“If you wish, Mr. Rover,” said the ambulance doctor.  “Hop up on the seat with the driver.”  And Dick did so.

It was a drive of several miles and during that time Dick said but little.  Once Tom roused up, to murmur something about his head, but that was all.

As soon as the hospital was reached, Tom was placed in a private room, Dick asking for such accommodations.

“Do your best for my brother,” said he, to those in attendance.  “Don’t let money stand in the way.  I’ll see that all bills are paid.”

“We’ll have the best doctor we can get for your brother,” answered the physician in attendance, and then he sent for a specialist.

After that there was nothing to do but to wait.  Dick went down to the office and called up the Outlook Hotel in New York by telephone.  He found that Sam had just arrived there with his father, and told his younger brother of what had occurred.

“Don’t worry father too much about it,” said he.  “Maybe it will all come out right in the end—­ anyway I hope so.”  And then he told Sam to get the police to watch the offices of Pelter, Japson & Company, and also look out for Belright Fogg.

Before the specialist arrived to care for Tom, the ambulance came back with Josiah Crabtree.  The former teacher of Putnam Hall showed his cowardly nature by groaning dismally every time he was moved.  He was placed in a public ward, and those in attendance were told that he was an escaped prisoner and must not be allowed to get away again, under any circumstances.

“He won’t try it himself for a good many weeks,” said one of the doctors, grimly.  “Those breaks are had ones.  He’ll be lucky if he gets over them.”

At last the specialist came and took charge of Tom.  For over an hour Dick waited for a report on his brother’s condition.  When the specialist came to the youth he looked unusually grave.

“Your brother’s case is a peculiar one, Mr. Rover;” said he.  “I do not find any crack in the skull.  But he has received a great shock, and what the outcome of that will be I cannot say.”

“You don’t think he will—­ will die?” faltered Dick, hardly able to frame the words.

“Hardly as bad as that, Mr. Rover.  But the shock has been a heavy one, and he will need close attention for some time.  I will come in again to-morrow morning and see him.”

“Well, do your best,” said Dick, brokenly,

“I always do that,” answered Doctor Garrison, gravely.

There were no accommodations for Dick at the hospital, so he found a room at a hotel several blocks away.  From the hotel he sent another telephone message to Sam, telling him what the specialist had said.  Then he asked Sam if he would come up.

“If you’ll do that I can go down and help father,” he added.

“All right—­ I’ll come up to-night or first thing in the morning,” said Sam.

It was eight o’clock in the morning when the youngest Rover boy appeared.  He was as anxious as Dick concerning Tom, and both waited for the specialist to appear and report.  Tom had regained consciousness for a few minutes, but that was all.