But the
directions for "restoring breathing" troubled our sincere desire to
learn; and this even though Henrietta practised for weeks afterwards
upon me. I represented the drowned man, and she drew my arms above my
head for "_inspiration_," and counted "one, two;" and doubled them and
drove them back for "_expiration_;" but it tickled, and I laughed, and
we could not feel at all sure that it would have made the drowned man
breathe again.
Meanwhile Rupert went on with the course of lectures, and taught us
how to behave in the event of a fire in the house, an epidemic in the
neighbourhood, a bite from a mad dog, a chase by a mad bull, broken
limbs, runaway horses, a chimney on fire, or a young lady burning to
death. The lectures were not only delightful in themselves, but they
furnished us with a whole set of new games, for Henrietta and I
zealously practised every emergency as far as the nature of things
would allow. Covering our faces with wet cloths to keep off the smoke,
we crept on our hands and knees to rescue a fancy cripple from an
imaginary burning house, because of the current of air which Rupert
told us was to be found near the floor. We fastened Baby Cecil's left
leg to his right by pocket-handkerchiefs at the ankle, and above and
below the knee, pretending that it was broken, and must be kept steady
till we could convey him to the doctor.
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