saying. They are men fairly taken in war, and shall suffer no evil past
what the law justifies. Give them up to the officer of the nearest
post--that's what we ask--carry them to Innis's camp if you choose; but
whilst they are in our keeping there shall be no blood spilled without
mixing some of your own with it, Hugh Habershaw."

"Arrest the mutineers!" cried Habershaw, trembling with rage. "Who are
my friends in this room? Let them stand by me, and then--blast me if I
don't force obedience to my orders!"

"You got off by the skin of your teeth last night," said Green, "when
you tried to take the life of Gideon Blake. For that you deserved a
bullet through your skull. Take care that you don't get your reckoning
this morning, captain and all as you are."

"What in the devil would you have?" inquired Habershaw, stricken into a
more cautious tone of speech by the decided bearing of the man opposed
to him.

"The safety of the prisoners until they are delivered to the commander
of a regular post; we have resolved upon that!" was the reply.

"Curry!" said Habershaw, turning in some perplexity to the dragoon as if
for advice.

"Softly, Captain; we had better have a parley here," said Curry, who
then added in a whisper: "There's been some damned bobbery kicked up
here by the blacksmith. This comes of giving that fellow the privilege
of talking."

"A word, men," interposed Horse Shoe, who during this interval had
planted himself near Butler, and with him stood ready to act as the
emergency might require. "Let me say a word. This James Curry is my man.
Give me a broadsword and a pair of pistols, and I will pledge the hand
and word of a sodger, upon condition that I am allowed five minutes'
parole, to have a pass, here in the yard, with him--it shall be in sight
of the whole squad--I pledge the word of a sodger to deliver myself back
again to the guard, dead or alive, without offering to take any chance
to make off in the meantime. Come, James Curry, your word to the back of
that, and then buckle on your sword, man. I heard your whisper."

"Soldiers," said Curry, stepping into the circle which the party had now
formed round the room, "let me put in a word as a peace-maker. Captain
Habershaw won't be unreasonable. I will vouch for him that he will
fulfil your wish regarding the conveying of the prisoners to a regular
post. Come, come, let us have no brawling! For shame! put down your
guns. There may be reason in what you