rled. "I looked to find a nest of rebels here; but didn't count they
would be harboring a traitor such as you give token of being."

"Why should you call me a traitor?" the Jerseyman asked calmly and much
to my astonishment, yet even at that moment when I was both terrified
and perplexed I noted that he gave more heed to Pierre Laurens, than to
the man with whom he was talking.

"Why should I not give you the name of traitor?" Abel growled. "You
still wear part of the king's uniform, and it must be you have turned
against him, else why do I find you consorting with rebels?"

"It may be I am striving to lead them from the error of their ways,"
Master Morgan said with a smile, and then it was I saw Uncle 'Rasmus
pulling his chair forward, at the same time shaking his fist at Horry
Sims in token that he should remain in the corner.

"Don't think to blind my eyes!" Hunt screamed. "Don't fancy that soft
words will butter any parsnips with me! I've got you all under my thumb
now, and count on keeping you there!"

"All of which you know to be a lie," the Jerseyman said, still speaking
quietly but fixing the fellow with his eye as if to hold closely his
attention.

As a matter of course these words were amply sufficient to arouse Hunt
to the highest pitch of anger, and on the instant he seemed to give no
heed to any save the one who had insulted him.

"You shall live to repent those words, and die regretting them," he
snarled.

"Why don't you cause me now, single-handed, to regret them?" Morgan
asked threateningly, rising to his feet as he spoke as if expecting an
attack, and Abel Hunt literally shrieked in his anger:

"Because there is no need why I should spend my strength on one who lays
so near the gallows as do you. I count on turning you over to those
officers of the king who will deal out such justice as you have earned,
instead of spending my time flogging a traitor who deserves more the
halter."

Now it was, when it seemed to me as if Master Morgan was trying to
provoke a rough-and-tumble fight, that I began, thick-head though I was,
to have an inkling that some plan, which had been concerted without the
aid of words, was on foot, for as soon as Abel gave way to anger old
'Rasmus moved his chair yet further forward until it stood as a
barricade in front of the door, while Pierre held in his hands by one
leg a stool, handling it as if it were a weapon.

"If you have aught against me, and are not a coward, y