The Senator was too indignant to say more, and so fell into a fit of musing.
"Dick," said Buttons, after a long pause, "you are as pale as a ghost. I believe you must be beginning to feel the miasma from these plains."
"Oh no," said Dick, dolefully; "something worse."
"What's the matter?"
"Do you remember the eggs we had for dinner last evening?"
"Yes."
"That's what's the matter," said Dick, with a groan. "I can't explain; but this, perhaps, will tell thee all I feel."
He took from his pocket a paper and handed it to Buttons. Around the margin were drawn etchings of countless fantastic figures, illustrating the following lines:
A NIGHTMARE.
"_Gorgons, and hydras, and chimeras dire_."