Ralston, standing at William's side, shouted back, "Come down, then, all of you."
He pushed the men hither and thither with his strong arms, and formed a lane for them to pass through. Again he needed strong efforts to restrain the feelings of the victors as the frightened Hessians and a few English hurried out of the burning house. The officer was carrying his sword by the blade. He approached and extended it toward Ralston, but the latter waved him to where William was standing, pale and torn with conflicting emotions. As the man in the red coat approached he started, and almost dropped his sword. It was Captain Markham, who only a few days ago William had left in the coffee-room at the tavern in New York.
"Do I give my sword to you?" he said.
"Keep it," said William.
"I will not," said the officer, and he dashed it to the ground at the latter's feet. "So you are in your true colors at last," he said; "but let me tell you, sir, it was lucky that you left just when you did. You were seen talking in a doorway with a man who is now known to be a spy, and, worse luck, he escaped us also. You know whom I mean?"
"I do not," was William's reply.
"That old man Norton."
William said nothing. He remembered the incident now in the snow-storm.
"Your name is stricken from your regiment, and you are posted for what you are, you rebel!"
William had no reply to this long speech, and his attention was now called to a different direction. One of the attacking party had recognized a low-visaged German who had been prominent in the outrages at the village. They were for hanging him at once. The band of English were outnumbered now three to one. They had piled their arms in a heap as they left the doorway of the house, and were huddled together in an angle of the wall. Once more William's calm words and appearance had their effect, and there was a lull. Quickly he told off the most prominent leaders of the guerilla forces and divided the prisoners into squads. Once started on the march, it would be easier to keep order. When this was accomplished he spoke to Captain Markham.