on ther Nile. O, but it war a
grand persession! Thar war calls in a hundred tongues; thar war responses
in a hundred mo'; thar war decks filled with armed men, with helmets,
spears 'nd shields; thar war singin' 'nd prayin' 'nd trumpet calls; thar
war ther rattle ev arms, ther ring ev steel, 'nd ther harsh blast ev
war-horns, 'nd ther sounds changed from age to age, until thar came at
last ther roar uv hevy guns in regelar broadsides. All ther echoes uv all
ther battles uv all ther centeries war in my ears. It war grand; grander
nor Chatternooga. Thar sea gave up its ded fur me, so fur ez this water
goes. History held befo' me all its pages, 'nd they wuz all 'luminated.
Ez thet picter swept befo' my eyes, 'nd all thar clamors filled my ears,
it war more thrillin' then anything yo' ever dreamed of. I ken har ther
calls, 'nd ther replies, 'nd ther beatin' uv oars, tho' thar oars war
broken, 'nd ther calls growed still two 'nd three thousand year ago. It
war beautiful, Jim, even ef it war all 'lusion ter ther eyes 'nd ears. Do
yo' remember, yo' read me once 'Ther Midnight Review?' Why, Jim, thet war
nuthin'. This uv mine war ther review ev all thar ages, er movin' picter
uv ther world since befo' civilerzation begun."

Then the sick man dozed off into sleep again, and Sedgwick bathed his
face, and hung over him as a mother watches when the life of her child
wavers between this world and the next.

After awhile Jordan awoke again. This time there was an eager, joyous
look in his wan face, and he searched the room around with a most
expectant gaze.

Sedgwick bent over him, and said softly: "What is it, old friend?"

"Why, Jim, old man," said he, "that war most singler. I hearn _her_ voice
a-prayin', hearn it jest ez plain 'nd natral ez ever I hearn it afore,
prayin' thet I might git well. O, Jim, it war music, sho' nuff! and
ef eny angels war a-listenin', they'd intercede fur me jest outer
courtesy."

"She was praying, dear friend," said Sedgwick. "I knew it, and her prayer
is going to be answered. Her soul is trying to call to your soul to rouse
itself, and you must heed the call."

"I'll try," said the sick man. "But don't worry, old friend; no matter
what comes, it'll be all right. And, say, Jim, open my grip and put ther
handkerchief you will see with dots upon it here next my heart."

For the twenty-four hours prior to reaching Naples Jordan was delirious
most of the time, and did not sleep at all. Finally the su