'
'Why, haven't you heard? Why, he recovered from his wound.'
'Merciful heaven, then I am free to stand up among my fellow men, in
my own place again! No; they told me nothing of it, though the
villainous chief must have heard, for nothing passes without his
cognizance.'
During this conversation the hag looked as if the world was coming
to an end, that such language should be used by the upstart in the
very midst of her stronghold.
'Poltroon,' she shouted to The Lifter, why do you not strike him
down?'
'That is all over now,' Roland said, suddenly seizing the old woman
and forcing a handkerchief into her mouth. This act was the signal
for The Lifter, who at the same moment accorded similar treatment to
Silent Poll. Roland bound the old woman, and The Lifter secured the
young one.
'Granny,' The Lifter said, bending down to her ear, 'I am going to
leave and to try to be an honest man. I shall watch constantly in the
papers for news of your hangeen. As for you,' stooping down to the
ear of Silent Poll, 'I believe the devil will carry you off before
the gallows gets you. I know you must always have been a great
favourite of his.
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