"What?" cried the Governor.
"All the crowd," panted the messenger. "They mean to have Big Todd out. We've only got ten men there, and the people are threatening to burn the place down if he's not given up."
"By Jove, they've jockeyed us!" cried Captain Heseltine, and he turned to his chief for orders.
"We must be after them," exclaimed the Governor. "Let the orders be given. You, Heseltine, go and bring up the police. This looks like business."
The column was soon on the march, followed by a string of women and children, which was speedily outstripped when the word to trot was given. The outskirts of the town were reached; they met man after man who told them of a gathering crowd round the prison; they overtook more men, armed with cudgels, who slunk on one side and tried to hide their sticks. They reached the gates of Government House, and Lord Eynesford spied his wife and Alicia looking out of the windows of the lodge.
"Go and tell them what's up," he said to Flemyng. "Say there's no danger," and the column trotted on.
"This is what Mr. Medland has brought us to," observed Lady Eynesford, when Mr. Flemyng made his report. "I'm glad we've done with him, anyhow, aren't you, Eleanor?"
"Perhaps we haven't," suggested Eleanor. "I wonder if he's come back."
"No doubt he's encouraging this riot. I only hope he'll get the treatment he deserves."