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blessing his stars with much fervour； when one or two unpleasant
symptoms manifested themselves： such as another motion of the
arm； another sigh； a restless tossing of the head。 Then； just as it
seemed that he was about to fall heavily to the ground from his
narrow bed； Hugh’s eyes opened。
It happened that his face was turned directly towards his
unexpected visitor。 He looked lazily at him for some half…dozen
seconds without any aspect of surprise or recognition； then
suddenly jumped up； and with a great oath pronounced his name。
‘Keep off； brother； keep off！’ cried Dennis； dodging behind the
chair。 ‘Don’t do me a mischief。 I’m a prisoner like you。 I haven’t
the free use of my limbs。 I’m quite an old man。 Don’t hurt me！’
He whined out the last three words in such piteous accents； that
Hugh； who had dragged away the chair； and aimed a blow at him
with it； checked himself； and bade him get up。
‘I’ll get up certainly； brother；’ cried Dennis； anxious to
propitiate him by any means in his power。 ‘I’ll comply with any
request of yours； I’m sure。 There—I’m up now。 What can I do for
you？ Only say the word； and I’ll do it。’
‘What can you do for me！’ cried Hugh； clutching him by the
collar with both hands； and shaking him as though he were bent
on stopping his breath by that means。 ‘What have you done for
me？’
‘The best。 The best that could be done；’ returned the hangman。
Hugh made him no answer； but shaking him in his strong grip
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until his teeth chattered in his head； cast him down upon the floor；
and flung himself on the bench again。
‘If it wasn’t for the comfort it is to me； to see you here；’ he
muttered； ‘I’d have crushed your head against it； I would。’
It was some time before Dennis had breath enough to speak；
but as soon as he could resume his propitiatory strain； he did so。
‘I did the best that could be done； brother；’ he whined； ‘I did
indeed。 I was forced with two bayonets and I don’t know how
many bullets on each side of me； to point you out。 If you hadn’t
been taken； you’d have been shot； and what a sight that would
have been—a fine young man like you！’
‘Will it be a better sight now？’ asked Hugh； raising his head；
with such a fierce expression； that the other durst not answer him
just then。
‘A deal better；’ said Dennis meekly； after a pause。 ‘First； there’s
all the chances of the law； and they’re five hundred strong。 We
may get off scot…free。 Unlikelier things than that have come to
pass。 Even if we shouldn’t； and the chances fail； we can but be
worked off once： and when it’s well done； it’s so neat； so skilful； so
captiwating； if that don’t seem too strong a word； that you’d hardly
believe it could be brought to sich perfection。 Kill one’s fellow…
creeturs off； with muskets！—Pah！’ and his nature so revolted at
the bare idea； that he spat upon the dungeon pavement。
His warming on this topic； which to one unacquainted with his
pursuits and tastes appeared like courage； together with his artful
suppression of his own secret hopes； and mention of himself as
being in the same condition with Hugh； did more to soothe that
ruffian than the most elaborate arguments could have done； or the
most abject submission。 He rested his arms upon his knees； and
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stooping forward； looked from beneath his shaggy hair at Dennis；
with something of a smile upon his face。
‘The fact is； brother；’ said the hangman； in a tone of greater
confidence； ‘that you got into bad company。 The man that was
with you was looked after more than you； and it was him I wanted。
As to me； what have I got by it？ Here we are； in one and the same
plight。’
‘Lookee； rascal；’ said Hugh； contracting his brows； ‘I’m not
altogether such a shallow blade but I know you expected to get
something by it； or you wouldn’t have done it。 But it’s done； and
you’re here； and it will soon be all over with you and me； and I’d as
soon die as live； or live as die。 Why should I trouble myself to have
revenge on you？ To eat； and drink； and go to sleep； as long as I
stay here； is all I care for。 If there was but a little more sun to bask
in； than can find its way into this cursed place； I’d lie in it all day；
and not trouble myself to sit or stand up once。 That’s all the care I
have for myself。 Why should I care for you？’
Finishing this speech with a growl like the yawn of a wild beast；
he stretched himself upon the bench again； and closed his eyes
once more。
After looking at him in silence for some moments； Dennis； who
was greatly relieved to find him in this mood； drew the chair
towards his rough couch and sat down near him—taking the
precaution； however； to keep out of the range of his brawny arm。
‘Well said； brother； nothing could be better said；’ he ventured to
observe。 ‘We’ll eat and drink of the best； and sleep our best； and
make the best of it every way。 Anything can be got for money。
Let’s spend it merrily。’
‘Ay；’ said Hugh； coiling himself into a new position。—‘Where is
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it？’
‘Why； they took mine from me at the lodge；’ said Mr Dennis；
‘but mine’s a peculiar case。’
‘Is it？ They took mine too。’
‘Why then； I tell you what； brother；’ Dennis began。 ‘You must
look up your friends—’
‘My friends！’ cried Hugh； starting up and resting on his hands。
‘Where are my friends？’
‘Your relations then；’ said Dennis。
‘Ha ha ha！’ laughed Hugh； waving o