"Complete your task!" said the captain with a wave of his hand.
The two guards set the offender with his back to a tree, and producing a rope, quickly passed it round his waist and tied him securely, with his screened face toward the band.
"Wretch!" said the captain in a terrible voice, "you thought to betray us, and expose us to punishment and death, but the doom which you were ready to bring upon us has recoiled upon yourself. You would have sold your captain and comrades for gold. They have pronounced your doom, and it is Death! Have you anything to say?"
The victim did not speak, but slowly inclined his head in hopeless submission to his fate.
"You have nothing to say for yourself. Is there anyone to speak for you?"
One of the bushrangers sprang forward impetuously. "Yes, captain, I will speak for him."
Captain Stockton frowned fiercely, but uttered one word, "Speak!"
The daring outlaw, who had stepped forward a little from the line, commenced: "This man is my brother. We were nursed by the same mother, we played together by the same fireside, we grew into manhood together, and together we joined this band of brothers."
He paused a moment, and the captain said briefly, "Well?"
"Now," continued the brother, "you would condemn him to a shameful death, which he does not deserve."