"
"How can I?"
"Make it a gauge of life or death between you and me."
Ike Denman laughed, and answered: "Why, man, you are crazy!"
"Not crazy enough to pay the penalty of your mistakes with my
life!"
There was a threat in the tones of the detective.
"What do you demand?"
"Your word of honor."
"To bind a promise?"
"Yes."
"What shall I promise?"
"That I shall meet my accuser face to face on this deck; let
us decide who is the spy and the traitor!"
"That wouldn't do, Ballard, and I am wasting time. Your
chances are easy enough. All I ask is that you become one of
us. Refuse, and I will be compelled to pass you over to the
crew."
"And what will they do?"
"Try you."
"Try me for what?"
"Try you as a traitor."
"But I am no traitor."
"You are in our midst, and not one of us; that fact alone will
be accepted as proof of your guilt."
"And I can escape by joining your crew?"
"Yes."
"I refuse."
"Have you considered well?"
"I am resolved not to join while my enemy is one of your
number."
"You are throwing your life away."
"SO be it, but you go first!"
Ike was taken all aback, but did not lose his head. He raised
his hands toward his lips intending to sound a whistle, but he
was restrained by Vance, who said:
"Move or make the least signal and you are a goner."
"Aha! the charge is true," said Denman in a low tone.
"You inveigled me on board this craft. You are in collusion
with a man who wishes to get rid of me.
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