Black Arrow, the Avenger — page 63: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

tree...“ We are about to swear with our necks in the halter, that we have not betrayed any of the secrets of this organiza- tion, and that we will hereafter keep them faithfully. If any man swears falsely, I pily him. As the chairman of the com- mittee, I will be the first to take the oath.” With. this pitiry speech, the captain mounted the tasrel, and pu: his head in the noose, which was tightened around his neck. An oath was then administered to him, in substance such as he had described.. No man who had ever disclosed any of the secrets of the organization, could take such an oath without forswearing himself. . But Captain Ferguson took it, and then one. after another up on the barrel, until the oath had been administered to all except Satterlee and Whetstone. “Tt is your turn now,” said Ferguson, turning to, Satter lee. . That individual trembled. and turned. pale. He looked around for some way of escape, but saw himself surrounded by earnest and determined men. “I won't do it,” he said, grinding his teeth in rage and vex- ation, “ This is a fixed-up job. Ive seen it from the begin- ning. You want to murder me, and that's the upshot of this whole proceeding.” “lf you are a true man,” said Captain Ferguson, “ you can not object to, the oath, which we have all taken, If you are a spy, you deserve death.” “Lam a gentleman, and I have risked as much in this busi ness as any of you. You can’t prove any thing against me, and there is no law for this. Give me a fair trial, and I will submit to the result of it. Hf you maser, me, you will suffer fori”... - “Tk is evident that you are guilty. If we needed any more proof, your conduct gives it to us, Mount that barrel !’ “ Will you let-me take, the oath ?. eae wing to take it I can take it as well as any of you.” | . “ What! would you ge into eternity with, a lie on your lips? Tagchal Rave, ten mbsnlee. ke AFI prayers. Bind Ss “was. yo te his. arms were tied behind his - He saw that his doom was fixed, and he kneeled to his -. comliclooks.com