CHAPTER III.
Unsuspected and astounding as the revelation was to Clarence, its strange reception by the conspirators seemed to him as astounding.
He had started forward, half expecting that the complacent and self-confessed spy would be immolated by his infuriated dupes.

But to his surprise the shock seemed to have changed their natures, and given them the dignity they had lacked.

The excitability, irritation, and recklessness which had previously characterized them had disappeared.
The deputy and his posse, who had advanced to the assistance of their revealed chief, met with no resistance.

They had evidently, as if with one accord, drawn away from Judge Beeswinger, leaving a cleared space around him, and regarded their captors with sullen contemptuous silence.
It was only broken by Colonel Starbottle:-- "Your duty commands you, sir, to use all possible diligence in bringing us before the Federal judge of this district--unless your master in Washington has violated the Constitution so far as to remove him, too!" "I understand you perfectly," returned Judge Beeswinger, with unchanged composure; "and as you know that Judge Wilson unfortunately cannot be removed except through a regular course of impeachment, I suppose you may still count upon his Southern sympathies to befriend you.

With that I have nothing to do; my duty is complete when my deputy has brought you before him and I have stated the circumstances of the arrest." "I congratulate you, sir," said Captain Pinckney, with an ironical salute, "on your prompt reward for your treachery to the South, and your equally prompt adoption of the peculiar tactics of your friends in the way in which you have entered this house." "I am sorry I cannot congratulate YOU, sir," returned Judge Beeswinger gravely, "on breaking your oath to the government which has educated and supported you and given you the epaulettes you disgrace.