She looked outside the tent to see all sorts of flies on the fish. Good, she thought.

She began to sparingly bathe David’s forehead, trying to keep it cool. He was still thrashing a little but she could tell the water felt good to him. Eloise hoped the quinine brought the fever down. She couldn’t tell just yet. It was too soon. She continued to bathe David’s forehead. One more look outside and she knew she had what she wanted. She brought the fish into the tent and waited.

The night was long and she was exhausted by morning, but David was not out of the woods. His fever felt as if it had subsided a little and she once more gave him two more quinine.

One look at the fish and Eloise knew she had what she wanted. The sight was gross but in this heat maggots had already begun to consume the fish. She took David’s leg and unwrapped the wound. Carefully, so as not to kill the maggots, she took them one by one and placed about eighteen of them directly in the open wound and wrapped the wound up again, this time very loose.

She once more bathed David’s forehead and gave him a drink and then lay down to get some badly needed rest.

“NO! NO!” David hollered and sat bolt upright.

Eloise jumped up and with both hands on David’s shoulders pushed him back down. He was still delirious.

By now she had no idea of what time it was. She had slept pretty good and it was dark out. She decided to sleep some more. After feeling David’s forehead she learned he was still hot but not quite as bad. She was much encouraged by that. Something was working.

Eloise again went into a deep sleep and awoke at first light. David was still and quiet. She had to listen for his breathing. As the light became brighter she carefully looked and David’s leg. She thought she saw a noticeable sign of reduction in the redness, especially in the upper leg.

Another look at the fish told her there were more maggots and she decided to repeat the procedure with fresh maggots. It took about an hour but when she had finished there were close to sixty maggots on David’s leg in the open wound. Again she wrapped the leg loosely.

Outside the air was fresh and sweet. Eloise was thankful for the gulps she took, for they tasted so good compared to the closeness within the tent. Her mind went to the future. What am I going to do with David? she thought. I can’t get him to my camp like this and there is no point in going back. Yet we have no food and I must get some water, too.