"It cut his bosom in two," he said, "to have to say a word against one to whom he had for many years been as a brother.
But, then, what was he to do?
The man had plotted evil against their land, the dear land that the dear Lord had given them, and which they and their fathers had on various occasions watered, and were still continuing to water, with their blood.

What could be a fitting punishment for so black-hearted a traitor, and how would it be possible to insure the better behaviour of other damned Englishmen, unless they inflicted that punishment?
There could, alas! be but one answer--though, personally speaking, he uttered it with many tears--and that answer was _death_." After this there were no more speeches, but each man voted, according to his age, upon his name being called by the president.

At first there was a little hesitation, for some among them were fond of old Silas, and loth to destroy him.

But Frank Muller had played his game very well, and, notwithstanding his appeals to their independence of judgment, they knew full surely what would happen to him who gave his vote against the president.

So they swallowed their better feelings with all the ease for which such swallowing is noted, and one by one uttered the fatal word.
When they had all done Frank Muller addressed Silas: "Prisoner, you have heard the judgment against you.