Pagina 236 van 439

Despite the quietness of the monosyllable, she divined an eager

interest back of his question.

"He must have suffered so. He wasn't a brave man, they say. And

he was one against many. They didn't hunt him. They just closed

the trap and let him wear himself out trying to get through.

Think of that awful week of hunger and exposure in the hills

before the end!"

"It must have been pretty bad, especially if he wasn't a game

man. But he had no legitimate kick coming. He took his chance and

lost. It was up to him to pay."

"His name was David Burke. When he was a little boy I suppose his

mother used to call him Davy. He wasn't bad then; just a little

boy to be cuddled and petted. Perhaps he was married. Perhaps he

had a sweetheart waiting for him outside, and praying for him.

And they snuffed his life out as if he had been a rattlesnake."

"Because he was a miscreant and it was best he shouldn't live.

Yes, they did right. I would have helped do it in their place."

"My father did," she sighed.