“Cut the brat in two!” said old Bates, with his eyes glaring in anger like two live coals. “Cut the brat in two.”
“Blow out his brains—the bastard!” said Phillip Redgill, feeling safe among so many friends. “Blow out the bastard’s brains!” he said, in a hissing tone.
“Down with him!”
“Spare him not!”
“H-o-l-d!” said Wildfire Ned, in a loud tone, and waving his hand in command. “H-o-l-d! I say! The first man that stirs shall fall by my sword.”
These words were said in such a clear, ringing tone, and with an air of such cool defiance that Captain Jack and his followers were astounded.
Without a word of apology, Wildfire Ned cut the rope that bound Bob Bertram, and then said to Captain Jack—
“You are the leader of this party?”
“I am,” was the gruff reply. “How dare you interfere with our prisoner, then? We are officers of justice.”
“Injustice, you should have said,” Ned coolly replied, laughing, “and if you are not all hung within a week you owe it to my clemency.”