“I tell you I cannot sleep! Give it to me, boy, or, by Heaven, you yourself shall sleep the long sleep here and now! What? You still refuse?”
“Yes, I’ll not be driven to it. You say I’m Irish. I am—I’ll not give up a woman’s secret—it’s a question of honor, Captain. There is a woman concerned, as you know.”
“Yes!”
“And I promised her, too. I swear I never planned any wrong to either of you. I would die at your order now, as you know; but you have no right to order this, and I’ll not answer!”
The hand closed at his throat. The boy could not speak, but still Meriwether Lewis growled on at him.
“Shannon! Speak! Why have you kept secrets from your commanding officer? You have begun to tell me—tell me all!”
The boy’s hand clutched at his leader’s wrists. At length Lewis loosed him.
“Captain,” began the victim, “what do you mean? What can I do?”
“I will tell you what I mean, Shannon. I promised to care for you and bring you back safe to your parents. You’ll never see your parents again, save on one condition. I trusted you, thought you had special loyalty for me. Was I wrong?”
“On my honor, Captain,” the boy broke out, “I’d have died for you any time, and I’d do it now! I’ve worked my very best. You’re my officer, my chief!”