Jack sat and waited while the room filled with ruddy, crotchety gentlemen supported by canes or crutches--elderly, old and of middle age. Among those of the latter class was a giant of a man, erect and dignified, accompanied by a big blond youngster in a lieutenant's uniform. He sat down and began to talk with another patient of the troubles in America.
"I see the damned Yankees have thrown another cargo of tea overboard," said he in a tone of anger.
"This time it was in Cape Cod. We must give those Yahoos a lesson."
Jack surmised now that here was the aggressive Tory General of whom the Doctor had spoken and that the young man was his son.
"I fear that it would be a costly business sending men to fight across three thousand miles of sea," said the other.
"Bosh! There is not one Yankee in a hundred that has the courage of a rabbit. With a thousand British grenadiers, I would undertake to go from one end of America to another and amputate the heads of the males, partly by force and partly by coaxing."
A laugh followed these insulting words. Jack Irons rose quickly and approached the man who had uttered them. The young American was angry, but he managed to say with good composure:
"I am an American, sir, and I demand a retraction of those words or a chance to match my courage against yours."
A murmur of surprise greeted his challenge.
The Britisher turned quickly with color mounting to his brow and surveyed the sturdy form of the young man.