“You can’t,” I replied. “It’s too far; you haven’t strength enough left for it.”
I could see that he was growing tired. He looked around him at either shore and up and down the river, but we were the only human beings within the circle of that horizon.
“What terms of surrender do you propose?” he said at last, with a certain despair in his tone.
“Unconditional.”
“That is too hard.”
“My advantage warrants the demand.”
He was silent again for a few moments, and was rapidly growing weaker. I thought I would hasten matters.
“I will not treat you badly,” I said. “All I want to do is to take you back to our army.”
“Well, I suppose I must accept,” he said, “for I am growing devilish cold and tired.”
“Pledge your honor,” I said, “that you will make no attempt to escape, with the understanding that the pledge does not forbid rescue.”