"We shall catch him--yes ?" Zmai peered toward them uncertainly for a moment; then turned abruptly and ran toward the road.

Oscar started to cut off his retreat, but Claiborne caught the sergeant by the shoulder and flung him back.
"One of you at a time! They can turn the hounds on the other rascal.
What's that you have there?
Give it to me--quick!" "It's a piece of wool--" But Claiborne snatched the paper from Oscar's hand, and commanded the man to march ahead of him to the house.

So over the meadow and through the pergola they went, across the veranda and into the library.

The power of army discipline was upon Oscar; if Claiborne had not been an officer he would have run for it in the garden.

As it was, he was taxing his wits to find some way out of his predicament.