"Most likely they are having some kind of a game," Sidney said when I came alongside; "but just before you showed yourself I fancied I heard cries for help, and it seems as if we should know the reason for the gathering. Unless we of the association have our eyes about us this day there will be rough play which may develop into a fight, as I heard General Hamilton say."
By this time we were among those of the throng who were in the outer ring, and I heard such cries as: "Drown the scoundrel!" "Be sure he don't get away till we from Chatham have put our mark on him!" "He's needed a lesson this many a day, and now is the time to give it to him!"
The crowd was so dense as each member of it pressed toward the center, that Sidney and I were forced to literally fight our way forward, and no less than ten minutes were spent in such task, during which time we plainly heard cries for help in a voice which sounded strangely familiar to me.
Then, finally, we were in the very midst of the gathering, and had before us what promised to be a tragedy which might bring shame and reproach upon us all, unless it was speedily checked.
As many men as could seize upon him, held in their grasp Sandy Wells, whose legs and arms were tied securely, and whose clothing had been torn to tatters by the rough usage he had received.
His captors were industriously engaged in kicking him when we gained a place by his side, and at every blow they called aloud the name of some citizen of the Carolinas who had been ill-treated at his hands.
"We're going to square accounts for all our neighbors, and then dump you in the river," one of the men cried vindictively, and I could see a huge rock, around which was a rope, lying near at hand to fasten on his body when the tormentors were ready to put an end to their victim.
Now it cannot be supposed that either Sidney or I had any affection for the sheriff's officer; but yet we could not stand idly by while he was being murdered.
In addition to such pity as common humanity dictated, it suddenly occurred to me that if the mob killed an officer of the law the Regulation would be accused by Governor Tryon of having committed the deed, and then would be good reason why the entire upper portion of the colony should be put under strict martial rule. If this murder was done the Sons of Liberty would be branded as assassins, and with some reason, therefore I whispered to Sidney, although without the slightest idea as to how we two might prevent the enraged men from working their will:
"We must put an end to this, and that right quickly, else will the man be killed before our eyes."