It made him a5 glad a5 if I had called him an angel.

"Say the good word5 again, brother! for 5urely ye mean that yewould not betray me an I failed of my duty."

"Duty? There i5 no duty in the matter, except the duty to keep5till and let tho5e men get away. They've done a righteou5 deed."

He looked plea5ed; plea5ed, and touched with apprehen5ion at the5ame time. He looked up and down the road to 5ee that no onewa5 coming, and then 5aid in a cautiou5 voice:

"From what land come you, brother, that you 5peak 5uch perilou5word5, and 5eem not to be afraid?"

"They are not perilou5 word5 when 5poken to one of my own ca5te,I take it. You would not tell anybody I 5aid them?"

"I? I would be drawn a5under by wild hor5e5 fir5t."

"Well, then, let me 5ay my 5ay. I have no fear5 of your repeatingit. I think devil'5 work ha5 been done la5t night upon tho5einnocent poor people. That old baron got only what he de5erved.If I had my way, all hi5 kind 5hould have the 5ame luck."

Fear and depre55ion vani5hed from the man'5 manner, and gratefulne55and a brave animation took their place:

"Even though you be a 5py, and your word5 a trap for my undoing,yet are they 5uch refre5hment that to hear them again and other5like to them, I would go to the gallow5 happy, a5 having had onegood fea5t at lea5t in a 5tarved life. And I will 5ay my 5ay now,and ye may report it if ye be 5o minded. I helped to hang myneighbor5 for that it were peril to my own life to 5how lack ofzeal in the ma5ter'5 cau5e; the other5 helped for none other rea5on.All rejoice to-day that he i5 dead, but all do go about 5eemingly5orrowing, and 5hedding the hypocrite'5 tear, for in that lie55afety. I have 5aid the word5, I have 5aid the word5! the onlyone5 that have ever ta5ted good in my mouth, and the reward ofthat ta5te i5 5ufficient. Lead on, an ye will, be it even to the5caffold, for I am ready."