"I insist," said he,--for he had already made the request while the men were bringing the tar,--"on knowing what I have done to merit this treatment."
"Wal, that I don't mind tellin' ye," said Silas, "for we've all night for this yer little job before us. Dan Pepperill, stand up here!"
Dan came forward, appearing extremely low-spirited and weak in the knees.
"Is it you, Daniel, who are to bear witness against me?" said Penn, in a voice of singular gentleness, which chimed in like a sweet and solemn bell after the harsh clangor of Silas's ruffian tones.
Dan rolled up his eyes, hugged his tattered elbows, and gave a dismal groan.
"Come!" said Silas, bestowing a slap on his back which nearly knocked him down, "straighten them knees o' yourn, and be a man. Yes, Mr. Schoolmaster, Dan is a-going to bear witness agin' you. He has turned from the error of his ways, and now his noble southern heart is a-burnin' to take vengeance on all the enemies of his beloved country. Ain't it, Dan?--say yes," he hissed in his ear, giving him a second slap, "or else--you know!"
"O Lord, yes!" ejaculated Dan, with a start of terror. "What Mr. Ropes says is perfectly--perfectly--jes' so!"
"Your heart is a-burnin', ain't it?" said Silas.
"Ye--yes! I be durned if it ain't!" said Dan.
"This man," continued Ropes, who prided himself on being a great orator, with power to "fire the southern heart," and never neglected an occasion to show himself off in that capacity,--"this individgle ye see afore ye, gentlemen,"--once more hitting Dan, this time with the toe of his boot, gently, to indicate the subject of his remarks,--"was lately as low-minded a peep as ever you see. He had no more conscience than to 'sociate with niggers, and sell 'em liquor, and even give 'em liquor when they couldn't pay fur't; and you all know how he degraded himself by takin' Combs's Pete into his house and doin' for him arter he'd been very properly licked by the patrol. All which, I am happy to say, the deluded man sincerely repents of, and promises to behave more like a gentleman in futur'. Don't you, Dan?"
As Dan, attempting to speak, only gasped, Ropes administered a sharp poke in his ribs, whispering fiercely,--
"O! I repents! I--I be durned if I don't!" said Dan.