'Mark never intended to injure you,' said the Cheap Jack girl. 'He sought to save your property for you. Why should you work for his destruction?'
'You shall withdraw your charge against him before all the world,' said Kainie.
'You shall break the shackles off his hands yourself,' said Zita.
Drownlands dug his spurs wrathfully into the flanks of the horse, and clenched his teeth and hands. But though the beast was wounded and bounded, his head was held too firmly for him to break away.
'Shall I grip your foot till you scream,' exclaimed Zita, 'as I did on the night when I stayed you before?'
'Will you kill Mark, as you killed his father?' asked Kainie.
Her words were random words. She spoke in the vehemence of her wrath against Drownlands, and anxiety for Runham. She knew nothing definite against her uncle, but she had heard the whispered gossip of the Fens.
'I will have justice on all who have wronged me,' muttered Drownlands.
'Take care!' exclaimed Kainie, raising the disengaged hand, down which ran a trickle of blood. 'Do not think that because some of the poor lads have been taken, because ten out of one hundred are handcuffed, that every heart that is full of bitterness is beating behind prison walls, and every hand that can be raised against you is fettered. There are ninety pairs for every ten you put in iron cuffs, and they will be clenched in rage and resolve of revenge the day that you send the poor fellows to the gallows.'
'I fear them not,' said Drownlands scornfully.