“You can take my word.”
“You don’t look it,” he said doubtingly, and with an accent of regret.
“I’m through with the talk. Choose,” I answered, shortly.
“I’m ready to risk it, but I must speak to the others.”
“That’s right enough. You can do that; but you must bring the horses up to the side of the tent first.”
I let him go in front of me round the tent, and he called to his companions to lead the horses over to us. Karasch met them half way, and he and I tethered them while the three men held a long and animated discussion.
I told Karasch what had passed, emphasising what the leader had said about the prisoner being no witch.
“But you said she had put a charm over your life, Burgwan.”
“Because I saw you were set on killing her. She is no witch, but a prisoner of great importance. They are to have three thousand gulden for taking her to Maglai.”
“Three thousand gulden!” he cried, his eyes wide at the thought of such a sum. To him it was a fortune.