He thrust the lad into the hands of his men. "Fetch him along to
Bridgewater. And make fast that fellow also," he pointed to Baynes.
"We'll show him what it means to harbour and comfort rebels."

There was a moment of confusion. Baynes struggled in the grip of
the troopers, protesting vehemently. The terrified women screamed
until silenced by a greater terror. The Captain strode across to
them. He took the girl by the shoulders. She was a pretty,
golden-headed creature, with soft blue eyes that looked up
entreatingly, piteously into the face of the dragoon. He leered
upon her, his eyes aglow, took her chin in his hand, and set her
shuddering by his brutal kiss.

"It's an earnest," he said, smiling grimly. "Let that quiet you,
little rebel, till I've done with these rogues."

And he swung away again, leaving her faint and trembling in the
arms of her anguished mother. His men stood, grinning, awaiting
orders, the two prisoners now fast pinioned.

"Take them away. Let Cornet Drake have charge of them." His
smouldering eye again sought the cowering girl. "I'll stay awhile
- to search out this place. There may be other rebels hidden here."
As an afterthought, he added: "And take this fellow with you." He
pointed to Mr. Blood. "Bestir!"

Mr. Blood started out of his musings. He had been considering that
in his case of instruments there was a lancet with which he might
perform on Captain Hobart a beneficial operation. Beneficial, that
is, to humanity. In any case, the dragoon was obviously plethoric