e doctor, if he should see
her there, would wonder why she was not at her grandfather's bedside,
and perhaps--as he was an old friend--he might ask questions which she
would find it embarrassing to answer. The boat touched the shore; the
gig, containing the doctor and Mr. Clarence, rolled off the boat on
along the drive leading to the house.

Meanwhile Mr. Fabian had re-entered the hall and hurried up to his
father's room. He found the Iron King in bed, lying on his right side
and breathing heavily. His eyes were half closed.

"Father," said the son, in a low voice, taking his hand and bending over
him.

There was no response.

"It ain't no use, Marster Fabe. Yer can't rouse him, do wot yer will.
Better wait till de doctor come, young marse. I done been tried all I
knowed how, but it wa'n't no use," said Martha, who stood on the other
side of the bed watching her insensible master.

"Tell me when this happened. Come away to the upper end of the room and
tell me about it."

"Might's well tell yer right here, marse. 'Twon't sturve him. Lor!
thunder wouldn't sturve him, the way he is in."

"Then tell me, how was it? When was he stricken?"

"We don't know, marse. He was found jes' dis way by John dis
mornin'--not jes zackly dis way, howaseber, case he was a-layin' on his
lef side, w'ich was berry bad; so me an' John turn him ober jes so like
he is a-layin' now. Den we sent right off for you, marse, to ketch yer
at home 'fore yer went to de works."

"Did he seem well when he came home last night?'

"Jes 'bout as ujual, marse. He came in, an' John he waited on him. An he
ax, ole marse did, 'was Mrs. Rossay gone?' W'ich John tole him she were.
Den he ordered dinner to be fotch up. An' John he had a pitcher ob hot
punch ready. An' ole marse drank some. Den he went in to dinner all by
hisself. An' young Mark he waited on de table, w'ich he tell me, w'en I
ax him dis mornin', how de ole marse eat much as ujual, wid a good
relish. Den arter dinner he went to de liberairy and sot dere a long
time. Ole John say it were midnight 'fo' de ole marse walk up stairs an'
call him to wait on him."

"Was John the last one who saw my father before he was found unconscious
this morning?"

"Hi! yes, young marse, to be sure he were. De las' to see de ole marse
in healt' las' night, an' de firs' to fine him dis way dis mornin'."

"How came he to find his master in this condition?"

"It was dis way. Yer know, young marse, as dere