"That passes comprehension."
"Wait, gentlemen, until I dress, and I will see what can be done."
The secretary was not long in making his appearance, and went at once with Vernon and Tempest to the White House.
"Only the President can stay an execution," he explained.
It was no pleasanter for a president to be aroused from his slumbers than for an ordinary private citizen, and James Madison obeyed the summons with some little reluctance.
An order was signed, granting a stay until further inquiry could be made.
With this document our friends again went to the lockup, and found Bob sleeping as peacefully as he could, considering his unpleasant seat.
When told he was not to die quite as soon as he had been led to anticipate, he evinced so much exuberant joy that his bench fell over, and he sat down on the floor with a force far from pleasant.
Knowing that Bob was in no further danger of losing his life, our friends returned to their hotel, but not before learning that it was the commandant's daughter who had been the cause of Bob's transmission to the civil authorities.
Miss Jones had thought the civil courts would not allow the military execution, at least until after Bob had been duly tried.