He smiled grimly to see how well he had performed his work of suffocation without yet utterly destroying life.
Sword in hand, he returned to Kenneth and the parson.

The Puritan's struggles were already becoming mere spasmodic twitchings; his face was as ghastly as the trooper's had been a while ago.
"Release him, Kenneth," said Crispin shortly.
"He struggles still." "Release him, I say," Galliard repeated, and stooping he caught the lad's wrist and compelled him to abandon his hold.
"He will cry out," exclaimed Kenneth, in apprehension.
"Not he," laughed Crispin.

"Leastways, not yet awhile.

Observe the wretch." With mouth wide agape, the minister lay gasping like a fish newly taken from the water.

Even now that his throat was free he appeared to struggle for a moment before he could draw breath.