avail is penitence, an ye have no mind to right those wrongs ye had a

hand in? and without penitence, confession is but mockery."

"Ye say what ye mean not, Master Dick," said Carter, composedly. "It is

ill threatening the dying, and becometh you (to speak truth) little. And

for as little as it commends you, it shall serve you less. Stay, an ye

please. Ye will condemn my soul--ye shall learn nothing! There is my

last word to you." And the wounded man turned upon the other side.

Now, Dick, to say truth, had spoken hastily, and was ashamed of his

threat. But he made one more effort.

"Carter," he said, "mistake me not. I know ye were but an instrument in

the hands of others; a churl must obey his lord; I would not bear heavily

on such an one. But I begin to learn upon many sides that this great

duty lieth on my youth and ignorance, to avenge my father. Prithee,

then, good Carter, set aside the memory of my threatenings, and in pure

goodwill and honest penitence give me a word of help."

The wounded man lay silent; nor, say what Dick pleased, could he extract

another word from him.

Well," said Dick, "I will go call the priest to you as ye desired; for

howsoever ye be in fault to me or mine, I would not be willingly in fault

to any, least of all to one upon the last change."

Again the old soldier heard him without speech or motion; even his groans

The Black Arrow