"Dad," said Tristram, "you made me promise once never to run a man through unless he molested me in the midst of a peaceful pursuit."
"Well?"
"It appears to me that bee-keeping is a peaceful pursuit."
"Decidedly."
"And that this fellow is going to molest me."
"It looks like it."
"Then I may run him through?"
"Say rather that you must."
"Thank you, dad. I felt sure of it; but this is the first time I've had to decide, and as it was a promise—You'd best get behind me, I think. Set your back to the arch. Now, sir."
"You are my prisoners," the sergeant announced.