As readily would they
then have counted on an earthquake to open the prison doors, as on
this sudden uprising of the people in their strength.
As the men came up, Prudence stopped to let them pass by, her fresh,
pretty face expressive of considerable dismay. As she shrunk closely
up to the rail fence that lined the highway, she looked with timid
recognition up at Perez, as if to claim his protection.
"Where are you going?" he asked kindly, stopping his horse.
"I'm going to see father," she said with a tremulous lip.
"Poor little lassie, were you going to walk all the way?"
"It is nothing," she said, "I could not wait, you know. He might die,"
and her bosom heaved with a sob that would fain break forth.
Perez threw himself from his horse.
"We are all going to the jail," he said. "You shall come with us, and
ride upon my horse. Men, she shall lead us."
The men, whose discipline was not as yet very rigid, had halted and
crowded around to listen to the dialogue, and received this
proposition with a cheer. Prudence would far rather had them go on,
and leave her to make her own way, but she was quite too much scared
to resist as Perez lifted her upon his saddle.
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