"I know!" exclaimed the doctor; "he thinks I am concealing worse by inventing a war with all its _et ceteras_. His supposition does me credit in one way, but in another it does me great injury. Although I have given him my word of honour that I am concealing nothing, he still hangs to his notion that I am lying to him in order to keep from him a truth that might be dangerous to his health. I shall be compelled to call him out when he gets well. Will you act for me, Aleck?" "With great pleasure," said the man addressed; "but perhaps your friend will make the _amende_ when he knows the injustice of his suspicions." "Have I told either of you what I have said to Jones about the war?" asked the doctor. "Certainly not; so far as I have the right to speak," said the Captain. The other man shook his head. "Then tell Jones the conditions here." "Oh, Doctor, don't be so hard on me! I accept all you say, although it is accepting impossibilities." "Then, about your dream theory," said the Captain; "would you object to my asking if you have ever had such a dream--so vivid and so long?" "Not that I know of," said I. "You think that Dr. Frost and my brother and I are mere creatures of your fancy?" The candles did not give a great light. I could not clearly see his features. He came nearer, moving his stool to my side. My head was below him, so that I was looking up at his face. He was a young man. His face was almost a triangle, with its long jaw. "I believe that dreams are not very well understood, even by the wisest," he said. "Do me the kindness to confess that your present experience, if a dream, is more wonderful than any other dream you have had." Though my head was dizzy, I thought I could detect a slight tinge of irony in this excessively polite speech. "I think it must be," I replied; "although I cannot remember any other dream." "Then, might not one say that the only dream you are conscious of is not a dream?" "That contradicts itself," said I. "And you find yourself unable to accept the word of three men that you are not dreaming?" "Not if they are men of my dream," said I. "A good retort, sir," he said. "Do me the kindness to tell me your notion of a dream. Do you think it should be consistent throughout, or should there be strong intrinsic proof of its own unrealness?" "Captain," I said, "I cannot tell. I know nothing. I doubt my own existence." "Pardon me," said he; "you know the test--you think, therefore you exist. Are you not sure that you think?" "I think, or I dream that I think." "Well said, sir; an excellent reasoner while dreaming. But suppose you dream on; what will be the result?" "Dream and sleep till I awake," said I. "May I ask where you will awake?" "In Aiken." "I know a little of Aiken," said the Captain; "I was there not a year ago." Naturally the remark was of interest to me. "When was it?" I asked. "It was in August, of last year. You remember, Frank, I was recruiting for the reorganized First."