“Die!” exclaimed Vanslyperken, “no—­no—­mercy, sir—­mercy.  I am not fit to die.”

“Few are—­but this is certain—­that a villain like you is not fit to live.”

“On my knees, I ask mercy,” cried the frightened wretch, dropping down.  “Mr Ramsay, speak for me.”

“I will speak,” replied Ramsay, “but not for you, I will show you, that even if you were to escape us, you would still be hung; for all your extracts of the despatches, I have, with full explanation, put into the hands of the English government.  Do you expect mercy from them—­they have not showed much as yet.”

“O God—­O God!” exclaimed Vanslyperken, throwing himself down on the deck in despair.

“Now, my lads, you have heard the charges against this man, and also that he has no defence to offer, what is your sentence?”

“Death!” exclaimed the conspirators.

“You men, belonging to the cutter, you have heard that this man has betrayed the present government of England, in whose pay and service he was at the time—­what is your opinion?”

Hereupon, Obadiah Coble hitched up his trousers, and said, “Why, as a matter of opinion, I agrees with you, sir, whomsoever you may be.”

“Mein Gott! yes, sir,” exclaimed the corporal.

And all the crew cried out together, “Death—­death!” which, by-the-bye, was very mutinous.

“You perceive that you are doubly condemned as a double traitor,” said Sir Robert.  “So prepare to die; the religion you profess I know not, but the time you will be allowed to make your peace with your God is fifteen minutes.”

“Oh!” groaned Vanslyperken, with his face to the deck.

“Up there, my lads, and get a whip on the yard-arm,” said Ramsay.

Some of his party went to obey the order, and they were assisted by the seamen of the Yungfrau.  But while they were getting the whip ready on the starboard, Jemmy Ducks was very quietly employed getting another on the larboard yard-arm, which nobody took notice of.

As soon as the whip, and the cord with the hangman’s noose made fast to it, were all ready, it was reported to Sir Robert by Corporal Van Spitter, who stepped up to him with his usual military salute.  Sir Robert took off his hat in return.  His watch had been held in his hand, from the time that he had passed sentence upon Vanslyperken, who still remained prostrate on the deck.

“It is my duty to inform you, sir, that but five minutes are left of the time awarded to you,” said Sir Robert to Vanslyperken.

“Five minutes!” exclaimed Vanslyperken, jumping up from the deck, “but five minutes—­to die in five minutes,” continued he, looking up with horror at the rope at the yard-arm, and the fatal noose at the end of it, held in the hand of Corporal Van Spitter.  “Stop, I have gold—­plenty of gold—­I can purchase my life.”

“Kingdoms would not purchase it,” said Sir Robert, scornfully.