"My poor brave laddie," she murmured, bending over him tenderly. "Ah! but they have hurt thee cruelly. Get away to thy mother and fear not. They shall not touch thee again." Then drawing herself up to her full height, and she was more than common tall, she faced round upon the group of men. "Brutes," she cried. "Brutes ye are, and no men to treat a poor helpless laddie thus. What! Have ye no manhood? Think shame of yourselves to stand by and let such work go on. An I were but a man I’d teach you a lesson you would not soon forget." "’Tis well enough to talk," grumbled one of the troopers angrily; "but the lad’s father is in hiding and we must know where he is, The boy could tell us well enough an he would speak. We caught him slipping thro’ the wood an hour back. Yon basket of food he carried was for him, I warrant." "’Tis very like," answered Barbara coldly. "What then?" "What then? Why the fellow is a rebel." "And what of that, pray? An his father be a rebel to King James, is that reason why the lad should be traitor to his own father? Shame on you! You who are fathers yourselves; would you have your sons cast such a teaching in your teeth?" By this time the corporal had freed his neck from the lash and recovered his equanimity. Now he bustled to the front with an air of importance. "Best beware, mistress," he cried roughly. "Best beware. ’Tis ill work to interfere wi’ the just punishment of traitors." Barbara turned to him and laughed softly. "Ha! Sir Gallows-Bird. So thou hast escaped the hemp; welcome on thy return to this wicked world." "I tell thee, madame," stuttered the corporal angrily, "’tis ill work jesting——" "Peace, fool!" she cried imperiously. "I marvel thou art not ashamed to show thy face after this day’s work. I knew already you and your masters think it no shame to fight against women, but at least methought children might go unharmed. They can do but little harm to King James." "Pshaw! Ye know nought of the matter," blustered the corporal. "I brook no interference in the exercise of my duty. Bring back the boy, Sam Perry, and proceed with the interrogation." "Do not attempt it," answered the girl quietly, "for I will not permit it." Sam Perry hesitated. "What!" roared the corporal, "are ye afraid of a chit of a girl? Why do you not obey?" "At your peril," cried Barbara sharply, moving before the men. How the matter would eventually have terminated is doubtful had not a second interruption occurred. The door of the Inn opened, and a figure emerged at sight of which the troopers shrank back sheepishly, and the corporal’s air of importance vanished pitifully. "What is the meaning of this disturbance?" sharply demanded the new arrival. Barbara turned eagerly towards him. "Are you the leader of these butchers, sir?" she enquired haughtily. Though somewhat astonished at this unexpected mode of address, Captain Protheroe, for he it was, smiled slightly and answered politely enough: