"Go, and fetch the medicine, Hampton," whispered the doctor, "and tell
them it is impossible to take him away. A bed must be made up on the
floor of the study."
"Yes. Quite right."
"And they must not come in here again. It is too horrible. Really it
is not safe."
A fierce cry rang out at that moment, and Saul's strength seemed to be
so superhuman that the broad fold of curtain which helped to keep him
down parted, and, tossing aside the hands which tried to restrain him,
he made for the door, which Gertrude opened.
George Harrington uttered a low cry, which sounded like a quick, sharp
expiration of the breath, and leaped across the room to seize the
wretched maniac as he was in the act of springing upon Gertrude, who
shrank back against the door appalled by the hideous look upon his face.
Then began a terrific struggle, in which, for some time, no aid could be
rendered.
No sound escaped Gertrude's lips, but she stood there white and
trembling, as if fascinated by the horror of the scene, while Mrs
Hampton held her by the arm with the intention of dragging her away, but
only to be so paralysed by terror that she could not stir.
For a good five minutes nothing was heard in the room but the
overturning and breaking of furniture, mingled with the hoarse panting
animal cries of Saul, who seemed to see in George Harrington the dog he
sought to destroy.
In spite of all the others could do, matters went hard with George; but
the dexterity of a man used to wild life stood him in good stead, and
just as in the midst of a savage, snarling sound Gertrude felt the room
swimming round her, and as if insensibility was coming on, there was a
heavy crash, and the shock brought her back to life.
George Harrington was seated upon Saul's chest, as he said in a panting
voice:
"Now, doctor, quick! Give him what you have. I can't hold him long.
About beat out."
The next minute the doctor was on his knees beside the wretched man,
seizing any opportunity to trickle a few drops of the strong sedative
between the gnashing teeth--a dangerous and difficult task--till a
goodly portion had been swallowed as well as scattered over the carpet,
and then Saul lay staring and muttering something about the dog.
"I've exhibited a tremendous dose," whispered Doctor Lawrence, as he
recorked the bottle. "That must calm him for a time."
But quite a quarter of an hour passed before Saul sank into a state of
stupor; and then after he had been replaced upon the couch, it was
wheeled into the study, a more secure bandage placed across his heaving
chest; and the exhausted party sat down to watch.
CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN.
MR HAMPTON'S RECIPE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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