The question of their death by bullet or starvation was being discussed in such a 192 business-like manner, as if there was no alternative, that the boys were literally paralyzed with fear.
It seemed to Isaac Rice as if the three men remained silent fully five minutes before Jason Wentworth spoke again, and then it was with the air of one who has decided some vexed question.
“I’m not willing to play the part of a savage,” he said, speaking slowly in order to give his words due weight. “Neither do I propose that they shall carry the message. We’ll take them with us.”
“And thus we shall be caused much delay,” Ezra Jones muttered.
“If they are wise we will travel as rapidly as when alone, and in case of a refusal to obey orders they can be shot, or left to starve, as easily half an hour hence as now. Besides, there will be much work at the oars 193 ’twixt here and Crown Point, and they can do a little more than their share of it.”
Perhaps it was this last suggestion which caused the other two men to agree to the proposition.
At all events, no further objection was made, and Master Wentworth took it upon himself to direct the march of the prisoners.
“You are to keep half a dozen paces in advance, and take good care there is no loitering, or any attempt at giving us the slip,” he said to the boys, who yet lay upon the ground. “I do not propose that you shall be starved to death; but at the same time I would put a musket-ball into one or both of you without compunction, rather than suffer delay or escape. Now get on your feet, and move lively, for only by obedience can you save your lives.”
There was no disposition on the part of 194 Colonel Allen’s messengers to run counter to the command which had been given.
Each knew full well that two of their three captors were in favor of leaving them to a most cruel death, which could be escaped only by prompt acquiescence to all the orders given.