Even then the captain might put him in irons rather than risk his escape.
"Harrigan," said McTee suddenly.

"Don't keep it up.

You're bound to break.

Speak those words now that I told you to say and you're a free man." Harrigan looked up and the words formed at the base of his tongue.
Harrigan looked down and saw his crimson hands.

The words fell back like dust on his heart.
"Take you for my master an' swear to forget what you've done ?" he said, and his voice was hardly more than a whisper.