“He meant to leave you. He had become tired of the life of a bushranger. He wished to return to the paths of honesty, and live by labour at some respectable trade.”
“And why was this? Why, after so many years, had he become tired of our noble independence?”
“In one of his missions, undertaken in the interest of the fraternity, he had made the acquaintance of a young girl, modest and attractive. He wished to marry her, but as a bushranger he knew this was impossible. Therefore, he resolved to leave our band, and enter upon a new life. He would never have uttered a word to imperil the safety of his captain or his comrades.”
“And you expect us to believe this?” said the captain with a sneer.
“I do. I swear it is true.”
“And what do you expect me to do, Robert Graham?”
“To consider his temptations, and to show mercy upon him.”
“Perhaps also you expect me to release him, and bid him go his way to the maiden who is waiting for him.”
“It would be a generous act.”
“But I am not so generous,” said the captain. “Your plea is ingenious, but I put no faith in it. It is utterly improbable. What he sought was blood money.”