"Don't talk so, Captain Bayley, it was all a joke," he screeched, as he saw the gun raised. Had Jarrol not been a rank coward he might have seen that Bayley was nearly as helpless as himself, his legs shook under him and he was obliged to lean against the door to save himself from falling, his arms too were in such a disabled and numbed state that he could scarcely lift the gun to his shoulder. When Jarrol saw Bayley's hesitation, he hoped he had made an impression on him, and he exclaimed, "I will do anything to live—I will be your slave, I will kneel to you," and he fell upon the ground and crawled towards Bayley, whose whole frame displayed the abhorrence in which he held him.
As he continued advancing, by a great effort Bayley gave the abject coward a kick in the face which sent him reeling backwards. As soon as he recovered himself, he said, "Punish me in any way you will, but don't kill me: I can't die yet."
"There is only one minute left for you to prepare," said Bayley, "and you shall die.—Waste no more breath, for your time is fast passing," and he raised the gun and kept it to his shoulder, for he had now recovered in some measure the use of his limbs.
Jarrol looked at him for a moment, and falling on his side screamed for mercy's sake to spare him until he could pray.—"Only let me try," he said,—"only let me collect myself—and this covenant further saith—no, no, not that:—and be it further enacted—declare this to be my last will and testament—in sound health of mind and body—no—no: spare me, I can't pray yet," and he fell upon his face and lay without motion on the ground.
Bayley dropped the muzzle of the gun for the second time, as he exclaimed, "I will leave him for the hangman, but I must put it out of his power to do me further mischief." He then took from his knapsack a pair of handcuffs and fastened
