The dragoons who guarded him followed the sergeant out into the open, and they halted under a great oak that threw its broad branches across the road. Dorothy had implored them to bring her grandfather´s body with them, and on their refusing had seated herself beside it. But without using any great violence, they had insisted on her following the rest of the party. She had shed no tears, but her face was very white, and her breath came quickly in little, convulsive sobs. Gervase looked at her for a moment, and then turned away his head. “Now,” said the sergeant, “we´ll see what stuff he´s made of. How say you, sir? On what side are you? Are you for King James?” “I am for law and order,” answered Gervase. “This young lady and I were on a peaceful journey, wishing ill and intending hurt to no one, and I know not what right you have to hinder us.” “That is no answer to my question, sir; but I´ll answer for you--you´re a Whig and in arms against the King, or would be. Where is your authority? And now another question and I have done with you: Where is the prickeared knave gone who pistolled poor Cornet White and sent another of ours to kingdom come? I´ll take my oath he was of your party.” “I saw no pistolling,” said Gervase; “is it like in such force as you see us, we should fall upon a troop of dragoons? Why, man, it was because we were afraid to venture near you that we hid ourselves in the tangle yonder.” “This jesting will not answer, Master Whig. I´ll give you one chance of saving your neck and only one--what way went he?” “Look you here, sergeant,” said Gervase, seeing the desperate position in which he was placed, “I´m a gentleman, and it would profit you little to shoot or hang me. See this lady and myself safe through to Londonderry, and you will have twenty golden guineas for yourself and five for every man here in your company. I cannot say you fairer, and if not for my sake or the money´s, then for the sake of this helpless lady.” “This lady will be well cared for, never fear, and for your guineas, I´m thinking by the time you got to Londonderry, they would be own brothers to the lads they are making in Dublin. Come, my man, you´ll have sixty seconds to answer my question, and then Hurrah for the kingdom of glory.” So saying he took a piece of rope from the hands of one of the men and began leisurely to measure it, a foot at a time, looking up occasionally from the operation to see how it affected the prisoner. “My God! you would not hang me?” “Ay, that I would, with a heart and a half and high as Haman, if the rope were long enough. The time is nearly up--How say you?” “I say that I care not how you use me, if you see the lady safe. Hang me if you will.”