CHAPTER IV.
THE COMMITTEE COME OUT, AND TOM GOES IN.
While the committee which the loyal citizens of Pinchbrook had appointed to conduct their case with Squire Pemberton were in the house, engaged in bringing the traitor to terms, the younger members of the assemblage were very impatient to know how matters were progressing.

Thomas Somers was particularly anxious to have the affair brought to a crisis.

In vain he and a few other of the young loyalists attempted to obtain a view of the interior of the house, where the exciting interview was in progress.
Captain Barney, on shore as well as at sea, was a thorough disciplinarian.
Of course, he was aware that his proceedings were technically illegal; that in forcing himself into the house of the squire he was breaking the law of the land; but it seemed to him to be one of those cases where prompt action was necessary, and the law was too tardy to be of any service.

He was, however, determined that the business should be done with as little violence as possible, and he had instructed the citizens at the bridge to do no needless injury to the property or the feelings of the squire or his family.
When he entered the house, he had stationed three men at the door to prevent any of the people from following him.

He had also directed them not to enter the yard or grounds of the house until he gave the signal.
These directions proved a great hardship to the boys in the crowd, and they were completely disgusted when they saw the flag thrown loose from the front window.
The mansion of Squire Pemberton was an old-fashioned dwelling, about a hundred feet from the road.