“Lift her, boys!” was the order. The two men raised the tub from the floor. “One—two—three—and away!”
The contents of the tub were discharged upon the person of Ten Eyck, cooling his ardor and poker at the same time. As he stood there, with the water running in streams from every angle upon his figure, the men threw themselves upon him, and tied him neck and heels.
“That job is done,” said the leader. “Now, boys, follow me, but you, Seth Mather, had better stay with the prisoners.”
One of the men sat down to keep guard, and the rest passed out into the open space within the works. The rest of the men stood there, waiting for the issue of the work upon the first house. The leader reported.
“You have done well,” said Holmes. “Very well, indeed. Let us hail this house.”
He approached the building in which Van Curter was, with the strongest party in the works. In answer to his hail, Van Curter himself came to the window.
“Who is there?” he cried.
“King George and Captain Holmes, of Windsor.”
“To what am I to attribute the honor of this visit?”
“To my ardent desire to return your late courteous visit to my quarters. It’s a reciprocation of favors. We Yankees never like to be in debt long for such things.”