The shoulders of three stout men pressed against it, and the bolt yielded.
"What do you mean, you villains ?" thundered the squire, as he confronted the committee in the entry.
"You were so impolite as to close the door in our faces before we had finished our story," replied the immovable old sea captain.
"How dare you break in my door ?" growled the squire.
"We shall do worse than that, squire, if you don't treat us respectfully." "A man's house is his castle," added the squire, a little more moderately.
"That's very good law, but there isn't a house in Pinchbrook that is big enough or strong enough to shield a traitor from the indignation of his fellow-citizens.

We do not purpose to harm you or your property, if you behave like a reasonable man." "You shall suffer for this outrage," gasped the squire, whose rage was increased by the cool and civil manner of Captain Barney.
"When you closed the door in my face, I had intimated that your fellow-citizens wish you to display the national flag." "I refuse to do it, sir." "Consider, squire, what you say.

The people have made up their minds not to tolerate a traitor within the corporate limits of the town of Pinchbrook." "I am no traitor." "That is precisely what we wish you to demonstrate to your fellow-citizens assembled outside to witness an exhibition of your patriotism." "I will not do it on compulsion." "Then, sir, we shall be obliged to resort to disagreeable measures." "What do you mean by that, sir ?" asked the squire, who was evidently alarmed by the threat.

"Do you mean to proceed to violence ?" "We do, Squire Pemberton," answered Captain Barney, decidedly.
"O my country!" sighed the victim, "has it come to this?
The laws will no longer protect her citizens." "That's very fine, sir.

Do you expect the laws to protect you while you are aiding and abetting those who are trying to destroy them?
Is there any law to protect a traitor in his treason?
But we waste time, Squire Pemberton.