full confession. Consider, unhappy men, that my present
request is made with the kindest intentions. He, only, who honestly
acknowledges and repents of his sins can hope for a merciful judgment
here or hereafter.'

'It is quite pathetic and affecting to hear,' answered the most
hardened of the prisoners, 'that such a lord as you should so far
condescend to us miserable people, as to beg where you are accustomed
only to command. We cannot indeed particularly wish to hasten an
examination which with us is to end with the gallows, especially if we
should say yes to all of which we are suspected to be guilty. The
mitigation of punishment, with which judges always embellish their
promises to prisoners, in requital of candid confessions, appears to me
like the little book mentioned in the revelations of St. John, 'sweet
in the mouth and bitter in the belly.' We know of many examples where
prisoners have fared worse for speaking than for keeping silent.
However it may be with others, we have not the least desire to talk
away our own lives. Concerning the rack, which judges always present as
the other alternative, we must submit to it as well as we may, all of
us having strong frames and stout hearts. Nevertheless we would give
you every information without the rack, if any we had. What we do know,
we have honestly related; and it certainly is not our fault if you will
not believe us.'

'Do you persist, then, in denying the robberies of which you are
already as good as convicted?' asked the judge.

'We deny nothing,' insolently answered the prisoner, 'nor do we
acknowledge anything; for we have committed no crime. We are honest
Finlanders, who follow hunting through half the Lappmark, and had our
head quarters upon the Ravensten.'

'And do you really know nothing of Black Naddock?' further asked the
judge.

'We have heard some tales about the arrant rogue,' answered the
brigand, 'but the devil knows more about him than we. There was indeed
a Moor, who begged a lodging of us last night, and I thought I saw him
again in the morning, when we were attacked by the dragoons and their
companions; but whether he was or was not Naddock, is more than I can
say. I do not know the man.'

'You do not know me, rascal?' cried Mac Donalbain, springing forward,
and striking his brother robber to the earth with his fist.

'The captain!' was murmured along the ranks, and, fronting their chief,
the robbers laid their right hands upon the