'The man cannot speak.' 'No, but he has managed to tell us what we want; that he will guide us to the place we are seeking,' the Captain answered drily.

'The whip, if it cannot find a man a tongue, can find him wits.

What is more, I think that he will keep his word,' he continued, with a hideous scowl.

'For I warn him that if he does not, all your heroics shall not save him.

He is a rebel dog, and known to us of old; and I will flay his back to the bones, ay, until we can see his heart beating through his ribs, but I will have what I want--in your teeth, too, you d----d meddler.' 'Steady, steady!' I said, sobered.