whereupon I
caught him frantically by the coat, for at that instant a horrible dread
seized upon me, lest I be left alone with that Tory villain and have so
much of temptation that it would be impossible to keep my hands from
him.

"Why should we not both go?" I cried. "Why is it necessary one stay here
when Uncle 'Rasmus may stand guard at the foot of the ladder?"

"Now you are talking wildly. Suppose we both went out, and Horry Sims,
hearing footsteps, should go to one of the windows and cry for help? How
would it be possible for Uncle 'Rasmus, old and crippled as he is, to
prevent the mischief?"

"Then we will gag the Tory scoundrel and truss him up so he can neither
move hand nor foot!" I cried. "Is he to stand in the way of our
searching for Saul? Is he, after having done us whatsoever mischief lay
in his power, to hold us back when perhaps the dear lad is needing us so
sorely?"

"Don't gag me! Don't gag me!" Horry cried frantically. "I promise to
make no sound, nor so much as lift a finger, if you will leave me free;
but to have that gag in my mouth all night, would be murder."

"And so it would," Pierre added emphatically. "I believe both of us
ought to go in search of Saul; but this fellow, Tory though he be,
should not be forced to endure so much of suffering as would be his if
you left him gagged and bound."

"What then will you do with him?" I asked, speaking more like a mad man
than a lad who counted it would be possible for him to prove that he
might be of service to the Cause through playing the part of Minute Boy.
"Surely we can't hoist Uncle 'Rasmus up here into the loft."

"No; but we can take Horry Sims downstairs," Pierre replied quietly, and
I cried in alarm:

"Take him to the lower floor where any one who passes may see him?"

"There is no need to leave him in public view," Pierre replied. "We can
bind him securely in one corner of the room at Uncle 'Rasmus's feet,
where the old negro can readily prevent him from making any outcry."

"But suppose one of the soldiers takes it into his head to enter?"

"That has not happened thus far, and we must take the chances that none
will be so curious. Better that than put this fellow to torture."

Just then I believe of a verity it would have gladdened my heart to
have seen Horry Sims suffering all the torments a human being can
suffer; but fortunately, the little French lad had more good sense in
his tiny body than had I in my lank carcass even