Some of the mob came to understand that which we would beat into their thick skulls, and with the knowledge of what the murder of a king's officer might mean for all in that section, whether innocent or guilty, came the impulse to wash their own hands of any participation in the outrage.
For the time being they forgot their victim while discussing each with another the situation as we had shown it, and now was come the time when I could cut Sandy's bonds.
"Get to your feet and keep close behind Sidney and me," I whispered. "Do as I bid you, and it may be that we three can make our way inside the lines of the encampment."
"I'll do whatever you say," Sandy replied in the tone of one whose life has just been saved, as indeed his had, and I whispered in Sidney's ear, for the tumult had so far subsided that it was possible to speak with some degree of privacy:
"Work gradually toward the encampment while you talk. If we can attract the attention of the Regulators our point is gained."
Then I turned to argue with the man nearest me, showing him how much it would advantage us if we could have the tax-collector as our prisoner until the trial in the court had come to an end, and all the while pressing gently forward, step by step, toward our line of guards.
Sandy, knowing that his only chance for life was in keeping close to us lads, for if he had attempted to gain the village an hundred hands would have been laid upon him in anger, obeyed my commands to the letter, pressing me so hard at times that I found it difficult to keep my footing.
In this manner we succeeded, after more than an hour had passed, in approaching within twenty feet of the encampment line, and the remainder of the task was simple.
We had but to attract the attention of the guard, and in a twinkling half a dozen Regulators were on the spot.
Hurriedly I told our friends of what had been on foot, and Sandy Wells was marched directly within the lines, while those who would follow were forced by the guards to keep their distance.