You must either produce me the prisoner to-morrow by the hour of six, or submit his lordship to the severe alternative."
"Captain, this is an absurdity," says I, tartly; "and to be brief, sir, your conversation seems extremely like a simpleton's. Produce you the prisoner? Ods my life, what a folly do you talk! Ask me to produce you the devil, and I shall produce him just as easily."
"Not a doubt about it," says the Captain, laughing at the anger in my eyes.
Before I could retort upon him, my attention was distracted by the sudden opening of the door. To my horror I saw the apparition of the rebel. His mouth was stern, and there was a high sparkle in his eyes. One glance and I read all the contents of his mind. By some strange means he had discovered the dilemma I was in, and to spare me the inconvenience that I suffered had come to deliver his person up to justice. His purpose was distinctly written in his face.
It was a terrible instant, and only a wonderful decision could stave off fatality. I sprang up and sailed towards him ere he could speak the word that would betray him, and pushed him by main force past the Corporal, and over the threshold of the door.
"Oh, Prue, you prying rogue!" I cried, laughing with a heartiness that was intended to be heard. "You spy, you suspicious wretch, you are dying I can see, to get an inkling of this matter;
