"Wait--but wait one minute!" exclaimed George Masson; and now,
all at once, he had grown cool and determined, and his brain was at work
again with an activity and a clearness it had never known. He had gained
one minute of time, he might be able to gain more. In any case, no one
could save him except himself. There was Jean Jacques with his hand on
the lever--one turn and the thing was done for ever. If a rescuer was
even within one foot of Jean Jacques, the deed could still be done. It
was so much easier opening than shutting the gates of the flume!
"Why should I wait, devil and rogue?" The words came from Jean Jacques'
lips with a snarl. "I am going to kill you. It will do you no good to
whine--cochon!"
To call a man a pig is the worst insult which could be offered by one man
to another in the parish of St. Saviour's. To be called a pig as you are
going to die, is an offensive business indeed.
"I know you are going to kill me--that you can kill me, and I can do
nothing," was the master-carpenter's reply. "There it is--a turn of the
lever, and I am done. Bien sur, I know how easy! I do not want to die,
but I will not squeal even if I am a pig.
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