“You will be too late, sir,” the Hessian said coldly.  “I have my orders, and before you are half way to the general’s camp, that prisoner will be swinging from that bough.”

“I order you to desist, sir, till I return,” General Hamilton said.

“As I do not happen to be in your division, General Hamilton, and as I have received my orders from the commander in chief, I decline altogether to take orders from you.”

Walter, who had resigned himself to his fate, stood watching the altercation with a renewed feeling of hope.  This died out when the colonel spoke, and two of the troopers seized him, but at that moment his eye fell upon one of the English officers.

“Colonel L’Estrange!” he exclaimed.

The officer started, at hearing his name called out by the prisoner, but he did not recognize him.

“I am Walter Davenant.  You remember, sir, the wreck off Bray?”

“Good heavens!” Colonel L’Estrange exclaimed, pressing forward.

“It is the lad who saved my life, General Hamilton!

“Gentlemen, this young officer saved my life at the risk of his own.  I cannot and will not stand by and see him murdered.”

The Hessian colonel signed to four of his men, who seized Walter and dragged him towards the tree.  Colonel L’Estrange drew his sword.

“My men,” he shouted, to some English soldiers who were mingled with the crowd of onlookers, which had rapidly increased during the dispute, “stand by me, and don’t let this brave young officer be murdered.”

A score of soldiers pushed through the crowd, and ranged themselves by Colonel L’Estrange.  He dashed forward, sword in hand, and in a moment Walter was torn from the grasp of the soldiers, and placed in the centre of his rescuers, who were now joined by General Hamilton and the other officers.

Several men had run off at full speed, to the British camp, to bring up aid.  The Hessian colonel called upon his men to seize the prisoner, and cut down all who interfered to prevent the general’s orders being carried out.  These hesitated before the resolute aspect of the English, but the crowd of foreign soldiers ranged themselves with them, and the attack was about to commence, when a number of English soldiers were seen running, musket in hand, from their camp.

The Hessian colonel saw that to attempt to carry out his orders, now, would bring on something like a pitched battle, and he therefore waved his men back, saying to General Hamilton: 

“I have nothing to do now, sir, but to report to General Ginckle that I have been prevented, by force, from carrying his orders into effect.”

“That you will, of course, do,” General Hamilton said coldly.  “I shall be perfectly prepared to answer for my conduct.”