ys did
not throttle his man, his man, as he perfectly well knew, would do more
than throttle him. So he held on like grim death, till Corporal, half
smothered by the sack and half-choked by his assailant's clutch, howled
for quarter.

Then for the first time Jeffreys felt decidedly perplexed. If he let
Corporal go, Corporal, not being a man of honour, might turn on him and
make mincemeat of him. If, on the other hand, he called the dog off the
other man to hold Corporal while he bound him captive, the other man
might abuse his opportunity in a like manner. The boy was evidently too
exhausted to take any part in the encounter? What could he do?

After turning the matter over, he decided that Julius was the most
competent individual to settle the business. The dog was having a very
easy time with the abject villain over whom he was mounting guard, and
could well undertake a little more than he had at present on his hands.

"Fetch him here, Julius," called Jeffreys, giving Corporal an additional
grip; "come here, you fellow, along with the dog."

The fellow had nothing for it but to obey; and in a couple of minutes he
was lying across the body of Corporal, while Julius stood fiercely over
them both.

"Come here, boy," called Jeffreys next to Percy; "let me take off those
cords." Percy groped his way to him.

"What are you going to do with me?" he gasped.

"Loose you; and if you're half a man you'll help me tie up these brutes.
Come on--watch them there, Julius. Why, you're blindfolded, too, and
how frightfully tight you're corded!"

"I've been like that since twelve o'clock."

A few moments sufficed to unfasten the captive's arms and clear his
eyes.

"Now you," said Jeffreys, indicating the topmost of Julius's captives
with his toe, "put your hands behind your back!"

The fellow obeyed hurriedly; he had had quite enough of Julius's
attentions already to need more.

Jeffreys and Percy between them lashed first his wrists together, and
then his elbows tightly to his sides. Then they secured his feet and
knees in the same manner.

"He'll do--let him go, Julius," and prisoner Number 1 was rolled over,
to make room for Number 2 to undergo a similar process of pinioning.

It was fortunate that the hay-cart below, of which and its owner
Jeffreys and Julius had already taken possession at their leisure, had
been liberally provided with cord, or their supply would have been
inadequate to the strain put up