"I have given my word of honor--my sacred oath--not to betray what I have discovered here."
At these words from the prisoner, a shout arose in which oaths and mocking laughter mingled like the growling and snapping of hunger- maddened wolves.
"Then if I must die," Gledware cried, his voice, in its shrill excitement, dominating the ferocious insults of the ruffians, "don't kill the child--you see she is asleep--and she's so young--only five. Even if she were awake, she wouldn't know how to tell about this cabin. For God's sake, don't kill the little girl!"