“But I appeal to you, sir. I was hurried on board a ship while stunned, and I only recovered my senses when I reached this place.”
“Then you were a long time without them, my lad; but you are wrong.”
“I do not understand you, sir.”
“Well, I’ll tell you,” said the settler, sharply. “You lost your senses before you got into trouble.”
“I was only defending my father’s property, sir,” cried Nic passionately. “I am a gentleman—a gentleman’s son.”
“Yes, we get a good many over here in the plantation, my lad; they are the biggest scamps sent over to rid the old country of a nuisance; but we do them good with some honest work and make decent men of them.”
“But I assure you, sir, I am speaking the truth. I appeal to you, men. Tell this gentleman I was not one of your party.”
“Hor, hor,” roared Humpy, derisively. “What a sneak you are, Nic Revel. Take your dose like we do—like a man.”
“I appeal to you, Pete Burge. Tell this gentleman that I was brought out here by mistake.”
“Yes, it was all a mistake, master,” cried the man.