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Chapter 95

           Supposeyemakeaincizyun,ansee!"

           Theproposalmeetswithnoopposition.Onthecontrary,thejudgedirectsittobedoneasZebhassuggested.

           Thestays,bothforeandback,areunloosed;thewater-guardsunbuckled;andthebodyisliftedoutofthesaddle.

           Itfeelsstarkandstifftothosewhotakepartintheunpacking,—thearmsandlimbsasrigidasiftheyhadbecomefossilised.Thelightnesstellsofdesiccation:foritsspecificgravityscarceexceedsthatofamummy!

           Withrespectfulcarefulnessitislaidatfulllengthalongthegrass.Theoperatorsstoopsilentlyoverit—SamManlyactingasthechief.

           Directedbythejudge,hemakesanincisionaroundthewound—thatwiththecircleofextravasatedblood.

           Thedissectioniscarriedthroughtheribs,tothelungsunderneath.

           Intheleftlobeisdiscoveredthethingsearchedfor.Somethingfirmerthanfleshistouchedbytheprobe—thepointofabowie-knife.Ithasthefeelofaleadenbullet.Itisone!

           Itisextracted;rubbedcleanofitscrimsoncoating;andsubmittedtotheexaminationofthejury.

           Despitetheabrasioncausedbythespirally-groovedboreofthebarrel—despiteanindentationwhereitcameincontactwithacreasedrib—thereisstilldiscernibletheoutlinesofastampedcrescent,andthelettersC.C.

           Oh!thosetell-taleinitials!Therearesomelookingonwhoremembertohaveheardofthembefore.

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