` No , it 's the dipthery croup , ' said Mary briskly , snatching up an apron . ` And there 's mighty little time to lose -- but I know what to do . When I lived over-harbour with Mrs. Wiley , years ago , Will Crawford 's kid died of dipthery croup , in spite of two doctors . And when old Aunt Christina MacAllister heard of it -- she was the one brought me round when I nearly died of pneumonia you know -- she was a wonder -- no doctor was a patch on her -- they do n't hatch her breed of cats nowadays , let me tell you -- she said she could have saved him with her grandmother 's remedy if she 'd been there . She told Mrs. Wiley what it was and I 've never forgot it . I 've the greatest memory ever -- a thing just lies in the back of my head till the time comes to use it . Got any sulphur in the house , Susan ? ' `` Yes , we had sulphur . Susan went down with Mary to get it , and I held Jims . I had n't any hope -- not the least . Mary Vance might brag as she liked -- she was always bragging -- but I did n't believe any grandmother 's remedy could save Jims now . Presently Mary came back . She had tied a piece of thick flannel over her mouth and nose , and she carried Susan 's old tin chip pan , half full of burning coals . '' ` You watch me , ' she said boastfully . ` I 've never done this , but it 's kill or cure that child is dying anyway . ' `` She sprinkled a spoonful of sulphur over the coals ; and then she picked up Jims , turned him over , and held him face downward , right over those choking , blinding fumes . I do n't know why I did n't spring forward and snatch him away . Susan says it was because it was fore-ordained that I should n't , and I think she is right , because it did really seem that I was powerless to move . Susan herself seemed transfixed , watching Mary from the doorway . Jims writhed in those big , firm , capable hands of Mary -- oh yes , she is capable all right -- and choked and wheezed -- and choked and wheezed -- and I felt that he was being tortured to death -- and then all at once , after what seemed to me an hour , though it really was n't long , he coughed up the membrane that was killing him .
Mary turned him over and laid him back XXXXX his bed .
after as at because if of on over that till