"Do we _look_ tender-hearted, your honor?"

"Well, no; I can't say that you do; but then the looks are not always a
true criterion by which to judge of the heart. A smooth face and a hard
heart may go together, so may a rough visage and warm sympathies."

"You may rely on us in that particular."

"Even if the suppliant be a helpless and beautiful woman?"

"Well, I must confess, I don't fancy meddling with feminines much. What do
you say to it, Dick; shall we pledge?"

"Dang the women! It allers looked kinder cowardly to me to see men turn
agin' the weak things and abuse 'em; it don't seem nateral, but 'pears like
a feller didn't remember his mother, or his sisters, if he had any. But if
the lieutenant has any work to do, we'll do it, women or no women. Them's
my sentiments, Bill, exactly."

"Give us your hand on it, then," said Bill. "And now, give us yours,
lieutenant, and the thing's settled."

With this, they all shook hands in token of agreement, and thus their faith
was pledged. But what a rebuke Dick inadvertently administered to Duffel in
his quaint remarks! How his vicious heart, bad as it was, must have felt
the blow, and all the more severely that it came from such a source!
However, the villain was not to be turned from his purpose, and so,
pocketing the unintentional affront, he proceeded: