“Let him go?” said Kalmar, his breath hissing through his shut teeth.  “Listen, and tell me if I should let him go.  Many years ago, when a student in the University, I fell under suspicion, and without trial was sent to prison by a tyrannical Government.  Released, I found it difficult to make a living.  I was under the curse of Government suspicion.  In spite of that I succeeded.  I married a noble lady and for a time prospered.  I joined a Secret Society.  I had a friend.  He was the rejected suitor of my wife.  He, too, was an enthusiast for the cause of freedom.  He became a member of my Society and served so well that he was trusted with their most secret plans.  He sold them to the Government, seeking my ruin.  The Society was broken up and scattered, the members, my friend included, arrested and sent to prison, exile and death.  Soon he was liberated.  I escaped.  In a distant border town I took up my residence, determined, when opportunity offered, to flee the country with my wife and two infant children, one a babe in his mother’s arms.  At this time my friend discovered me.  I had no suspicion of him.  I told him my plans.  He offered to aid me.  I gave him the money wherewith to bribe the patrol.  Once more he betrayed me.  Our road lay through a thick forest.  As we drove along, a soldier hailed us.  I killed him and we dashed forward, only to find another soldier waiting.  We abandoned our sleigh and took to a woodcutter’s track through the forest.  We had only a mile to go.  There were many tracks.  The soldier pursued us through the deep snow, firing at random.  A bullet found a place in my wife’s heart.  Ah!  My God!  She fell to the snow, her babe in her arms.  I threw myself at her side.  She looked up into my face and smiled.  ’I am free at last,’ she said.  ’Farewell, dear heart.  The children—­leave me—­carry them to freedom.’  I closed her eyes, covered her with snow and fled on through the forest, and half frozen made my way across the border and was safe.  My children I left with friends and went back to bring my wife.  I found blood tracks on the snow, and bones.”  He put his hands over his face as if to shut out the horrid picture, then flinging them down, he turned fiercely upon Simon.  “What do you say?  Shall I let him go?”

“No,” said Simon, reaching out both his hands.  “By the Lord God Almighty!  No!  He shall die!”

Kalmar tore open his shirt, pulled out a crucifix.

“Will you swear by God and all the saints that if I fail you will take my place?”

Simon hesitated.  The boy sprang forward, snatched the crucifix from his father’s hand, pressed his lips against it and said in a loud voice, “I swear, by God and all the saints.”

The father started back, and for a few moments silently contemplated his boy.  “What, boy?  You?  You know not what you say.”

“I do know, father.  It was my mother you left there in the snow.  Some day I will kill him.”