They were led by a middle-aged man of dissipated
appearance, whose rough and brutal aspect was not concealed by the
captain's uniform he wore, nor was the malicious triumph in his bearing
and in his voice veiled by the mock courtesy with which he advanced,
pistol in hand.

"What means this intrusion, sir?" shouted Colonel Wilton, in a voice of
thunder.

"This is Colonel Wilton, I believe, is it not?" said the leader of the
band, taking off his hat.

"Yes, sir, it is; you, Mr. Johnson, should be the last to forget it,
and I desire to know at once the meaning of this outrageous descent
upon a peaceful dwelling."

The man bowed low with mock courtesy. "I shall have to ask your
pardon, my dear sir, for appearing before the great Colonel Wilton so
unceremoniously. But my orders, I regret to say, allow me no
discretion whatever; they are imperative. You are my prisoner. I have
been sent here by my Lord Dunmore, the governor of this colony of
Virginia, to secure the persons of some of the principal rebellious
subjects of his majesty King George, and your name, unfortunately, is
the first and chiefest on the list. I shall have to request you to
accompany me at once."

The master of the situation smiled mockingly, and the colonel, white
with anger, looked about the room. Resistance was perfectly hopeless;
all the windows even were now blocked up by the irregular soldiery.

"He has chosen a fit man to do his work," said the colonel, in haughty
scorn; "failing gentlemen, he must needs take blackguards and bullies
into his service as housebreakers and raiders."

Johnson flushed visibly, as he said with another bow, "Colonel Wilton
would better remember that I am master now."

"Sir, I am not likely to forget it. There is the family plate. I
presume, from what I know of your habits, that will not be overlooked
by you."

"Quite so," he returned; "it will doubtless be a welcome contribution
to the treasury of his majesty's colony. Mistress Wilton's diamonds
also," he said meaningly; and then, turning to two of his men,
"Williams, you and Jones bundle up the plate in the tablecloth, get
what's on the sideboard too;" and laying his pistols down upon the
table, he continued:

"But before Colonel Wilton insults me again, it might be well for him
to remember that I am master not only of his person, but of the persons
of all others who are in this room."

The colonel started, and Johnson laughed, looking with insolen