"Aye, let them die; but when?"

"When you will," said Hunston; "I care not, so that we are lid of them.
We see clearly that there is no counting upon these Harkaway people for
the ransom set down by us, however reasonable our demands may be."

"True."

"Then, I say, let them die to-day."

"Impossible," said one of the brigands, stepping forth.

"Why?"

"Because the traitor, Lirico, is to die at daybreak; we can't have two
executions so near to each other. Let them all die together."

"Lirico," said Hunston, "and why has he to die? I haven't heard in what
he has offended."

"A hateful thing," was the reply of his informant; "Lirico has offended
against the foundation rule of the band."

"How?"

"He has kept to himself the booty he has gained, and our law is that
any member of the band who shall conceal his booty, or any part or
fragment of the same, to the prejudice of his comrades and fellows
shall die the death of a traitor."