."

I expected a volley then. A very serious look came over the face
of the captain. He wiped his brow with a handkerchief. I could
see that he had been drinking.

"Ah, I see! You have an interest in her. Well, my man, I want no
share in your treasures. I accept the condition."

Evil as was the flavor of this poor concession, D'ri made the best
of it.

"She's an honest woman for all I know," said he, handing over the
weapons. "Ain't a-goin' t' see no ledy mishused--nut ef I can help
it."

We gave ourselves up hand and foot to the enemy; there was no way
out of it. I have read in the story-books how men of great nerve
and skill have slaughtered five to one, escaping with no great loss
of blood. Well, of a brave man I like to believe good things. My
own eyes have seen what has made me slow to doubt a story of
prowess that has even the merit of possibility. But when there are
only two of you, and one without arms, and you are in a corner, and
there are ten pistols pointing at you a few feet away, and as many
sabres ready to be drawn, I say no power less remarkable than that
of God or a novelist can bring you out of your difficulty. You
have your choice of two evils--surrender or be cut to pieces. We
had neither of us any longing to be slashed with steel and bored
with bullets, and to no end but a good epitaph.

They searched the cellar and found our clothes, and wrapped them in
a bundle. Then they tied our hands behind us and took us along the
road on which I had lately ridden. A crowd came jeering to the
highway as we passed the little village. It was my great fear that
somebody would recognize either one or both of us.

Four of our men were sitting in a guardhouse at the British camp.
After noon mess a teamster drove up with a big wagon. Guards came
and shackled us in pairs, D'ri being wrist to wrist with me. They
put a chain and ball on D'ri's leg also. I wondered why, for no
other was treated with like respect. Then they bundled us all
into the wagon, now surrounded by impatient cavalry. They put a
blindfold over the eyes of each prisoner, and went away at a lively
pace. We rode a long time, as it seemed to me, and by and by I
knew we had come to a city, for I could hear the passing of many
wagons and the murmur of a crowd. Some were shouting, "Shoot the
d--d Yankees!" and now and then a missile struck among us. There
is nothing so heartless and unthinking as a crowd, the world over.