This'll never do; if you don't stop it, you'll die, as sure as fate; and you might as well make up your mind to it at once,--so, now!" "Well, sir," answered Jim, "it's as good a time to die now, I reckon, as often happens; but I ain't dead yet, not by a long shot; and I ain't going to die neither; so, now, yourself!" The doctor laughed.

"All right; if you'll get up that spirit, and keep it, I'll bet my pile on your recovery,--but you'll have to stop fretting.

You've got something on your mind that's troubling you; and the sooner you get rid of it, if you can, the better.

That's all I've got to say." And he marched off.
"Get rid of it," mused Jim, "how in thunder'll I get rid of it if I don't hear from Sallie?
Let me see--ah! I have it!" and looking more cheerful on the instant he lay still, watching for the doctor to come down the ward once more.

"Helloa!" he called, then.