He watched Prent examine the various silver things, and place some in his pockets and his breast. Then the fellow started to open up another of the iron-bound boxes.
Henry was in a quandary, not knowing what to do. He felt that it was his duty to report Prent, and have the man arrested. But then he remembered the order that had but recently been issued by General Murray—that any man caught plundering in Quebec should be hanged.
“I can’t see the fellow strung up,” thought the young soldier. “That would be too horrible. Perhaps if I talk to him he’d get out and leave the things alone.”
At first Henry decided that he would talk to the would-be thief when he left the building. But then he remembered that it would be best to have Prent put the things back in the boxes and nail the latter up. A few steps took him to the stairs, and once there he called softly:
“Prent!”
Had a gun gone off at his ear the evil-doer would not have been more astonished. He dropped the silver mug he was examining and leaped back a step.
“Wh—who calls?” he gasped.
“Prent, I have caught you fairly and squarely, and I want you to leave those things alone.”
“Ha, so it is you, Henry Morris!” burst from the other soldier’s lips. And then he added quickly: “Are you alone?”
“I am.”