there anything the matter?"

"You've been very ill, sir, for a long time; but you seem a great deal
better this morning. If you'll excuse me for a minute, sir, I'll send
for the doctor."

The man quietly left the room, was absent for a minute or two, and then
as quietly returned.

"Where am I?" I again inquired.

"You're in the military hospital at Up-park camp, sir," he replied.
"But if you'll excuse me, I think you'd better not talk much just yet;
the doctor will be here directly, and he'll tell you all you want to
know."

Some twenty minutes elapsed, and then the door once more opened,
admitting a rather tall handsome man dressed entirely in white nankeen,
with white canvas shoes on his feet.

He came up to the side of the bed, and, before saying a word, put his
cool fingers upon my pulse. He then laid his hand upon my forehead for
a minute or two and upon the top of my head.

"Well, Mr Chester," said he, "how do you feel? You are very much
better this morning, are you not?"

"I really don't know," I answered. "I don't feel as though there is
much the matter with me beyond weakness; my hands seem as though they
were chained down to the bed, and I have very little feeling in my
limbs; but beyond that I don't think there is very much wrong. I
suppose I have been ill, though. What has been the matter with me?"

"Oh! quite a complication of disorders," he returned lightly; "brain-
fever among other things. Have you no recollection of falling ill?"

"None whatever," I said. "Stay, though--was it not something to do with
a thunder-storm and--um--_what_ was it?"

"There, there; never mind now; it is all over and done with. Don't try
to recall the circumstances just now; your brain is still too weak to be
much exercised; it will all come back in good time, never fear. Do you
feel at all sleepy?"

"Not so much sleepy as hungry," I replied. "I feel as though I had not
yet had my breakfast."

"Neither have you," he returned with a laugh. "The fact is you were not
awake at breakfast-time, and Atkins here had strict orders not to
disturb you. However, it is not yet too late; I daresay we shall be
able to find something for you. I will see to it myself; and when you
have taken your breakfast, just try to get to sleep again. Sleep will
now do you as much good as either food or medicine."

He then retired to the far end of the room, Atkins accompanying him; and
after whispering to his subordinate fo