ht, "or I must have been ill and
delirious, and these things have passed through my fevered brain."

At that moment the thought of Jack's amputated leg came into my head.
"That will prove it," thought I, and turned quickly to look at my
friend. One glance was sufficient--a wooden stump occupied the place of
his right leg. I groaned aloud and burst into tears.

"Come, Bob," said Jack in a soft, kind tone, laying down his book and
bending over me. "Come, my poor fellow, keep quiet. It's about time
you had your dinner. Lie still and I'll fetch it to you."

I laid my hand on his arm and detained him. "Then it's all true," said
I in a tone of the deepest despondency.

"Is what all true?"

"This--this horrible--your leg; your leg--"

Jack suddenly stooped and gazed earnestly into my face. "Do you know
me, Bob?" He trembled as he spoke.

"Know you, Jack! why should I not know you? When did I ever forget
you?"

"Thank God!" he exclaimed fervently, taking my hand and pressing it to
his breast. "You're all right again. Oh, how I have longed and prayed
for this."

"All right, Jack. Have I been wrong, then?"

"That you have just," said Jack, smiling sadly. "You've just been as
mad as a March hare, that's all!"

I fell flat down and gazed at him. In a minute more I raised myself on
one elbow, and, looking at him earnestly, said, "How long, Jack?"

"Just three weeks to-day."

I fell flat down again, in which position Jack left me to go and fetch
me some dinner. He returned quickly with a plate of soup. Before
commencing to eat it I pressed my hand on my forehead, and said--

"Jack, I am surrounded by mysteries. How got you so soon well? Where
got you that wooden leg? How are we here alone? Where are we going?
Clear up my faculties, Jack, while I eat this soup--do, like a good
fellow."

"I can easily do that, Bob. First, I got well because you took care of
me."

"What! I?"

"Yes, you! At the commencement of your madness you tended me and cared
for me as if you had been my mother. When you got to lose all `method
in your madness' I was well enough to take care of myself and you too.
Secondly, I found this wooden leg in the carpenter's berth, and gladly
availed myself of its services, though it _is_ three inches too short,
and causes me to hobble in a most undignified manner. Thirdly, we are
here alone because there is no one else with us. You took good care of
that by cutting the ropes b