"It will greatly inconvenience us to detain him as a prisoner," said Charles. "But there is no alternative."
"Pardon me, there is the alternative of hanging."
"Hark thee, fellow," cried Charles. "Thy life shall be spared, but thou must submit to restraint. Thy hands must be bound, and thine eyes blindfolded."
"Nay, if that be done unto me, I shall fall down from the tree, and break my neck," groaned Madmannah.
"No matter," said Careless.
"Seat thyself between these branches, and move not," said the king.
Aware that resistance would be useless, Madmannah obeyed. Careless then took off the prisoner's belt, and with it fastened his arms tightly behind his back; completing his task by tying his own scarf over the man's eyes.
"Attempt to call out and we will gag thee," he said.
"Nay, I will keep silence," rejoined Madmannah. "Yet tell me how long I am to be detained here?"
"Till this time to-morrow," answered Careless; "for then we shall be far off."