"Because you wouldn't be so bad, not to an innocent girl who never
harmed you."

"Oh! wouldn't I just? Ain't I a-stharving, and aint the childer
stharving, and why should they turn us out of our bit of a cabin?
Swear you'll do it; swear you won't have me evicted; you has got to
promise."

"_I_ wouldn't evict you--never, never!" said Nora. "Oh, never!"
she added, tears, not of fright, but of pity, filling her eyes. "But
how can I control my father?"

"That's for you to see to, missy; I must go back now, or we'll none
of us leave this cave alive. But you'll just shlip into that water,
and you'll never be heard of again unless you promises. I'll go
back; they none of 'em will know I followed yez. You'll be drowned
here in the deep pool, and I'll go back to the boat, or you promises
and we both goes back."

"But, Andy, what am I to promise?"

"That you won't have me evicted. You say solemn here: 'Andrew Neil,
I would rather die myself or have my tongue cut out, and may the
Holy Mother cast me from her presence forever, and may the evil
spirits take me, if I don't save you, Andy.' You has to say that."

"No, I won't," said Nora with sudden spirit. "I am not afraid. I'll
do my very, very best for you; but I won't say words like those."

The man looked at her attentively.