"What are you going to do with me?" demanded Coonly.
"You are my prisoner, and I intend to secure you properly. Give me your sword and pistols."
"I'll see you in"—
"Life!" called Deck, as he saw the stalwart sergeant near the front door.
"Here, Leftenant!" replied Life as he strode into the hall and made the military salute to his officer.
"Disarm this man!" said Deck, pointing to the ruffian leader.
The tall sergeant seized Coonly by the collar of his coat with his left hand, held him out as though he had been a small boy, unbuckled his sword-belt, and took two revolvers from his pockets with his right. The captain was a middling-sized man, and he struggled in the gripe of the powerful Kentuckian; but he might as well have attempted to resist Hercules himself.
"Now bind his arms behind him," continued Deck.
"I protest, Lieutenant, against this brutal treatment!" stormed the prisoner in a loud voice.
"All right; protest as much as you please, but don't make too much noise about it, or I shall be obliged to have you gagged."