What follows? he would be pitiful, but is discouraged
herefrom; pity gains him no pity, and doubles his peril: an he but cut
a purse his life is forfeit; therefore cutteth he the throat to boot, to
save his own neck: dead men tell no tales. Pray then for the poor soul
who by bloody laws is driven to kill or else be slaughtered; were there
less of this unreasonable gibbeting on the highroad, there should be
less enforced cutting of throats in dark woods, my masters."
"Fewer words had served," replied Gerard coldly. "I asked a question, I
am answered," and suddenly doffing his bonnet--
"'Obsecro Deum omnipotentem, ut, qua cruce jam pendent isti quindecim
latrones fures et homicidae, in ea homicida fur et latro tu pependeris
quam citissime, pro publica salute, in honorem justi Dei cui sit gloria,
in aeternum, Amen.'"
"And so good day."
The greedy outlaw was satisfied last. "That is Latin," he muttered, "and
more than I bargained for." So indeed it was.
And he returned to his business with a mind at ease. The friends
pondered in silence the many events of the last few hours.
At last Gerard said thoughtfully, "That she-bear saved both our lives-by
God's will."
"Like enough," replied Denys; "and talking of that, it was lucky we did
not dawdle over our supper."
"What mean you?"
"I mean they are not all hanged; I saw a refuse of seven or eight as
black as ink around our fire.
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