"Well, that's only spakin' the truth anyway," said Quilleash, quietly.
Davy Fayle leapt up from the fire with a cry of horror. But Dan was calm and resolute.
"Men, you don't know what you're asking. I can not do it."
"Aisy sir, aisy, and think agen. You see we're in if you're in, and who's to know who's deepest?"
"God knows it, and he will never allow you to suffer."
"We've childers and wives looking to us, and who can tell how they'd fend in the world if we were gone?"
"You're brave fellows, and I'm sorry for the name I gave you."
"Shoo! Lave that alone. Maybe we spoke back. Let's come to the fac's."
They stated their case again and with calm deliberation. He asked how it could mend their case if his life was taken. They answered him that they would go back and surrender, and stand their trial and be acquitted.
Those four men were as solemn a tribunal as ever a man stood before for life or death. Not a touch of passion, hardly a touch of warmth, disturbed their rude sense of justice.