"
"Well, indeed, Shawn, it would be only serving him right; but, in the
meantime, you had better be on your guard; it is said that he fears
neither God nor devil, and always goes well armed; so be cautious, and
if you take him at all, it must be by treachery."
"No," said the outlaw, indignantly, "I'll never take him or any man by
treachery. I know I am an outlaw; but it was the merciless laws of the
country, and their injustice to me and mine, that made me so; I resisted
them openly and like a man; but, bad as I am supposed to be, I will
never stain either my name or my conscience by an act of cowardly
treachery. I will meet this dark villain face to face, and take my
revenge as a brave man ought. You say he goes well armed, and that is a
proof that he feels his own guilt; yes, he goes well armed, you say; so
do I, and it will not be the treacherous murderer that he will meet, but
the open foe."
"Well," replied Caterine, "that is just like you, Shawn; and it is no
wonder that the women were fond of you."
"Yes," said he, "but the girl that was dearer to me a thousand times
than my own life has proved faithless, because there is a stain upon my
name--a stain, but no crime, Caterine; a stain made by the law, but no
crime.
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