my heart, your clear eyes have been reading it. I remember now in Texas
the boys were always talking of a famous Jim who had lived with them, but
I never dreamed that he was your husband.

"My gratitude to you and your grand husband is bankrupt, but now no
matter. The first thing to do is to be on our way--only, do Mr. and Mrs.
Browning also know my secret?"

"Not at all," said Grace. "Until just now they did not even know that Mr.
Jordan was with my husband, but I will tell Rose all that may be
necessary."

All left that day, in due time reached Naples, and engaged ample quarters
before the "Pallas" entered the bay.

CHAPTER XXVI.

FEVER VISIONS.

As the "Pallas" passed out of the canal upon the broad-breasted
Mediterranean, Jordan noticed the change in the motion of the ship, and
said to Sedgwick: "Jim, old friend, we is back agin on ther waters whar
men first learned ter be sailors, aren't we?"

"Yes," said Sedgwick, "and in three days more I hope to gladden your eyes
with the faces of some dear friends."

"Yo's mighty kind, old friend," said the sick man; "but, Jim, I wanter
tell yo', if we should be diserpinted, yo'll find inside my trunk a
little trunk, and in thet yo'll find things all fixed ter tell yer what
ter do. I 'ranged it when yo' war away, not knowin' what mount be.
Remember one thing mo': everything's all right 'nd goin' ter be right.
I'll get well 'nd help yo' ef I ken; ef I don't, yo'll make it easy,
nuff, without me."

"Indeed I cannot," said Sedgwick. "You must brace up and get well, for I
tell you, dear old Tom, that I can see better than you, and I have worked
out a plan which is going to be a delight for you."

"Maybe so, Jim," said the sick man, and dozed off into a troubled sleep.
The surgeon had been giving the patient some powerful medicine, and told
Sedgwick it might make him flighty, but not to permit that to alarm him;
that he thought he could promise to hold the life in his friend for a few
days more.

Jordan awoke after an hour's sleep, and said: "Jim, I had a mighty quar
dream, sho. I seen all ther fleets ez hez ever sailed on these waters,
havin' er grand review. It war ther ghosts ev ther ships, I reckon, but
they looked mighty real. I seen ther fleets ev Tyre with ther sails like
calico mustangs; I seen ther Persian fleets thet ther Greeks done up et
Mycale 'nd Salamis; I seen ther fitin' ships uv Rome, 'nd Carthage, 'nd
Egypt, 'nd Venice, down ter Nelson's fite