into requisition, and the three succeeded in tying his hands and placing
him upon a saddle vacated by one of the riders. All this occupied hardly
a minute.

"Will you go along quietly," said one of the men roughly, "or will you
be carried?"

"What is the meaning of this?" demanded Lynde, with the veins standing
out on his forehead.

He received no reply from any of the group, which seemed to be composed
of farmers and laboring-hands, with two or three persons whose social
status did not betray itself. Directly behind the girl and, like her,
mounted on a horse led by a couple of rustics, was the white-haired old
gentleman who had repulsed Lynde so rudely. Lynde noticed that his hands
were also secured by cords, an indignity which in no wise altered the
benevolent and satisfied expression of his face. Lynde's saddle and
valise were attached to the old gentleman's horse. Lynde instinctively
looked around for the ship-builder. There he was, flushed and sullen,
sitting on a black nag as bony and woe-begone as himself, guarded by two
ill-favored fellows. Not only were the ship-builder's arms pinioned, but
his feet were bound by a rope fastened to each ankle and passed under
the nag's belly. It was clear to Lynde that he himself, the old
clergyman, and the girl were the victims of some dreadful misconception,
possibly brought about by the wretch who had purloined the saddle.

"Gentlemen!" cried Lynde, as the party began to advance, "I protest
against this outrage so far as I am concerned, and I venture to protest
on the part of the lady. I am convinced that she is incapable of any act
to warrant such treatment. I--I know her slightly," he added,