The major was walking rapidly along behind the first company of men, and by his side the young southerner, who had been in turn so antagonistic to each of the Dare boys.
"There is a very serious charge against you, young men," said the officer. "Mr. Andrews, here, says you are friends of the party we are after, and that during the fight last night you communicated with them. What have you to say?"
"Evidently, Mr. Andrews has been misinformed, for we held no communication with the enemy last night, and I hoped that we had proved our loyalty before you to your cause, by our actions," replied Tom, looking the young civilian up and down while he was speaking, as if he was some object of curiosity.
"I thought myself that you were all right, last night, but it seems that no one remembers seeing you after the first alarm until the fighting was over, and that fact, together with Mr. Andrews' suspicions, and the further fact that you were with us under rather peculiar circumstances, forces me to put you to the test."
The major paused here, and both the boys wondered what sort of test the trial was to be.
"Well, foire ahead," said Tim, impatiently, "we are here because you keep us, and thin you are afther doubtin' our wantin' to be with ye."
"If you are with us as spies, and are friendly with the other party, you know the penalty, of course," said the officer, sternly. "We propose to hang the Indian prisoner this morning, if we reach the proper place before noon, and that execution will give you a good chance to prove yourselves. You are to be the ones to carry out the sentence!"
Tom was dumfounded. They meant to make Tim and himself commit the murder, for that was what it would amount to, of one of their own allies, one of the men who had helped Dick and Fritz. The idea was a shrewd one on the part of the British.
Tim, however, instead of being upset by the idea, merely grew angry.
"Faith, an' out of two respictable, quiet citizens, you would be makin' us to be your executioners, would ye?" he questioned angrily.