‘Never mind what you see, or what you don’t see, sir,’ vociferated the colonel. ‘I tell you that they are a couple of rascally spies. I had the proof of it in my hand.’
‘Thet’s a lie,’ interjected Ephraim most injudiciously at this point. ‘We came down here because we couldn’t help it, not because we wanted ter. He didn’t find any proof.’
Captain Peters looked hesitatingly at the colonel, who hastened to say: ‘From the pocket of that fellow was taken a paper covered with details of our movements. That of itself is proof enough.’
‘Thet’s another,’ cried Ephraim. ‘Thar warn’t nuthin’ but stale news on thet paper. Don’t ye listen ter him, captain. Ye take the resk. We han’t had any trial. He dassn’t shoot us ’thout’n a trial.’
‘Silence!’ commanded the colonel.—‘It may satisfy you, Captain Peters, since you require so much satisfying, that I have General Shields’s express orders to deal summarily with these persons, when and wherever I might find them. Now will you do your duty? I don’t choose to be kept waiting here all the morning.’
This was decisive, and though the captain turned a sympathetic eye upon the prisoners, he had no further objections to advance. ‘Company! Attention!’ he shouted; but Lucius broke from the men who were standing on either side of him, and rushed forward.
‘Captain,’ he cried, ‘that man is a liar. Here is General Shields’s own order.’ He thrust a paper into the captain’s hand.
‘Bullee!’ chuckled Ephraim. ‘So ye got thet, too, Luce. By time! thet’ll upset him.’
Captain Peters took the paper and read aloud: ‘“Colonel Spriggs—If you come up with the two men who escaped from the balloon this morning, you will detain them as prisoners, and bring them before me without taking further action.”—This appears to be addressed to you, colonel,’ he finished, looking up.
Spriggs advanced upon him, and simply tore the paper from his hand. ‘You impertinent puppy,’ he raved, ‘if it is addressed to me, what do you mean by reading it?’ He glanced over the paper and his countenance changed, but he recovered himself. ‘You greenhorn,’ he continued bitterly, ‘did it never occur to you to ask yourself how this precious document came into that rascal’s hands? Are you familiar with General Shields’s handwriting?’