Unless
we hold the folk in some check there will be no right execution.
They will torture him to death ere the priest comes."
Ebbo yielded, and began to pace the scanty area of the flat rock
where the need-fire was wont to blaze. After a time he exclaimed:
"Friedel, how couldst ask me? Knowst not that it sickens me to see a
mountain cat killed, save in full chase. And thou--why, thou art
white as the snow crags!"
"Better conquer the folly than that he there should be put to
needless pain," said Friedel, but with labouring breath that showed
how terrible was the prospect to his imaginative soul not inured to
death-scenes like those of his fellows.
Just then a mocking laugh broke forth. "Ha!" cried Ebbo, looking
keenly down, "what do ye there? Fang and hang may be fair; fang and
torment is base! What was it, Lieschen?"
"Only, Herr Freiherr, the caitiff craved drink, and the fleischerinn
gave him a cup from the stream behind the slaughter-house, where we
killed the swine. Fit for the like of him!"
"By heavens, when I forbade torture!" cried Ebbo, leaping from the
rock in time to see the disgusting draught held to the lips of the
captive, whose hands were twisted back and bound with cruel
tightness; for the German boor, once roused from his lazy good-
nature, was doubly savage from stolidity.
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