their
captors, and Dick Swinton, who from his bearing seemed to be an officer,
was exhorted to reveal the nature of his mission on promise of his life.
He refused. A further examination was made. Their boots were cut to
pieces, the heels split open, their weapons smashed, and their clothes
torn to ribbons, but without avail. They were brought before an officer
high in command, who charged them with bearing important messages, and
again promised them their lives, if they would betray their country. Each
man doggedly refused. They were given an hour to reconsider their
decision; at the end of that time, they were to be shot. A firing party
was told off, and the men were led outside the house, where they were
bound hand and foot, and flung upon the ground--for an engagement was in
progress, and distant firing threatened a possible advance on the part of
the Americans. So hot was the firing that the hour's respite was reduced
to half-an-hour, and a surly old soldier was sent to inform them that he
had orders to carry out their execution at once, if they would not
speak.

They refused, without hesitation.

Jack Lorrimer was unbound, and led around to the side of the farmhouse.
They tied him to a halter-ring on the wall. Three times, he was given the
chance of saving his life by treachery; and his only reply was: "I'm
done. Damn you--shoot!" The rifles were raised; there was a rattling
volley, a drooping figure on the halter-cord, and the officer turned his
attention to the others.

"Now then, the next."

Dick Swinton and Nutt were lying side by side. Nutt had taken advantage
of the interest excited by the execution to wriggle himself free of his
loosely-tied fetters, which consisted of cords binding his wrists behind
his back and passed around to a knot on his breast. He called upon Dick
to aid him. Dick Swinton rolled over, and with his teeth loosened the
first knot, then fell back into the old position.

Nutt remained as though still bound.

Dick was next unbound, and led around the farmhouse. That was Nutt's
opportunity. He saw them first drag away the dead body of Jack Lorrimer,
and fling it on one side; then they thrust Dick back against the wall out
of sight.

There was a pause while the firing party loaded their rifles. This was
the moment chosen by Nutt for shaking off his bonds. He crawled a few
yards, heard the appeal to Dick Swinton, and Dick's defiant refusal--then
the order to fire, and the volley. He a