the muffled tread and
subdued tones of the men, who presently entered, bearing the stretcher
on which was laid the huge form of the Iron King, covered, all except
his face, with a white bed-spread. Slowly, carefully, and with some
difficulty they bore him up the broad staircase head first--preceded by
the family physician, Dr. Cummins, and followed by Messrs. Fabian and
Clarence.

Rose and Cora stood each side the open chamber door, and when the men
bore the stretcher in and set it down on the floor, the two women
approached and looked down on the injured man.

His countenance was scarcely affected by his accident. He was no paler
than usual. He was frowning--it might be from pain or it might be from
anger--and he was glaring around. Rose was afraid to speak to him, prone
on the stretcher as he was, lest she should get her head bitten off.
Cora bent over him and said tenderly:

"Dear grandfather, I am very sorry for this. I hope you are not hurt
much."

And she had her head immediately snapped off.

"Don't be a confounded idiot!" he growled, hoarsely. "Go and send old
black Martha here. She is worth a hundred of you two."

Rose hurried off to obey this order, glad enough of an excuse to escape.
And now the room was cleared of all the men except the family physician,
the two sons, and the grandson.

These approached the stretcher and carefully and tenderly undressed the
patient and laid him on his bed.

Then the physician made a more careful examination.

There were no bones broken. The injuries seemed to be all internal; but
of their seriousness or dangerousness the physician could not yet judge.
The nervous shock had certainly been severe, and that in itself was a
grave misfortune to a man of Aaron Rockharrt's age, and might have been
instantaneously fatal to any one of less remarkable strength.

Dr. Cummins told Mr. Fabian that he should remain in attendance on his
patient all night. Then, at the desire of Mr. Rockharrt, he cleared the
sick room of every one except the old negro woman.

When the door was shut upon them all, and the chamber was quiet, he
administered a sedative to his patient and advised him to close his eyes
and try to compose himself.

Then the doctor sat down on the right side of the bed, with old Martha
on his left.

There was utter silence for a few minutes, and then old Aaron Rockharrt
spoke.

"What's the hour, doctor?"

"Seven," replied the physician after consulting his gol