Pagina 239 di 416

It was the last straw, the final piece of humiliation. Code

stiffened as a soldier might to rebuke. A deadly, dull anger

surged within him and took possession of his whole being--such an

anger as can only come to one who, amiable and upright by nature,

is driven to inevitable revolt.

"Look here, Burns," he said, his voice low, but intense with the

emotion that mastered him, "I'll give no word of honor regarding

anything. Between you and me there is a lot to be settled. You

have almost ruined me, and, by Heaven, before I get through with

you, you'll rue it!

"I shall make every attempt to escape from this schooner, and if

I do escape, look out! If I do not escape and you press these

charges against me, I'll hunt you down for the rest of my life;

or if I go to prison I will have others do it for me.

"Now you know what to expect, and you also know that when I say a

thing I mean it. Now do what you like with me."