"Cut it off? Absurd! They'll not do that."
"Ay; but they will, sir. 'Tis t' be done the night, sir, with the help o' Sandy Lands an' Black Walt Anderson. They're t' cotch un an' hold un, sir. They'll wait no longer. They're afeared o' losin' little Terry altogether."
"Yes; but surely——"
"If 'twere mortification, sir, wouldn't you cut that finger off?"
"At once."
"With an axe?"
"If I had nothing better."
"An' if the lad was obstinate——"
"If an immediate operation seemed to be advisable, Bob, I would have the lad held."