"What use would he be if he was a dead 'un?
Besides, how are we to carry him all that way ?" "All right, have it your way," said the other surlily.
Then Percy was conscious of some one uncording the mouth of the sack and uncovering his head.
"Young feller," said the gruffer of the two voices, "do you want your throat cut ?" Percy shook his head in mild deprecation of such a desire.
"Do you want your tongue cut out ?" Once more Percy disclaimed any consuming anxiety in that direction.
"Then you won't move a step or speak a word unless you're told.

Do you mark that ?" The boy nodded; he did mark it.
Thereupon, much to his relief, the gag was taken from his mouth, and he felt himself hauled out of the ignominious sack.
"A drink!" he gasped.
"There he goes; I said he'd do it.

Clap the gag on again." Poor blindfolded Percy could only wave his head appealingly.

He would sooner have his throat cut than feel that gag back between his teeth.
His captors let him off this once, and one of them untied the cords from his legs.

He was too cramped to attempt to make any use of this partial liberty, even had he been so minded, and sank down, half fainting, to the ground.
"Give him a drink," said one of the voices; and in a moment or two he felt a cup of delicious water held to his parched lips, reviving him as if by magic.