an' sence de shootin'
begun I 'low he was mighty glad to be under cover."

"Can't you take me out of here?" Horry asked imploringly. "I've been
tied up so long that my legs and arms are numb and aching. I promise not
to open my mouth and to do whatsoever you say, if these ropes can be
taken off for ever so short a time."

"That's what they shall be," Pierre said quickly. "We have no desire to
cause you suffering, Horry Sims, and never counted on being forced to
remain away so long; but matters couldn't have been changed, for of
course we must think of our own safety before consulting your comfort.
Now, however, you will have a chance to move around."

As he spoke so Pierre did, and when I would have argued with him that it
was unsafe to let the Tory lad have the freedom of the cabin even while
all of us were there to guard him, he shut me up in short order by
declaring that unless we were disposed to give the prisoner something
like fair treatment, he would insist on setting him free altogether.

"And when Abel Hunt has found us out, as I believe of a verity he will,
then Horry is on exhibition where that meddlesome fellow may see him," I
cried hotly, but Pierre, giving no heed to my words, released the Tory
from his bonds.

CHAPTER XIII

THE SIEGE

For some moments after Pierre released Horry Sims from the bonds which
had held him so securely, the Tory was literally unable to move hand or
foot, thus giving good proof of the suffering which must have been his
while he lay beneath the puncheon planks of the floor, powerless to
command his body save in the way of breathing.

After having chafed his limbs until the circulation of blood was
partially restored, the prisoner limped over into the corner where
Pierre and I had left him when we set out upon that stroll which
resulted so differently from our expectations, and there he crouched
upon the floor as if intent on showing us that he would remain a willing
captive. As a matter of fact, I believe the lad was more terrified by
the cannonading which yet continued and seemingly shook the very ground
beneath our feet, than he was by the knowledge that we held him in our
power.

And it was terrifying, whether for Tory or Whig, far more so than if we
had been in the open where it might be possible to see all that was
going on, or if we were taking part with the troops; but to remain shut
up in the cabin, not knowing how near death might be to us, and fearing