though I towered head
and shoulders above him, and he literally forced me to fall into his way
of thinking, by bluntly declaring that he would not step outside the
cabin door unless I displayed more of humanity.

I would almost sooner agree to set the young Tory free, than venture out
in a blind search for Saul without having this little French comrade
with me, and therefore it was I bore my part in disposing of the
prisoner as Pierre had suggested.

We bundled him down through the scuttle as if he had been a bale of
merchandise rather than flesh and blood, and then I warrant you but
little time was spent in binding his hands and feet so securely that,
unaided, he could not get free.

How Uncle 'Rasmus may have viewed being left in the cabin to act the
double part of jailor and helpless invalid, I know not. He had heard, as
a matter of course, all our conversation in the loft above, and when we
came down with Horry Sims and began to tie his feet, the old negro
shoved his chair into one corner, saying as he did so that we should put
the fellow where he could have him under his hand. Then, seating
himself, with a blanket over his knee which might also serve to cover
Horry in case visitors entered, he was ready to do his share of the
work.

I was not satisfied to leave the two alone, unless Uncle 'Rasmus was
armed, and would have set out in search of some weapon, although I knew
not where to procure one, but that Pierre said with something almost
approaching impatience in his tone:

"Are you so blind, Fitz Hamilton, that you can't see whether Uncle
'Rasmus is armed or not? With that cane of his I dare venture to say he
could strike a man dead with one blow; while that is in his hand and
Horry lying at his feet, the Tory is completely at the old man's mercy."

All this was true, as I should have seen before Pierre spoke, and when
we had the miserable cur of a prisoner disposed of in a corner of the
room where the old negro could, if need arose, cover him with the
blanket which was supposed to be needed by himself as an invalid, it
appeared to me we need not fear going about in the village while the
cabin was unguarded save by Uncle 'Rasmus.

It would not have been like the little French lad to linger many seconds
after our preparation had been completed, and immediately he satisfied
himself that matters had been arranged to the best of our ability, he
opened the door, going out into the night as he motioned for me t