About nightfall he came into the tent, rubbing his hands.

“Good evening, Jones.  I expected to see you here.  I suppose you think you are going to stay with me several days?”

“Why do you suppose so, Doctor?”

“Oh, by this and that.  Your brigade will have nothing to do this side of the Chickahominy.”

“I don’t know anything about the Chickahominy,” I replied.

“You will know.”

“The brigade can be easy for some time, then?”

“Any man can be easy for some time if he has been ordered on special duty not to be demanded for some time.”

“You know about my case?”

“Yes.”

Dr. Khayme looked surprisingly fresh after having undergone such arduous labours; indeed, this little man’s physical endurance and his mental power were to me matters for astonishment equally great.

“Doctor,” I said, “I hear you have been working very hard.  You need rest and sleep.”

“Well,” said he, “when I need rest I rest; when I need sleep I sleep; just now I want supper.”

After we had eaten he filled his pipe, and settled himself on a camp-stool.  He got more comfort out of a camp-stool than any other man in the world.  As I saw him sitting there, puffing slowly, his eyes filled with intelligent pleasure, his impassive features in perfect repose, I thought he looked the picture of contentment.

I asked about Lydia.

“Lydia will not rejoin me yet,” said, he; “she wishes to be with me, but I prefer that she should remain in the hospital at Hampton until the army is concentrated.  You will have some marching to do before you have any more fighting, and I don’t think I’ll send for her yet.”

“I suppose she can do as much good where she is,” I said.

“Yes, and save herself the worry of frequent marches.  She can come to me when things are settled.  However, I am not sure that we shall not demand her services here.  But now tell me all about your last night’s experience.”

When I had ended my narration, he said, “You will hereafter be called on to do more of such work.”

“I suppose so,” said I.

“Do you like it?”

“No, Doctor, I do not, and I am surprised that I do not.  Yet, I shall not object if I can accomplish anything.”

“You have accomplished something each time that you have been sent out.  You have at least furnished strong corroborative evidence, sufficiently strong to induce action on the part of your generals.”

“Doctor, I wish you would rest and sleep.”

“Are you sleepy?”

“No; I slept all the morning, and had another nap in the afternoon.”

“Well, let us talk awhile.  The animals can rest; speech is given unto man alone.  First, I say that by holding to your programme of last night you will incur little risk.”

“Tell me what you mean by holding to my programme, Doctor.”