and would be the better for a blood-letting. The difficulty lay in
making the opportunity. He was beginning to wonder if he could
lure the Captain aside with some tale of hidden treasure, when this
untimely interruption set a term to that interesting speculation.

He sought to temporize.

"Faith it will suit me very well," said he. "For Bridgewater is my
destination, and but that ye detained me I'd have been on my way
thither now."

"Your destination there will be the gaol."

"Ah, bah! Ye're surely joking!"

"There's a gallows for you if you prefer it. It's merely a question
of now or later."

Rude hands seized Mr. Blood, and that precious lancet was in the
case on the table out of reach. He twisted out of the grip of the
dragoons, for he was strong and agile, but they closed with him again
immediately, and bore him down. Pinning him to the ground, they tied
his wrists behind his back, then roughly pulled him to his feet
again.

"Take him away," said Hobart shortly, and turned to issue his orders
to the other waiting troopers. "Go search the house, from attic to
cellar; then report to me here."

The soldiers trailed out by the door leading to the interior. Mr.