"There will be no throng where you are to go. The Regulators are drawn up in line, and I give you my word they will brook no interference from those who were near to doing murder."
Instead of coming out, he drew back till I could see no more than the top of his head, and I was angered because of the delay.
"The general has sent for you, and I am not willing to waste time. If you are not by my side before it is possible to count ten, I'll put a bullet into your head as you lie there!"
Although I would not have done such a thing to save my right hand, the coward must have believed I was in deadly earnest, for he crept out, shaking with fear like a man suffering from an ague fit.
"Now march by the side of my horse, holding to the stirrup," I said sharply. "It will be well so long as you obey orders; but once I see any show of running away, my bullet will make a target of your carcass."
"How could I run away while on every hand are those who would murder me?" he asked with a whine. "If the people see me I am undone."
"The governor's troops have come to conduct you to the town, and surely you may trust them!" I cried.
Sandy shook his head doubtfully; he was in that frame of mind where he trusted no one, and his terror was so great as to excite pity.
I contrived, however, by a liberal use of threats, to keep him by me until I had arrived at General Hamilton's side, and then the old Scotchman bade me advance with Sandy until I was midway between himself and the three officers.
"Is that the man you accuse us of murdering?" the general asked when I had obeyed his order, and I could see a look of surprise come over Master Edwards' face.