⟨about⟩ 200 yards he asked me to sit down. ⟨I had⟩ the axe upon my shoulder, and I was ⟨afraid⟩ he wanted to kill me, for he was ⟨stronger⟩ than I. So I threw the axe aside, ⟨but⟩ farther from him than me, for fear he ⟨would⟩ try to snatch it—that I should reach ⟨it⟩ before him if he did. But he wanted me ⟨to⟩ kill Fagan, that he might not be evidence ⟨against⟩ us. I would not agree to it, saying, ⟨I⟩ could trust my life in his hands, and we ⟨returned⟩ to the fire.
"On our return, Fagan was lying by the ⟨fire⟩ warming himself. I threw down the ⟨axe⟩; and he looked up and said, ‘Have you ⟨put⟩ any snares down, Ned?’ I said, ‘No; ⟨there⟩ are snares enough, if you did but know (illegible text)' I sat beside him, M‘Queen was ⟨beyond⟩ me: he was on my right, and Fagan ⟨on⟩ my left. I was wishing to tell Fagan ⟨what⟩ had passed, but could not, as M'Queen ⟨was⟩ sitting with the axe close by looking at ⟨us⟩. I lay down, and was in a doze, when I ⟨heard⟩ Fagan scream out. I leaped on my ⟨feet⟩, in a dreadful fright, and saw Fagan ⟨lying⟩ on his back, with a dreadful cut in the ⟨head⟩, and the blood pouring from it. ⟨M‘Queen⟩ was standing over him, with the ⟨axe⟩ in his hand. I said, ‘You murdering ⟨rascal⟩, you b—y dog! what have you done?’ ⟨He⟩ said, ‘This will save our lives;’ and
