Page:Randall Parrish--My Lady of the South.djvu/369

THE DISCOVERY OF DANIELS fight when driven to it. King was my prisoner, and on parole, when you attacked him. I have special authority to parole prisoners whom I cannot send into headquarters. Lieutenant King is my prisoner, and I propose to hold him, by power of this,"—he touched the deadly black barrel resting in his right hand, and smiled. No one spoke; the men stood shuffling uneasily and waiting for their officer to take the initiative. Donald glanced at Jean, perfectly cool, and alert to every movement about him.

"Fennel, dismount and untie Lieutenant King's hands."

The man accomplished this with apparent utter indifference to the scowling faces and growls of the men crowding about him, and I stretched out my arms, aching painfully from the tight cords. Donald realized the danger of the moment, the disinclination of the regulars to yield to his dictation; but they were without leadership, and he held the whip hand, confident that Dunn would never venture open fight.

"That's all," swinging back into the saddle, but with his revolver still in hand. "Fennel, you and Watts ride with the prisoner between you. Jean, you had better return to the house. Lieutenant Dunn, I came back here especially to have word with you upon another matter. I shall expect you in the library in ten minutes."

He held his horse so as to block any attempt at rescue, waiting motionless until we were quite clear of the crowd, then following at a slow walk well to our rear. There was an outburst of profanity, a shaking of [ 349 ]