The angular Mistress Trout was about to reply, and Herbert Camp and Peggy were being led from the room, when George Prentiss suddenly slipped the belt from his arms. Like a flash he whipped up the four loaded muskets and hurled them through a window at the back; and with a bound he reached the door leading to the hall, flung aside the two soldiers who had charge of Peggy and her brother, slapped the door in their faces, slipped a bolt into place and went racing down the hall. He drew the girl along with him, and young Camp was hard at his heels.
In the light of the inn’s outside lamp he drew his hanger, of which they had not deprived him, and slashed Herbert’s bonds away.
“The horses!” he breathed; “it’s our only chance.”
He had counted upon the horses of the remaining troopers being still outside, and probably unguarded. And in this he was right; there stood the troop in a line, the bridles cast loosely over the hitching-posts. Lightly, George tossed Peggy upon the back of one of these, while Herbert leaped upon another. The young New Englander was in the saddle instantly, and casting loose the other horses, with shouts and blows, sent them scattering down the road.
All this only occupied a few moments; and those few moments the soldiers wasted in endeavoring to force the door which George had bolted in their faces. Their officer was the first to recover his wits, and with excited shouts he drove them to the windows. Out they came, leaping like so many jacks-in-the-box; but the escaping three were already mounted, had given their nags rein and were speeding along the dark road. In a fury the officer drew his pistol and snapped it; the two soldiers followed his example with their muskets. But they were empty, as George had guessed.
And when they had rammed fresh charges home, the flying trio were beyond range. Indeed the sound of the horses’ hoofs had almost died away.
CHAPTER VIII
TELLS HOW PEGGY GAVE A WARNING
The three horses proved to be hardy and fleet; and they seemed to see almost perfectly in the dark. For almost a half hour they were kept at a free gallop, then their riders, feeling them beginning to blow, drew them down to a walk.
Turning in his saddle, George listened, but there were no sounds of pursuit, and he laughed.
“I think our little plan carried very well,” said he.