For two days Frank did nothing but answer questions and relate incidents that occurred during the flight from Shreveport. But at length the reaction came, and he, with several of his companions, were seized with the fever. For a month Frank was very ill; but he received the best of care, and, aided by his strong constitution, the progress of the disease was stayed.
One day the captain came into his room, and, seating himself by his bedside, inquired:
"Well, Mr. Nelson, how do you prosper?"
"Oh, I am getting along finely, thank you, sir."
"Do you think you will be strong enough to travel, soon?"
"Yes, sir," answered Frank, wondering what made the captain ask that question.
"How would you enjoy a trip home?"
"Oh, I should enjoy it above all things, sir I never was away from home so long before, in my life."
"Well," said the captain, as he rose to go, "you must hurry and get well as fast as you can. The doctor told me that he thought you ought to go North and recruit a little; so I wrote to the Admiral, and obtained you a sick-leave. The dispatch boat will be along in a day or two, and I will send you up the river on her. I think it is nothing more than right that you should go home for a couple of months, at least, for you have been through a good deal for a young man of your age."
The thought that he was soon to see his home again did Frank more good than all the medicine the doctor had given him; and, by the time the mail steamer arrived, he was able to walk about. In two weeks they arrived at Cairo. The steamer had scarcely touched the wharf-boat before Archie, who had seen his cousin standing on deck, sprang on board.