"Never mind then, old chap," replied Barney, putting out his hand to
him.

"Wait a minute, Barney. I will," said Dick, instantly regaining hold
of himself. As he spoke he knelt by the bed, took his brother's hand in
both of his and, holding it to his face, spoke quietly and simply his
prayer, closing with the words, "And O, my Father, keep my brother
safe." "And mine," added Barney. "Amen."

"Now, Dick, old boy, we're all ready." And with a smile he met the
doctor at the door.

In an hour all was over, and the grave faces of the doctor and the nurse
told Dick all he dared not ask.

"How long before he will be quite conscious again?" he inquired.

"It will be an hour at least," replied the surgeon, kindly, "before he
can talk much."

Without a word to anyone, Dick went away to his room, locked the door
upon his lonely fight and came forth when the hour was gone, ready
to help his brother if he should chance to need help for "the last
weariness, the final strife."

"We must help him," he said to Margaret as they stood together waiting
till he should waken. "We must forget our side just now."

But he need not have feared for her, nor for Barney. Through the night
they watched him grow weaker, watched not in growing gloom, but, as
it were, in an atmosphere bright with the light of hope and warm with
strong and tender love. At times Barney would wander in his delirium,
but a word would call him back to them. As the end drew near, by
Nature's kindly ministry the pain departed.

"This is not too bad, Dick," he said. "How much worse it might have
been. He brought us two together again--us three," he corrected,
glancing at Margaret.

"Yes, Barney," replied Dick, "nothing matters much beside that."

"And then," continued his brother, "He let me do a little work for the
boys, for 'Mexico.' Poor 'Mexico'! But he'll stick, I think. Help him,
Dick. He is my friend."

"Mine, too, Barney," said Dick; "mine forever."

"Poor chaps, they need me. What a chance for some man!--for a doctor, I
mean!"

"We'll get someone, Barney. Never fear."

"What a chance!" he murmured again, wearily, as he fell asleep.

Day dawned clear and still. The storm was gone, the whole world was
at peace. The mountains and the wide valleys lay beautiful in their
unsullied robes of purest white, and, over all, the rising sun cast a
rosy sheen. As Margaret rolled up the blinds and drew back the curtains,
letting in the glory of the morning, Ba