"Only just tell me, Fritz, is it right or is it left?"
"No; that won't do. It is of the first importance that you should know the object of our journey. In short, we are going to catch the hag."
A flush of pleasure brightened up the long sallow face of the old poacher, and his eyes sparkled.
"Ha, ha!" he cried, "I knew we should come to that at last!"
And he slipped his rifle round from his shoulder into his hand.
This significant action roused me.
"Wait, Sperver; we are not going to kill the Black Pest, but to take her alive!"
"Alive?"
"No doubt, and it will spare you a good deal of remorse perhaps if I declare to you that the life of this old woman is bound up with that of your master. The ball that hits her hits your lord."
Sperver gazed at me in astonishment.