THE OPERATION.
Next morning, at the appointed hour, the surgeons arrived in a
body. They were accompanied by their juniors, young men ranging
in age from nineteen years to thirty. Like the senior surgeons,
these young gentlemen were arrayed in their blue navy uniforms,
displaying a profusion of bright buttons, and several broad bars
of gold lace about the wristbands. As in honour of the occasion,
they had put on their best coats; they looked exceedingly brilliant.
The whole party immediately descended to the half-deck, where
preparations had been made for the operation. A large garrison-
ensign was stretched across the ship by the main-mast, so as
completely to screen the space behind. This space included the
whole extent aft to the bulk-head of the Commodore's cabin, at
the d
