He would side-step the officers, guard the house and make the men who dared attempt to violate it pay for their crime. It was evident that a commander had selected the house for his headquarters for the night. He watched the drunken revelers who passed and wondered what was happening inside.
So long as the officer of high rank remained and was sober the women were safe. He would stand guard until daylight and make his escape.
He watched the figures pass the lighted windows with increasing anxiety. A disturbance had occurred. The sentinel stopped, glanced toward the house, lowered his gun, watched a moment and resumed his beat.
Vassar crawled on his hands and knees halfway across the lawn, gripped his rifle, and waited.
CHAPTER XXXIV
THE orderly who searched the house found two shotguns. The Colonel who had quartered his staff for the night pointed to the two old men.
“Arrest them—you understand.”
Andrew Vassar knew what the brief clause with which the order ended meant. He crossed himself and breathed a prayer for the safety of his loved ones.
Zonia and Marya burst into tears. Virginia and her mother drew themselves erect and waited white and silent.
Holland faced the commander, erect, defiant.