"Oh! what shall I do? What shall I do?" he groaned. "I never meant that it should be as bad as this!"
"It isn't a question of what you shall do," remarked Baker, sternly.
The other students had come into the room and now stood around, looking on solemnly. Not one of them so much as winked at another for fear that the spectacle would lose some of its force upon the mind of the frightened victim.
"The point is," continued Baker, "that you are not in a position to do anything; the question is, what shall we do?"
"He ought to have his head chopped off where he is!" muttered Bruce Browning, gruffly.
Miller started and edged away from the spot where he was kneeling.
"No!" exclaimed Baker, sternly; "that would be too easy; I should rather think that it would be better to boil him in a vat!"
"Or might burn him alive out on the marshes!" said another.
"I think a good straight forward hanging is the best thing for him!" muttered Jack Diamond.
"Oh, for Heaven's sake, gentlemen!" groaned Miller, "don't let it be to-night. Give me a chance to make up for this!"