While the wound in my chest was being dressed, I had seized the opportunity to look round the ward, and saw that several of the beds were occupied, one of the patients, who appeared to be suffering from a broken arm, being a man whom I appeared to know. As I sat staring at him he turned his head and our eyes met, whereupon, to my amazement, up went his uninjured hand to the salute. "Who is that man?" I demanded. "I seem to recognise his face." "You do?" remarked the Chief. "Ah! no wonder. He is one of the survivors of the disaster by which you so nearly lost your honourable life. He was one of the crew of the _Kasanumi_." "One of the crew of the _Kasanumi_!" I repeated. "Of course; I remember now. How come he and I to be here?" "You were both, with the rest of the crew of your ship, rescued by the _Akatsuki_, which ship was happily at hand when the disaster occurred," replied the Chief. "Ah, yes, the disaster!" I remarked. "Yes, I am beginning to remember all about it now. What was the nature of the disaster, doctor? Was that ever ascertained?" "According to your friend, Captain Ito, who brought you here, there is no doubt that your ship struck a mine," was the reply. "Of course she went down, though not so quickly but that the entire crew were saved, together with most of their personal effects. There was time, indeed, to save most, if not all, of your belongings, Captain, and they are now here, awaiting your convalescence." "Thank you," I said. "And, pray, when did the disaster occur?" "Just a week ago, last night," was the reply. "A week ago!" I exclaimed in consternation. "Then, have I lain here all that time, unconscious?" "You certainly have," replied the Chief. "Now, however, that you are happily conscious once more, we must do our utmost to keep you so, and to assist your recovery. Therefore, no more conversation, if you please, until I give you permission. What you now have to do is to remain perfectly quiet and free from all excitement, pleasurable or otherwise. Rest, sleep, take such food and such medicines as I shall order for you, and recover strength as rapidly as possible. Then, when you are sufficiently well to receive visitors, I will permit a few of the many who are now eager to see you, to do so. No, not another word!" And therewith the little fellow and his staff turned away and proceeded to overhaul the rest of the patients. The nurse whom I had at first seen upon recovering consciousness appeared to have been specially told off to look after me, for upon the departure of the staff she came and knelt by my bedside, as is their fashion, instead of sitting. She was just within the range of my vision, as I lay, and I suppose I must have stared at her pretty intently for some time, for presently I saw her colour rising, which at once brought me to my bearings. Thinking to put her at her ease, I said to her: "Nurse, what is your name?"