"The desire to will may momentarily fail through bodily weakness, or through fear--which is the same thing. But he who can will when he desires to will not, conquers himself doubly." I put his hand away and rose. "What time is it, Doctor?" I asked. "Half-past ten," said he, without looking at his watch. "I must report to General Morell at eleven," I said. "We must not waste time, then," he said; "who accompanies you?" "I go alone." He looked at me searchingly, then grasped my hand. He understood. "You have strengthened your will; good. Now I will strengthen your body." He went to a small chest, from which he took a flask. He poured a spoonful of liquid into a glass. I drank. "It will be slow and last long," said he. He brought me the gray clothing and helped me to dress; he turned the pockets of my blue clothes and selected such things as I needed. "Do you go armed?" he asked. "Yes; apparently. I shall take the Enfield--unloaded." He brought the cartridge-box and the canteen; he brought the haversack, and put food in it. Said he, "I wish you would humour one of my whims." "Anything you wish, Doctor." "Put the palmetto buttons on your coat." It was soon done. I was passive; he was doing the work. "Now," he said, "one other thing. Take this pencil, and this book. Turn to May 23d. I will dictate." It was a small blank-book, a little soiled, with the pages divided into sections, which were headed with dates for the year 1862. "Turn to May 23d," he had said. "I have it," said I. "Read the date," said he. "FRIDAY, May 23, 1862." "Now write." The Doctor dictated; I wrote:-- "Arrived after furlough. Drilled A.M. and P.M. Weather clear." * * * * * "SATURDAY, May 24, 1862. "On camp guard. Letters from home. Showers. Marched at night." * * * * * "SUNDAY, May 25, 1862. "Marched all day. Bivouacked in woods at night." * * * * * "MONDAY, May 26, 1862. "Marched but a few miles. Day very hot. Weather bad. Heavy rain at night." * * * * * "TUESDAY, May 27, 1862. "Rain. Heard a battle ahead. Marched past--" "What brigade was that you saw at Hanover Court-House?" the Doctor asked. "Branch's." "Yes, Branch's; write, 'Marched past Branch's brigade, that had been fighting.'" Then the Doctor said: "Now turn to the fly-leaf of the book and write"--he paused a moment--"simply write Jones. Here--turn the book lengthwise, and write Jones." I wrote Jones--lengthwise the book. "Wait," said he; "put a capital B." I put a capital B after Jones. "Let me see," said he. I showed him the book. "No," said he; "erase that B and put another one before Jones." "Have you an eraser?" "I'll get one." The B after Jones was erased, leaving a dark splotch. I wrote B. before Jones. "We must get that dark spot out," said he.