“We’re in time, laddie,” he said hoarsely, with his mouth close to Elia’s ear. “Speak up and say the truth.”
Then he looked up to encounter the keen eyes of the doctor.
“What’s all this?” the latter demanded harshly. But there was a sudden light of hope in his fierce eyes.
“It’s him. He’s got something to say. It’s the truth about the killing.” Peter indicated the boy. “Speak up, laddie, they’re all friends. Speak up––for Jim’s sake.” Eve looked on with hands clasped. She was still breathing painfully from her exertions.
The crowd gathered round. All but Smallbones, who never for a moment removed his eyes from Jim’s face. It was a bitter moment for him. He felt he was about to be robbed of his prey, and he resented it with all that was 394 mean in him. But Elia did not speak. His eyes were half closed, and a terrible helplessness seemed to have suddenly seized hold of him.
Peter urged him again with a sinking heart.
“Aren’t you going to tell them, laddie? Aren’t you going to tell them all you’ve told me––and save Jim?”
It was Jim’s voice that answered him.
“Don’t bother the lad,” he said. He could not see, but instinctively he knew that Elia was in a bad way.
Peter caught at his words.