"
"I pity Black Donald, and I can't bear to think of his being hanged!
It quite breaks my heart to think that I was compelled to bring him
to such a fate!"
"Oh, that reminds me! The reward offered for the apprehension of
Black Donald, to which you were entitled, Cap, was paid over to me
for you. I placed it to your account in the Agricultural Bank."
"I don't want it! I won't touch it! The price of blood! It would
burn my fingers!" said Cap.
"Oh, very well! A thousand dollars won't go a-begging," said Old
Hurricane.
"Uncle, it breaks my heart to think of Black Donald's execution! It
just does! It must be dreadful, this hanging! I have put my finger
around my throat and squeezed it, to know how it feels, and it is
awful. Even a little squeeze makes my head feel as if it would
burst, and I have to let go! Oh, it is horrible to think of!"
"Well, Cap, it wasn't intended to be as pleasant as tickling, you
know. I wish it was twenty times worse! It would serve him right,
the villain! I wish it was lawful to break him on the wheel--I do!"
"Uncle, that is very wicked in you! I declare I won't have it! I'll
write a petition to the Governor to commute his sentence, and carry
it all around the county myself!"
"You wouldn't get a soul to sign it to save your life, much less
his."
"I'll go to the Governor myself, and beg him to pardon Donald
Bayne!"
"Ha! ha! ha! the Governor would not do it to save all our lives, and
if he were to do such an outrageous thing he might whistle for his
reelection!"
"I declare, Donald Bayne shall not be hanged--and so there!" said
Cap, passionately.
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