“ ‘But as for you, ye carrion rogues,’ turning to the three men in the rigging⁠—‘for you, I mean to mince ye up for the try-pots;’ and, seizing a rope, he applied it with all his might to the backs of the two traitors, till they yelled no more, but lifelessly hung their heads sideways, as the two crucified thieves are drawn.

“ ‘My wrist is sprained with ye!’ he cried, at last; ‘but there is still rope enough left for you, my fine bantam, that wouldn’t give up. Take that gag from his mouth, and let us hear what he can say for himself.’

“For a moment the exhausted mutineer made a tremulous motion of his cramped jaws, and then painfully twisting round his head, said in a sort of hiss, ‘What I say is this⁠—and mind it well⁠—if you flog me, I murder you!’

“ ‘Say ye so? then see how ye frighten me’⁠—and the Captain drew off with the rope to strike.

“ ‘Best not,’ hissed the Lakeman.

“ ‘But I must,’⁠—and the rope was once more drawn back for the stroke.