fever again, or what?"

I may mention in explanation of this question of mine that, the year
before, I had been confined to bed with a sharp attack of a sort of
tertian ague, which is the scourge of most tropical countries. This was
the only illness I had ever suffered from in my young life; so, I
thought now that my old enemy had paid me another visit.

"No, dear, you have not had the fever," she answered. "Do you forget
all about going to town to meet your father, and how your pony threw you
over his head at the foot of Constitution Hill?"

Thereupon the whole thing flashed back upon my mind in an instant.

"But how did I get here?" I inquired, puzzled at this part of the
affair. "I remember now about my tumble, and seeing dad and Doctor
Martin at some place in Saint George's, with old Jake crying behind
them, but I don't recollect anything else."

"My boy," said my mother seriously, her lips trembling as she spoke,
"you've had a very narrow escape from an awful death! Do you know that
had you fallen on your head in the street when Prince pitched you over,
nothing could have saved your life? As it was, you got your left arm
broken and face cut, besides which you have been suffering from a slight
concussion of the brain, Doctor Martin says. It is the latter which has
made you insensible for so long a time. At one time, indeed, we all
despaired of you!"

"Really!" I exclaimed, drawing a long breath of dismay at this
catalogue of my injuries.

"Yes, really, Tom," said she; "it is a wonder to me that you are now
lying here in your right senses again."

"But how did I get home, mother?" I asked, pressing my inquiries so as
to learn every incident of the accident.

"Well, dear, being unconscious, and as moving you could not affect your
head much, Doctor Martin thought you would recover sooner if removed to
the fresh country air of Mount Pleasant than if you were allowed to
remain in the stifling atmosphere of the town. So you were brought up
here, borne on the very sofa on which you were placed when they picked
you up after your fall, four negroes acting as your palanquin bearers."

"Jake was one, I bet!" I here put in, interrupting her. "I am sure he
wouldn't have let anyone else carry me if he could help it."

"Oh, yes, Jake assisted," she said; "and I gave him a fine scolding,
too, afterwards, for allowing you to ride down that hill at such a pace.
It was a mercy you were not killed outright!"