THE DEATH OF SIR TOM 347 



was put to bed ; but he would not listen to the 

 requests of William and the faithful cook that 

 the doctor be summoned. At last he fell into 

 a heavy sleep from which it was hard to rouse 

 him, and the servants followed their own desire 

 and called Dr. High. He came as promptly as 

 possible, and did all that could be done for the 

 sick man. 



A hurried examination convinced me that Dr. 

 High's opinion of the gravity of the case was 

 correct, and we telephoned at once for a spe- 

 cialist from the city, and for a trained nurse. 

 After a short consultation with Dr. High I 

 reentered my friend's room, and I fear that my 

 face gave me away, for Sir Tom said : 



Be a man, Williams, and tell the whole of 

 it." 



" My dear old man, this is a tough proposition, 

 but you must buck up and make a game fight. 

 We have sent for Dr. Jones and a nurse, and we 

 will pull you through, sure." 



" You will try, for sure, but I reckon the call 

 has come for me to cash in me checks. When 

 that little devil Frost hit me right and left in 

 me chest last night, I could see me finish ; and 

 I heard the banshee in me sleep, and that means 

 much to a Sligo man." 



" Not to this Sligo man, I hope," said I, though 

 I knew that we were in deep waters. 



The wise man and the nurse came out on the 

 10.30 train, the nurse bringing comfort and aid, 



