"Surely you are not afraid of a sick man, even if he is a Yankee spy."
At this the surgeon winced.
"It is not that. I—I——"
"I will not listen to you. March!"
"But, Jack——"
"March, I say, or Old Ben shall fire on you."
With something resembling a groan the surgeon went on, and in a few minutes more the party gained the piazza, and Jack was using the big knocker on the door lustily.
"Who is there?" came from an upper window, and then Mrs. Ruthven uttered a cry of joy. "Jack!"
"Yes, mother; I am back again; safe and sound," he answered.
Mrs. Ruthven was soon down and let him in. She was naturally startled to behold Dr. Mackey, especially as a prisoner.