he cried, shaken and white with fury, 'I must, I must have one day.
With what but my life may I purchase? Is it cheap, think you? As you hope
for heaven by mercy, deal with me. Only one day! By this hour to-morrow,
if I breathe, I surrender. I will swear to it by any form you will. Make
harder conditions, and I take them. All my life-days after would I engage
to set this day free. What more can a man offer than his life for lending
or ending?'

His face and voice were so dreadful to Rhoda's heart, that she could not
brook the limits of reason.

'Mine! Christian, you have mine. You will not refuse; you will let him
go, for I will be his surety.'

'This is folly.'

'It is not. Is it not enough? I--life--honour, in pledge for him. O
Christian, you cannot gainsay, else you dishonour your own purpose.'

'We are plain men who are dealing for justice. An innocent girl cannot be
substitute for a traitor all but proved, whom, moreover, the League needs
for a better information.'

Still Rhoda tried protests.

'Girl, are you out of your senses too? dishonest too? Can you state any
circumstance to justify this urgency for a day's grace? Failing that,
well we can guess what he would do with it. It is somewhat barefaced.'

Christian checked her answering, and owned defeat.

'Give over now,' he said. 'An hour have I wasted fighting over losing
ground. You have gained all along, and I know it. In every way you have
the advantage. Say now, what will you do with it?'

'You surrender?'

'No. By your force, not by my will, shall liberty go. Quit words and be
doing. No: what then?'

'Consider that the odds are against your taking boat alive were a hint
out of your foul dealing with the League. Yet if you promise resistance
we have no choice but to hale you an open prisoner. Have you a mind to
face stones?'

Rhoda's scared looks drew one to assure her, that were Christian free
from guilt, his cause could not miscarry at their hands, unless by his
own intemperance; therefore should she persuade him to voluntary
submission. He groaned in miserable despair.

'I yield, but only till these stringent conditions be passed. Dispose
with me as you will, and I submit--yes, absolutely--yes; but for a time
only. A limited term; for one half-hour? More I will not, and look you
after. I cannot surrender my will to be free this day.'

Likely enough it was out of pity for the girl that his offer was taken.
Against suspicion of some reser