"Add, that he may go to the devil if he is so minded," said Careless.
Madmannah made the required addition, and Ezra marched off in high dudgeon.
"Now let me go," implored Madmannah. "I swear not to betray you."
"We cannot trust him," said Careless. "These false-hearted knaves regard not an oath. We can only insure his silence by putting him to death. Let us hang him to a branch of the tree."
"Spare me!" cried the trooper, horribly frightened. "By all that is sacred I swear not to betray you!"
"I am for hanging him. 'Tis the safest plan," said Careless.
Though not seriously uttered, the threats produced the desired effect. The trooper begged hard for his life.
"Shall we let him go?" said Charles, somewhat moved.
"Assuredly not," replied Careless. "Since he has been fool enough to run his head into a noose, he must take the consequences."