"'Let her go down!'
"Moaning, she was allowed to sink, and lay there prone. Her moans expressed intense agony, and were like those of a man dying, blood gurgling in the sound; it was scarce conceivable a woman actually lay there.
"'Speak, friend,' said her interlocutor, and presently came the slow answer, a whisper:
"'David—T-T-Thomas.'
"'What do you want of us, friend?'
"'I—was—shot!' The tones of the voice were those of a man.
"'Who shot you?'
"A name was given.
"'What do you want to do, my friend?'
"Slowly, distinctly, with relentless purpose came the answer: