y, cracked lips of the youth; "he has
it sure enough."

"Has what?--what is it?"

"The fever--brain fever, and the worst kind of it too."

"And there is danger then?" whispered M'Nab.

"Danger, indeed! I wonder how many come through it. Pshaw! there's
no use trying to count his pulse;" and he threw the hand rudely back
upon the bed. "That's going as fast as ever his father went with the
property." A harsh, low, cackling laugh followed this brutal speech,
which demanded all Sir Archy's predetermined endurance to suffer
unchecked.

"Do you know me?" said the doctor, in the loud voice used to awaken the
dormant faculty of hearing. "Do you know me?"

"Yes," replied the boy, staring steadfastly at him.

"Well, who am I, then? Am I your father?"

A vacant gaze was all the answer.

"Tell me, am I your father?"

No reply followed.

"Am I your uncle, then?" said the doctor, still louder.

The word, "uncle," seemed to strike upon some new chord of his awakened
sense: a faint smile played upon his parched lips, and his eyes wandered
from the speaker, as if in search of some object, till they fell upon
Sir Archy, as he stood at the foot of the bed, when suddenly his whole
countenance was lighted up, and he repeated the word, "uncle," to
himself in a voice indescribably sweet and touching.

"He has na forgotten me," murmured M'Nab, in a tone of deep emotion. "My
ain dear boy--he knows me yet."

"You agitate him too much," said Roach, whose nature had little sympathy
with the feelings of either. "You must leave me alone here to examine
him myself."

M'Nab said not a word, but, with noiseless step, stole from the room.
The doctor looked after him as he went, and then followed to see that
the door was closed behind. This done, he beckoned to Kerry, who still
remained, to approach, and deliberately seated himself in a chair near
the window.

"Tell me, my good fellow," said he, affecting an air of confidence as he
spoke, "an't they all broke here? Isn't the whole thing smashed?"

"Broke--smashed!" repeated Kerry, as he held up both hands in feigned
astonishment; "'tis a droll smash: begorra, I never see money as plenty
this many a year. Sure av there wasn't lashings of it, would he be
looking out for carriage-horses, and buying hunters, not to say putting
the kennel in order."

"Is it truth you are telling?" said Roach, in astonishment.

"True as my name is Kerry O'Leary. We offered Lanty Lawler a hundred and
tw