his present exhausted and uncomfortable
condition, and was now partaking of the refreshment of a bowl of milk
and some coarse bread, which one of the troopers had brought him.

"What's all this laughing and uproar about?" said Habershaw, entering
the room with Curry, just at the moment of the acclamation in favor of
the sergeant "Is this a time for your cursed wide throats to be braying
like asses! We have business to do. And you, sir," said he, turning to
Butler, "you must be taking up the room of a half dozen men on a bench
with your lazy carcase! Up, sir; I allow no lolling and lying about to
rascally whigs and rebels. You have cost me the death of a dog that is
worth all your filthy whig kindred; and you have made away with two of
the best men that ever stept in shoe leather. Sit up, sir, and thank
your luck that you haven't your arms pinioned behind you, like a horse
thief."

"Insolent coward," said Butler, springing upon his feet; "hired ruffian!
you shall in due time be made to pay for the outrage you have inflicted
upon me."

"Tie him up!" cried Habershaw; "tie him up! And now I call you all to
bear witness that he has brought the sentence upon himself; it shall be
done without waiting another moment. Harry Gage, I give the matter over
to you. Draw out four men, take them into the yard, and dispatch the
prisoners off-hand! shoot the traitors on the spot, before we eat our
breakfasts! I was a fool that I didn't settle this at daylight this
morning--the rascally filth of the earth! Have no heart about it, men;
but make sure work by a short distance. This is no time for whining.
When have the Whigs shown mercy to us!"

"It shall be four against four, then!" cried out Shadrach Green,
seconded by Andrew Clopper; "and the first shot that is fired shall be
into the bowels of Hugh Habershaw! Stand by me, boys!"

In a moment the parties were divided, and had snatched up their weapons,
and then stood looking angrily at each other as if daring each to
commence the threatened affray.

"Why, how now, devil's imps!" shouted Habershaw. "Have you come to a
mutiny? Have you joined the rebels? James Curry, look at this! By the
bloody laws of war, I will report every rascal who dares to lift his
hand against me!"

"The thing is past talking about," said the first speaker, coolly. "Hugh
Habershaw, neither you nor James Curry shall command the peace if you
dare to offer harm to the prisoners. Now, bully, report that as my