Of a sudden the eyes of doctor and soldier, who had been nurse, met and challenged each other. There was a dumb terror in the soldier's eyes, a grave pity in the surgeon's. "I seen them spots yesterday," said Spruce, slowly, in a toneless voice, "but I wouldn't believe they was typhoid spots, nor they _ain't_!" "You get inside and get a drink, Spruce, and go to bed," said the doctor. "Of course, I'm not certain, but as good a nurse as you knows that it isn't safe to try to bluff typhoid fever." By this time Spruce was on his feet, able to salute with his reply: "That's all right, Major, but--I got to keep up till Danvers gits off with his folks, or he'd be kicking and want to stay. Jest let me see him off, and I'll go straight to bed." "No walking about, mind, though," said the doctor, not well pleased, yet knowing enough of the two men to perceive the point of the argument. Spruce saw Danvers off, with a joke and a grin, and an awkward bow for Danvers' sister. Then he went back to the hospital and went to bed, having written his aunt's address on a prescription pad (one of his acquirements in his foraging trips) with a remarkably spelled request that his pay be sent her, and his other property be given his friend, R. E. Danvers, to divide among his friends, giving the captain first choice. "Lots of folks die of typhoid fever," he remarked quite easily, "and it don't hurt to be ready. I feel like I was in for a bad time, and I ain't stuck on the nursing here a little bit." Before the week was out he recognized as well as the doctors that he was a very sick man. "If you'd only gone off with your regiment three weeks ago," the doctor growled one day, "you'd have missed this, Spruce." "That's all right," said Spruce, "but some of the boys are home that wouldn't be, maybe. I guess it's all right. Only, you know captain and Danvers; I wish you'd write back to the old town and tell the committee I done my duty. I can't be a credit to the company, but I done my duty, though I expect there's folks in town may think I was malingering." "Stop talking!" commanded the doctor. "Did you know the women are coming to-morrow; you are to have a nurse of your own here?" "Time," said Spruce; "if my town had its way they'd been here long ago. Ever been in my town, Major?" "No. Good-by, Spruce; keep quiet." "It's the bulliest town in the country, and the prettiest. And when G company goes back--Oh, Lord, I won't be with 'em!" The surgeon's hand on his shoulder prevented the movement which he would have made, and he apologized; "I didn't mean to do that! Moving's so bad. Tell you, I'd a time keeping the boys still; they _would_ turn when they got a little off. Say, I got to talk, Major, something's broke loose in me and I _got_ to talk. I don't want to, I just got to." When the nurse came he was so light-headed as to have no control of his words, yet quite able to recognize her and welcome her with an apologetic politeness.