In this he was unsuccessful. Woodley coolly stepped in front of him, and said, "Not so fast, Mr. Cromwell. We cannot dispense with you yet."
Cromwell glanced at the stalwart figure of the Major, and saw that resistance would be useless. Hoping to make better terms for himself, he said, "Promise not to harm me, and I will tell you all."
"Are you mad?" said Paul Morton, sharply, filled with terror lest his confederate should betray him. "Do you never plead guilty to this atrocious charge!"
"Why should he not, if he is guilty?" demanded Major Woodley. "It appears that you desire to shield him."
Paul Morton saw his imprudence, and determined to adopt a different course.
"If he is guilty, I do not wish to shield him. But I thought you meant to terrify him into confessing what was not true."
"There is no need of that. We can prove the charge on the testimony of the boy, and the man who witnessed the attempt to drown him. I will not engage to screen him from punishment, but if he confesses it, he will stand a better chance of mercy."
"Then," said Cromwell, clutching at this promise, "I will tell you all. I did try to drown the boy."
"And what could have been your motive for such a dastardly deed?"
"Mr. Morton promised me ten thousand dollars when the boy was dead."