where he had spent so
many lonely but profitable years, for it was here that he had rebuilt his
broken health. He had good reason to love the place, and he was quite
sure he had no better or truer friends in all the world than Thomas
Angus and his family.
"Thomas," said he at parting, "if I had the means to support myself I
would stay here on The Labrador and be doctor to the people that need
me, for there are folk enough that need a doctor's help up and down the
coast. But I'm a poor man, and if I stopped here I'd have to make my
living as a trapper, and you know how poor a trapper I've been all these
years. Back in New York I can do much good, and there I can live as I
was reared to live. But I'll not forget you, Thomas, and some day I'll
come to see you."
"I'm not doubtin' 'tis best you go and the Lord's will," said Thomas.
"But we'll be missin' you sore, Doctor Joe. I scarce knows how we'll
get on without you. 'Twill seem strange--almost like you were dead, I'm
fearin'."
"Thomas," and Doctor Joe's voice trembled with emotion, "there's no
one in the wide world nearer my affections than you and the boys and
Margaret. It hurts me to go, but it's best I should. I might scratch along

here for a few years, but I was not born to the work and the time would
come when I'd be a burden on some one, and it would make me
unhappy. I know that I'll wish often enough to be back here with you at
The Jug."
"You'd never be a burden, whatever!" Thomas declared, quite shocked
at the suggestion. "I feels beholden to you, Doctor Joe. There's nary a
thing I could ever do to make up to you for savin' Jamie's eyes. You
made un as good as new. He'd ha' been stone blind now if 'tweren't for
you--and the mercy o' God."
"The mercy of God," Doctor Joe repeated reverently.
And here at the end of six weeks was Doctor Joe back again. What
wonder that Thomas Angus and his family were quite beside
themselves with joy, shouting themselves hoarse down there on the
jetty.
And presently, when the skiff drew alongside, and Doctor Joe stepped
out upon the jetty, he was quite overwhelmed with the welcome he
received.
"Well, Thomas," he said as they walked up to the cabin with Jamie
clinging to one of his hands and Andy to the other, "here I am back
again, as you see. I couldn't stay away from you dear, good people. I
may as well confess, I was homesick for you before I reached New
York, and I'm back to stay. I found my fortune had been made while I
was here, and now I can do as I please."
"Oh, that's fine now!" exclaimed Margaret. "'Tis fine if you're to stay!"
"We were missin' you sore," said Thomas. "'Tis like the Lord's blessin'
to have