blunderers.

By a gesture he checked his men. He must consider. Mr. Blood,
observing his pause, added further matter for his consideration.

"Ye'll be remembering, Captain, that Lord Gildoy will have friends
and relatives on the Tory side, who'll have something to say to
Colonel Kirke if his lordship should be handled like a common felon.
You'll go warily, Captain, or, as I've said, it's a halter for your
neck ye'll be weaving this morning."

Captain Hobart swept the warning aside with a bluster of contempt,
but he acted upon it none the less. "Take up the day-bed," said he,
"and convey him on that to Bridgewater. Lodge him in the gaol until
I take order about him."

"He may not survive the journey," Blood remonstrated. "He's in no
case to be moved."

"So much the worse for him. My affair is to round up rebels." He
confirmed his order by a gesture. Two of his men took up the day-bed,
and swung to depart with it.

Gildoy made a feeble effort to put forth a hand towards Mr. Blood.
"Sir," he said, "you leave me in your debt. If I live I shall study
how to discharge it."

Mr. Blood bowed for answer; then to the men: "Bear him steadily,"
he commanded. "His life depends on it."