“Perhaps he thought Sam Satterthwaite might sell it to the rebels.”
“Wherefore not use it against them himself? I am a man of peace, and Colonel Charteris is a man of war. Yet methinks, the order to spoil the powder would have come more aptly from me, than from him. Most assuredly, however, I would have given no such direction.”
“I can easily believe it, Mr. Lawson,” replied Sir Henry. “You know the value of gunpowder, having an armed vessel of your own.”
“I know its utility at this moment,” rejoined the Quaker, “when an insurrection has to be quelled.”
“Or aided,” said Sir Henry, significantly. “Well, I won't argue with you further, Mr. Lawson. You shall have due notice when the arms are seized.”
“I am not much afraid of that,” muttered the Quaker, as Sir Henry took his departure.
V.—HOW THE PRISONERS IN LANCASTER CASTLE WERE RELEASED.
Far from presenting a stern and threatening aspect to the rebels, the old town of Lancaster seemed to smile upon them as they approached it.