'It is I, Jim Done!' he said.
'Save me! Save me!' cried Stony in accents of supreme terror.
'Why do you interfere?' asked Ryder with a ring of anger. 'What interest can you have in this hound?'
'None,' replied Jim. 'I followed from the shanty, guessing something would happen. I'm shamefully curious.'
'You are a fool! It might have cost you your life.'
'You certainly do not show any particular respect for human life.' Jim released the other's arm.
'For Christ's sake don't leave me!' moaned Stony. 'He means murder!'
'I have told you I value this man's life. I tell you again I have no intention of killing him, but I hate him so that the ravenous desire to crush the soul out of him is hard to resist. There is a story he must tell me; when that is told he may go. If he refuses to tell there is no power on God's earth to keep me from my vengeance. But he shall tell—the craven shall tell! There'll be no further mischief done, I promise you. Leave us.'
'For the love of Heaven!' pleaded Stony. 'He'll kill! He'll kill!'
'I have your word,' said Jim.