These tories, while professedly loyal to the government, were more the friends of England.
They loved the glare and glitter of a court, and yearned for a native aristocracy. A king could confer titles, and these superficial creatures felt that a title was something worth having.
The government knew all this—knew that there was a vast amount of veiled treason in Washington and all the cities; and therefore in all the forts, arsenals and navy yards military law prevailed.
Trivial offenses were treated as though they had taken place before the enemy; the death penalty was meted out, without compunction, for breaches of discipline which at other times would have only received the punishment of solitary confinement.
Harry Vernon knew that such law was maintained on a man-of-war, but he could not understand why it should be applied on land.
He was the more puzzled because Bob was handed over to the civil authorities, and was placed in the city stocks.
"What shall you do next?" asked Tempest.
The answer was given with such emphasis that Tempest never forgot and never could forget it.
"Do? Go to Paul Hamilton, and if he does not release Bob then I'll go to the President. If he refuses, dang me if I don't bring the Lively Bee up the Potomac and fire its guns until——"