One of the keepers pulled him in roughly. "Come, none of that, sir?"
"You insolent scoundrel!" said Sir Charles.
"Ay, ay," said the man; "we'll see about that when we get you home."
Then Sir Charles saw he had offended a vindictive blackguard.
He sank back in his seat, and a cold chill crept over him.
Just then they passed a little clump of fir-trees.
In a moment there rushed out of these trees a number of men in crape
masks, stopped the horses, surrounded the carriage, and opened it with
brandishing of bludgeons and life-preservers, and pointing of guns.
CHAPTER XXX.
A BIG man, who seemed the leader, fired a volley of ferocious oaths at
the keepers, and threatened to send them to hell that moment if they
did not instantly deliver up that gentleman.
The keepers were thoroughly terrified, and roared for mercy.
"Hand him out here, you scoundrels!"
"Yes! yes! Man alive, we are not resisting: what is the use?"
"Hand down his luggage."
It was done all in a flutter.
"Now get in again; turn your horses' heads the other way, and don't
come back for an hour. You with your guns take stations in those trees,
and shoot them dead if they are back before their time."
These threats were interlarded with horrible oaths, and Burdoch's party
were glad to get off, and they drove away quickly in the direction
indicated.
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