Part 37 (2/2)
Ellerey gave way and Stefan shouted the answer
”Until to-morrow,” came the answer ”The youth once in our hands, you are free to depart If he is not given up to us ill have our revenge, though half the sons of these e is delayed the fiercer shall it be when it does come Until to-morrow There shall be peace between us until then”
”But we'll keep watch by the gate for all that,” growled Stefan, as not in the best of teands in this fashi+on
”There is another way, you see,” said Grigosie ”I have got an answer to my question”
”Well, lad, when you alone are in their hands, the rest of us will have said his last prayer, or growled his last oath, whichever pleases him best at the hour of departure”
”The question is not so easily settled, Stefan,” Grigosie said ”Send Anton to the gate, Captain, while we discuss it”
Ellerey laughed at the lad's strange mood as he entered the toith him Stefan followed them and stood in the doorway
”The question is worth consideration, though you an ”You have been deceived, Captain, and also those who served with you”
”Enough of that, lad It is past, and the present is our concern If we co those who deceived us”
”Should it not be a bitter punishment?” queried the boy
”As bitter as the death to which they have brought us face to face,”
said Ellerey fiercely, his whole being roused for a e practised upon hiosie went on ”For you and Stefan there is almost certain death to-morrow or a week hence, it may be”
”It is very likely I have looked death in the face before, and so has Stefan there When we look into his eyes for the last tie color”
”Except with the heat of our final struggle,” said Stefan froone You two stand alone,” said Grigosie
”With you and Anton,” said Stefan
”And ish for no better companions,” added Ellerey ”Vasilici's knife would have written finis to osie”
The boy colored a little with pleasure
”Still you forget, Captain, that Anton and I were not of your choosing
We forced ourselves into your colad, I--” and then the look in Grigosie's eyes stopped Ellerey suddenly Stefan, too, started froht in the entrance, looking straight at the boy
”By your leave, I would becoosie ”I asked you to take ue upon you, lad, you al,” was Ellerey's answer, but he still looked fixedly at hi that I should pay the penalty,”
said the boy quietly ”I would sooner meet death at their hands than at yours Grant me this much, and make an end of it”
”You!” exclaimed Ellerey ”You deceived me! I do not believe it”