old him down, for he was fond of fair
play, but rose immediately.

"You didn't do it; I slipped," said Pat, in anger and mortification,
and he instantly threw himself upon Tom again. But our hero kept cool,
while Pat was excited, and this placed him at an advantage. So the
second contest terminated like the first.

Cheers from a crowd of boys greeted this second victory--cheers to
which Pat listened with mortification and rage. He was half tempted to
renew the battle, but a cry from the boys, "A cop! a cop!" warned him
of the approach of his natural enemy, the policeman, and he walked
sullenly away, breathing threats of future vengeance, to which Tom paid
very little attention.

Five minutes later little Mike Flanagan came up, and pulled Tom by the
arm.

"What's the matter, Mike?" asked Tom, seeing that the little boy looked
excited.

"Your grandfather's been run over wid a horse," said the little boy,
not very intelligibly.

"Run over!" exclaimed Tom. "How can that be, when he was at home on the
bed?"

"He went out soon after you, and was beggin' on Broadway."

"Where is he now?" asked Tom, quickly.

"He was took to the hospital," said Mike.

CHAPTER IV.

AT THE HOSPITAL.

On a neat bed, at the Bellevue Hospital, old Jacob was stretched out.
He had been in considerable pain, but opiates had been administered,
and he was in an uneasy slumber.

Tom presented himself at the office below as soon as he could after
hearing of the accident.

"Is he much hurt? Is he in danger?" he asked, anxiously, for Jacob was
nearer to him than any one else.

"He is now sleeping, and must not be disturbed. Come tomorrow, and we
can tell you more," was the reply.

"You can tell me if he was much hurt."

"One leg is broken, but we cannot yet tell whether he has received any
internal injury. All depends upon that."

Tom presented himself the next day. This time the physician looked
grave.

"We have reason to think that he is injured internally. His life is
uncertain."

"Poor Jacob!" murmured Tom, moved by pity for the old man.

"Is he your grandfather?" asked the physician.

"No; but I have lived with him for some years. Can I see him?"

"Yes."

Tom followed the doctor into a long hall lined with beds. About midway,
on the left hand side, he recognized the form of his old companion.

"I am sorry to see you here, Jacob," said Tom, gently.

"I'm almost dead," said the old man, peevishly. "The man drov