“Gentlemen!” said the Colonel, angrily, “I never was so insulted in my life. I am a man of wealth, traveling on business; I am worth a quarter of a million at least. To associate me with road agents, whom I have as much reason to fear as you, is most ridiculous. This young man may be well-meaning, but he is under a most extraordinary hallucination. It is my belief that he dreamed the nonsense he has been retailing to you.”
“Ask the driver to stop the stage,” said Mr. Benson, a gentleman from Philadelphia. “If Mr. Melville's story is trustworthy, we may at any time reach the spot where the highwayman is lurking. We must have a general consultation, and decide what is to be done.”
This proposal was approved, and the driver drew up the stage.
“I don't propose to remain in the company of men who so grossly misjudge me,” said the Colonel, with dignity, as he made a motion to leave his fellow passengers.
“Stay here, sir!” said Mr. Benson, in a tone of authority. “We cannot spare you yet.”
“Do you dare to detain me, sir?” exclaimed Warner, menacingly.
“Yes, we do,” said the German. “Just stay where you are, Mr. Colonel, till we decide what to do.”
As each one of the company had produced his revolver, the Colonel thought it prudent to obey.
“I am disgusted with this fooling,” he said, “You're all a pack of cowards.”
“Driver,” said George Melville, “has this stage ever been robbed?”