Passing a probe into the wound they found that the ball, breaking one of the ribs in its course, had gone straight on.

They turned him gently over.
"Here it is," the surgeon said, producing a flattened bullet.

The missile indeed had passed right through the body and had flattened against the back piece, which its force was too far spent to penetrate.
"Is the case hopeless, doctor ?" one of the officers who was looking on asked.
"It is well nigh hopeless," the doctor said, "but it is just possible that it has not touched any vital part.

The lad is young, and I judge that he has not ruined his constitution, as most of you have done, by hard drinking, so that there is just a chance for him.

There is nothing for me to do but to put a piece of lint over the two holes, bandage it firmly, and leave it to nature.