“I mean to obey my orders!” answered Brown.

“And your orders are?”

“My orders!”

“Would they preclude the provision of another horse for me?”

“There's a village about a mile away, down over yonder, where I think you'll find a decent horse—along that road there.”

“And your honor's orders would possibly permit a certain payment for the horse?”

“Positively not!” said Brown.

“Then—'

“To seize a horse, for military use, under the spur of necessity, and after giving a receipt for it, would be in order.”

“So I am to spend the night wandering around the countryside, in a vain endeavor to—”