“My nephew has never told a lie in his life, and, sir, he—he is telling the truth now. There is no ammunition in the cellar.”
“They’re both lying——” Tom Bullard stopped as abruptly as he had begun as Hawkins whirled and faced him.
For a long moment no one spoke; then Aunt Martha addressed Hawkins: “These men have taken it upon themselves to enter my house unbidden. Five men against one boy and a woman! They have no right here——”
“Oh, enough of that!” cried the leader and strode toward the cellar door.
“Halt where you are!” exclaimed Hawkins, and as the Tory hesitated the soldier raised his gun a few inches. “Let me see your orders.”
“Orders! Orders to search a rebel’s house?”
“Now, see here,”—Hawkins’s voice was hard and cold, and his eyes were like points of fire—“this thing has gone about as far as I want to see it go. I’ll stand sponsor for the boy and the woman—and I’ve got a good reason for doing it. Now, my friends, you’ll oblige me by leaving the house——”
“Why—why, you don’t mean to say——” began the leader.
“At once,” finished Hawkins and tapped the stock of his musket.
Tom Bullard was already outside the door, but Snell and the three Tories did not move. Whereupon Hawkins stepped swiftly to the cellar door and, slamming it shut, quickly drew his bayonet and affixed it to the end of his piece.