will, Ingenious mind and wondrous skill,
Laurels of peace are thine to wear, More blest than those of battle
field; Begemmed with tears of gratitude And brighter than a Spartan
shield--The world acclaims this crown to thee, And glories in thy
victory.

The greatest boon of God is life, The dearest trust to mortal given And
God-like 'tis to keep and save This precious heritage of heaven, This
holy aim, this task divine Thy proud achievements claim as thine.

When all the waves of time are past And earth's rude storms with thee
are o'er, Oh, may'st thou sweetly rest at last Upon the peaceful shining
shore, And may thy spirit's pastime be Life's river and the Jasper sea.

Paul was deeply affected by so delicate a tribute from the accomplished
stranger, and did all he could do under the circumstances--sent her an
autograph note of grateful appreciation.

He did not stop long at Natchez, feeling anxious to finish the voyage as
soon as possible. Among the crowd that followed him to the wharf when
he resumed the trip next day was the doctor who had prescribed for him.
That gentleman was very earnest in advising him not to start as he was
in great danger of being seized with the fever.

"You have every indication of the fever now," said the doctor, "and if
it attacks you on the water you will to a certainty die. However, if you
will persist in going, all I can do is to tell you that as soon as you
feel the symptoms, make for the shore and get into a bed as soon as you
can."

"What are the symptoms?" inquired Boyton,

"You become chilly and have a numb feeling all over."

"All right, I'll look out for them," and with that Paul waved a good bye
to the multitude and struck gamely away in the teeth of the wind. As
night came on he was tired and imagined he could feel the symptoms of
which the doctor had warned him. He was just heading for shore when he
heard a steamboat. He burned a red light for her and she slowed up. The
passengers on deck cheered him and the Captain sang out:

"How do you feel, Paul?"

"All right, report me above," was the answer, and the boat headed on up
the river. The diversion gave him courage to go ahead, and he struck
out with renewed determination, running so well that he reached Baton
Rouge at eight o'clock in the morning. From that city it was a home run
of one hundred and thirty four miles to New Orleans. He started early
next morning, though feeling very stiff and sore.