"I want my wife, whom you have no right to detain. Take all I have, and give me her!" exclaimed Smithers.
"By your own admission, all you are entitled to are these children," said the captain. "Do you comply with my conditions, or shall I shoot you where you stand?"
"No, no!" exclaimed Smithers, shrinking back from the uplifted pistol. "Life is sweet! life is precious!"
"Swear!"
"I do!"
"Then get along with your wagon and your brats. Recollect that if anyone breaks faith with me, I will follow him to the end of the world and square accounts with him."
"You shall have no cause."
"Git!" said the captain, in a contemptuous tone.
Harold and Alice once more climbed into the wagon and Smithers caused the oxen to resume their journey.
He was glad to have escaped so easily, but he felt very mean and contemptible when he thought that he had allowed his wife to be carried off before his eyes without raising a finger to help her.