You see there _is_ some reason in my puttin' this on your mouth.

It'll be as well to let me do it quietly, else I'll have to get a little help." He pointed to the three stout men who stood motionless and silent in the dark recess.
"Oh, it was cowardly of you to bind my arms before you told me this," said Gascoyne, with flashing eyes.

"If my hands were free now--" He checked himself by a powerful effort, and crushed back the boastful defiance which rose to his lips.
"Now, I'll tell ye what it is, Mister Gascoyne," said Dick Price, "I do believe yer not such a bad feller as they say ye are, an' I'm disposed to be marciful to ye.

If yell give me your word of honor that you'll not holler out, and that you'll go with us peaceably, and do wot yer bid, I'll not trouble you with the napkin, nor bind ye up more than I've done already.

But" (here Dick spoke in tones that could not be misunderstood), "if ye won't give me that promise, I'll gag ye and bind ye neck and heels, and we'll carry ye out o' this, shoulder high.