Herbert Camp was upon his feet instantly. George fancied he saw his face paling.
“But why?” asked young Camp. “You have no right to interfere with inoffensive people.”
“Not if I know them to be such,” replied the officer, and he laughed harshly. “But my orders are to take all suspicious characters in charge. This man,” and he pointed to the peddler, “I have orders to take wherever and whenever found. You two,” and his snapping eyes shot glances at the two young men, “I’ll take charge of for further examination. I have no desire to inflict hardship upon you,” with something like an apologetic note in his voice, “but these are troublesome times, and we have suffered a great deal through secret agencies. If you are what you claim to be, you will be put to as little disadvantage as possible.”
With that he made a sign to his men; they immediately approached the three guests of the “Wheat Sheaf” and laid hands upon them. But if they expected unresisting submission, they reckoned without the spirit of the strong-limbed peddler. With a sweep of his arms he dashed the troopers aside; then with remarkable agility he bounded to a window; there was a smashing of glass, a rending of wood, and he was gone. Several muskets flashed after him, their reports sounding like thunder in the low ceilinged room.
A soldier had apparently been left to guard the horses.
“Halt!” he cried as his charges began to stamp with fear of the musket shots.
Then there came a racing of hoofs and the sound of a discharging pistol. At the command of their officer, some of the soldiers rushed out after him; the remainder seized upon George and Herbert Camp roughly; their arms were pinioned in an instant with a couple of stout leather belts.
There was a roar of firearms, and hoarse, excited shouts sounded from the darkness; then nags were evidently mounted in haste; the rattle of hoofs sounded as the riders plunged away in pursuit. But that all had not started in the chase was soon made plain. Voices, loud and interrogatory, came from without. Apparently some one made answer; but the answer was not of the sort to satisfy, for again the voices chorused their inquiries. The reply to this was also unsatisfactory and still inaudible to those in the public room. Then came the sound of heavy steps upon the porch; in the hall there was a slight scuffle and then the slope-shouldered officer entered. And after him two of his men led between them—Peggy Camp!
A cry of astonishment broke from the lips of her brother, while George Prentiss gave a gasp.
“Peggy!” exclaimed young Camp.