"Yet for all that my true mission is not to break men's bones, but to set them when broken. Not to take men's lives, but to save them when endangered! So to-morrow morning, please Providence, I shall present this order to General Butler and apply for my discharge."
"And you will set out immediately for home?"
The face of Traverse suddenly changed.
"I should like to do so! Oh, how I should like to see my dear mother and Clara, if only for a day! but I must not indulge the longing of my heart. I must not go home until I can do so with honor!"
"And can you not do so now? You, who triumphed over all your personal enemies and who won your colors at Chapultepec?"
"No, for all this was in my legitimate profession! Nor will I present myself at home until, by the blessing of the Lord, I have done what I set out to do, and established myself in a good practice. And so, by the help of heaven, I hope within one week to be on my way to New Orleans to try my fortune in that city."
"To New Orleans! And a new malignant fever of some horrible, unknown type, raging there!" exclaimed Herbert.
"So much the more need of a physician! Herbert, I am not the least uneasy on the subject of infection! I have a theory for its annihilation."
"I never saw a clever young professional man without a theory!" laughed Herbert.
The drum was now heard beating the tattoo, and the friends separated with hearts full of revived hope.