so quick, and so
overpoweringly violent that the other troopers were for a moment
spellbound. That moment sufficed to enable Black to relieve the screws
and set Peter free.

"C'way oot, lad, after me!" cried Andrew, darting through the doorway,
for he felt that without more space to fight he would be easily
overpowered. The dragoons, recovering, darted after him. The farmer
caught up a huge flail with which he was wont to thresh out his oats.
It fell on the headpiece of the first trooper, causing it to ring like
an anvil, and stretching its owner on the ground. The second trooper
fared no better, but the head of the flail broke into splinters on his
iron cap, and left Andrew with the stump only to continue the combat.
This, however, was no insignificant weapon, and the stout farmer laid
about him with such fierce rapidity as to check for a few moments the
overwhelming odds against him. Pistols would certainly have been used
had not Glendinning, recovering his senses, staggered out and shouted,
"Take him _alive_, men!" This was quickly done, for two troopers leaped
on Andrew behind and pinioned his arms while he was engaged with four in
front. The four sprang on him at the same instant. Even then Andrew
Black's broad back--which was unusually "up"--proved too strong for
them, for he made a sort of plunging somersault and carried the whole
six along with him to the ground. Before he could rise, however, more
troopers were on the top of him. Samson himself would have had to
succumb to the dead weight. In a few seconds he was bound with ropes
and led into the house. Ramblin' Peter had made a bold assault on a
dragoon at the beginning of the fray, but could do nothing with his poor
maimed hands, and was easily secured.

"Let him taste the thumbscrews," growled Glendinning savagely, and
pointing to Black.

"Dae yer warst, ye born deevil," said Black recklessly--for oppression
driveth even a wise man mad.

"Very good--fetch the boot," said the sergeant.

The instrument of torture was brought and affixed to the farmer's right
leg; the wedge was inserted, and a blow of the mallet given.

Black's whole visage seemed to darken, his frowning brows met, and his
lips were compressed with a force that meant endurance unto the death.

At that moment another party of dragoons under Captain Houston galloped
up, the captain entered, and, stopping the proceedings of his
subordinate, ordered Black and Peter to be set on