d repeater. "But
I advise you to keep quiet and try to sleep," he added, returning his
timepiece to his fob.

As if the Iron King ever followed advice! As if he did not, on general
principles, always run counter to it!

"Didn't I see my fool of a grandson among the other lunatics who ran
after me here?" he next inquired.

"Yes."

"Where is he now?"

"With the ladies, I think."

"Send--him--up--to--me!"

The doctor shrugged his shoulders and went to obey the order. The
obstinacy of this self-willed egotist was surely growing into a
monomania, and perhaps it would have been more dangerous to oppose him
than to comply with his whim. In a few moments Dr. Cummins re-entered
the room, followed by Sylvan Haught.

"I hope you are feeling easier," said the lieutenant, as he bent over
his grandfather.

"I have not complained of feeling uneasy yet, have I?" growled the Iron
King.

"You sent for me, sir. Can I do anything for you?"

"For me? No; not likely! But you can do your duty to your country! How
is it that you are not on your way to join your regiment?"

"I had actually bidden good-by and left the house to start on my
journey, when I met men bringing you home."

"What the demon had that to do with it?"

"I could not go on, sir, and leave you under such circumstances."

"Look here, young sir!" said the Iron King, speaking hoarsely, faintly,
yet with strong determination. "Do you call yourself a soldier or a
shirk? Let me tell you that it is the first duty of a soldier to obey
orders, at all times, under all circumstances, and at all costs! If you
had been a married man, and your wife had been dying--if you had been a
father, and your child had been dying, it would have been your duty to
leave them!"

"But, sir, there was no real need that I should go by this night's
express. If I should start to-morrow morning, I shall be in good time to
report for duty. It was only my zeal to be better than prompt which
induced me to start earlier than necessary. To-morrow will be quite time
enough to leave for New York."

"Very well; then go to-morrow by the first train," said the Iron King in
a more subdued manner, for the sedative was beginning to take effect.

At a hint from the doctor the young lieutenant bade his grandfather
good-night and softly stepped out of the room.

CHAPTER XXV.

THE SICK LION.

Early the next morning Dr. Cummins came down stairs and joined the
family at the breakfast table.