le nonsense. Have you thought of the mischief you are doing
by making such a charge?"

"Thought till my head has seemed on fire. He'll have to leave the
regiment, and a good job too."

"Of course, over a craze."

"Craze, sir? It's a simple fact--the honest truth. Ask Corporal May
there.--It's true, isn't it, May?"

"Oh yes, sir; it's true enough," said the corporal, "though I'm sorry
enough to have to say it of my officer."

"It doesn't seem like it, sir," said Dickenson in a voice full of
exasperation.

"No, sir; you think so because you always were Mr Lennox's friend. But
it ain't my business, and I don't want to speak about it. I never do
unless I'm obliged."

"You--you worm!" cried Dickenson, for he could think of nothing better
to say. "Have you ever thought it would have been much better, after
your lit of fright in the cavern, if Mr Lennox had left you to take
your chance, instead of risking his life to save yours?"

"No, sir; I ain't never thought that," whined the man; "but I was very
grateful to him for what he did, and that's what keeps me back and makes
me feel so ill speaking about him. I wouldn't say a word, sir, but you
see I must speak the truth."

"Speak the truth!" growled Dickenson as he turned angrily away. "Look
here, Roby, if I stop here much longer I shall get myself into trouble
for kicking a patient. Now, once more, look here. You've done an awful
lot of mischief by what you said when your fit of delirium was on you,
and you're in such a weak state now that as soon as you begin thinking
about Lennox you make yourself worse by bringing the crazy feeling back
again."

"Crazy feeling? Bah! I know what I'm saying. A coward! I wish the
old days were back. I'd call him out and shoot him."

"No, you wouldn't, for you'd have to wait till the doctor took you off
his list, and by that time you'd be quite back in your right senses."

"Robert Dickenson!" cried Roby, flushing scarlet, and his features
growing convulsed.

"Yes, that's my name; but I'm not going to submit to a bullying from the
doctor for exciting his patient. Good-bye. Make haste and get well. I
can't stop here."

"Stay where you are," shouted Roby furiously. "Drew Lennox is--"

"My friend," muttered Dickenson, rushing out. "Poor fellow! I suppose
he believes it; but he doesn't know how bad he is. It's queer. That
idea regularly maddens him. Hullo! here's the boss."

"Ah, Dickenson, my lad! Been