“You do not intend to kill me and my men?”
“We are not butchers, sir,” was the cold reply.
“Then what is your object in detaining us. Is it ransom?”
“Possibly.”
“Name the sum, then, sir, and if it is in my power it shall be paid.”
“It is too soon to talk of ransom, Captain Armstrong,” said his visitor, “you are weak and ill yet. Be patient, and grow well and strong. Some day I will talk over this matter with you again. But let me, before I go, warn you to be careful not to attempt to escape, or to encourage either of your men to make the attempt. Even I could not save you then, for the first man you met would shoot you down. Besides that risk, escape is impossible by land; and we shall take care that you do not get away by sea. Now, sir, have I listened to all you have to say?”
“One word, sir. I am growing stronger every day. Will you grant me some freedom?”
“Captain Armstrong is a gentleman,” said his visitor; “if he will give his word that he will not attempt to escape, he shall be free to go anywhere within the bounds of our little settlement.”
Humphrey sat thinking, with his brow knit and his teeth compressed.
“No,” he said; “that would be debarring myself from escaping.”