ing up from
Civita-Vecchia--"

Layton burst into a laugh at the strange pronunciation,--a wild,
unearthly sort of laugh that ended in a low, faint sigh, after which he
lay back like one exhausted.

[Illustration: 182]

"I 'm a-goin' to take a little blood from you, I am!" said Quackinboss,
producing a lancet which, from its shape and size, seemed more
conversant with horse than human practice.

"I 'll not be bled! How am I to travel a journey of seven, eight, or
ten days and nights, if I 'm bled?" cried the sick man, angrily.

"I 've got to bleed you, and I 'll do it!" said Quackinboss, as, taking
ont his handkerchief, he tore a long strip, like a ribbon, from its
border.

"Francesco--Francesco!" screamed out Layton, wildly, "take this
man away; he has no right to be here. I 'll not endure it Leave
me--go--leave me!" screamed he, angrily.

There was that peculiar something about the look of Quackinboss that
assured Francesco it would be as well not to meddle with him; and, like
all his countrymen, he was quick to read an expression and profit by his
knowledge. Even to the sick man, too, did the influence extend, and the
determinate, purpose-like tone of his manner enforced obedience without
even an effort.

"I was mystery-man for three years among the Choctaws," said he, as he
bound up Layton's arm, "and I 'll yield to no one livin' how to treat
a swamp fever, and that's exactly what you 've got." While the blood
trickled from the open vein he continued to talk on in the same strain.
"I 've seen a red man anoint hisself all over with oil, and set fire to
it, and then another stood by with a great blanket to wrap him up afore
he was more than singed, and it always succeeded in stoppin' the fever.
It brought it out to the surface like. Howsomever, it's only an
Indian's fixin', and I don't like it with a white man. How d' ye feel
now,--better?"

A muttering, dissatisfied sound, but half articulate, seemed to say, "No
better."

"It ain't to be expected yet," said Quackinboss. "Lie down, and be quiet
a bit."

Although the first effect of the bleeding seemed to calm the sufferer
and arrest his fever, the symptoms of the malady came back in full force
afterwards, and, ere day broke, he was raving wildly. At one moment he
fancied he was at work in the laboratory with his father, and he
ran over great calculations of mental arithmetic with a marvellous
volubility; then he was back in his chambers at Trinity, but