“We ain’t got any Bibles,” said the other, dryly.
“I’ll give you my word of honor as a gentleman.”
The other only grunted. He was not much impressed.
“I’ll swear before——”
Mr. Stamper suddenly roused up to the necessities of the occasion.
“Here,” he said, quickly. “Do you swear that, if you ever breathe a word as to how you got here, who brought you, or who took you away, or anything you saw here, or anything about the place at all, you hope G—d will strike you dead, and d—n you in h—l fire?”
“Yes. I’ll swear it,” said Leech, fervently. “I hope he will d—n me forever if I do.”
“And strike you dead?” repeated Andy, not to admit any loophole.
“Yes.”
“If that don’t keep him nothin’ will,” said Andy, dryly, half-aloud; and then he added, for further security: “Well, you’d better keep it, for if you don’t, the earth won’t be big enough to hide you. You won’t have another chance.”