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CHAPTER XXIX.
A NAVAL BATTLE.
AFTER dinner, seeing that Doctor Grey and the
naval officer (who " lighted a stick of rolled
tobacco and smoked it as if it were a pipe," as
Honda afterward said) evidently wished to talk
together, Honda Jiro left with many invitations to
come again in the morning. Doctor Grey promised
to take him in next door to the dispensary of the
physician, Doctor Bunner, who healed and prescribed
for the native poor.
Had Honda Jiro been able then to understand
English, he would have heard a conversation something
like that given below. Both were Americans,
both strong patriots and lovers of freedom, haters
of human slavery and oppression, and withal devout
Christian men.
"
Things look dark at home, just now," said Doctor
"
Grey, do they not, Captain McDougal ? "
"
Yes, doctor, they do. With Vicksburg still holding
out, and the awful defeats at Fredericksburg and
Chancellorsville, the Union arms are under a cloud
which shows no silver lining yet."
" So it seems ; and sometimes I feel as if I had no
country, and wonder whether my children will ever
see the United States again. With Confederate vic-
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