“Why, you little fool! do you think our lives will be safe if we leave this little friar to tell the captain what he knows?”
“I will not do murder,” said Juan, in a frightened tone.
“Then out of my way, and take no part in it. If it is his life or mine, I shall not take long in the choosing. You’re a fool, Juan.”
“You shall not do it,” said Juan, laying hold of Diego, who was as still, now, as if senseless, though, in fact, he was cognizant of all that was going on.
“Out of my way, boy!”
“I will cry out and alarm the cabin,” said Juan.
Miguel cursed him for his folly, and demanded what he would have done, then.
“Make him promise not to tell a word of what he knows.”
“Ay! he’d promise anything for his life’s sake,” said Miguel. “So much for having a boy to work with.”
“He’ll keep his promise,” said Juan, positively. “Let him speak in a whisper. Say, Diego! will you promise—will you swear on the crucifix not to speak of what you have seen to-night, or of what you suspect? Let him speak, Miguel!”