"I'll tell you what, boys," he said, "we had better bring matters to a point! Here, tie him up to this tree, and give him six-and-thirty! He is so dreadful fond of the niggers, let him fare with them! We know how to get a promise out of him!"
The tiger was now fully awake in the crowd. Wild oaths and cries of "Give it to him! Give it to him, G—d d—n him!" arose.
Father Dickson stood calm; and, beholding him, they saw his face as if it had been that of an angel, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. A few moments more, and he was divested of his outer garments, and bound to a tree.
"Now will you promise?" said Tom Gordon, taking out his watch. "I give you five minutes."
The children, now aroused, were looking out, crying, from the door. His wife walked out and took her place before him.
"Stand out of the way, old woman!" said Tom Gordon.
"I will not stand out of the way!" she said, throwing her arms round her husband. "You shall not get to him but over my body!"
"Ben Hyatt, take her away!" said Tom Gordon. "Treat her decently, as long as she behaves herself."
A man forced her away. She fell fainting on his shoulder.
"Lay her down," said Tom Gordon. "Now, sir, your five minutes are up. What have you got to say?"