"I understand," the officer said with a wink, "there are names on
the list of which your wife would not approve. I have known the
same thing happen before. But never fear, the list shall be kept
safe; and, indeed, it were better that nothing were said of my
business in the town, for if this get abroad, some of those whose
conscience may tell them that they will be likely to be chosen for
service might very well slip off and be out of the way until they
hear that I and my men have left."

Two days later, when, as the evening was falling, Jack Stilwell was
walking up from the wharf, where he had been watching the unlading
of the vessel in which he was to sail, he came upon a group of
four or five soldiers standing at a corner. Then a voice, which he
recognized as that of the foreman, Richard Carson, said:

"That is your man, officer;" and the soldiers made a sudden rush
upon him.

Taken by surprise he nevertheless struggled desperately, but a heavy
blow with a staff fell on the back of his head, and for a time he
knew nothing more. When he recovered his consciousness he was lying
almost in complete darkness, but by the faint gleam of the lantern
he discovered that he was in the hold of a ship. Several other
men were sitting or laying near him. Some of them were cursing and
swearing, others were stanching the blood which flowed from various
cuts and gashes.

"What does all this mean ?" he asked as he somewhat recovered
himself.