All the wrongs of the peddler shone on his brain with a dazzling
brightness. For a moment the demon within him prevailed, and Birch
brandished the powerful weapon in the air; in the next, it fell harmless
on the reviving but helpless trooper. The peddler vanished up the side
of the friendly rock.
"Help Captain Lawton, there!" cried Mason, as he rode up, followed by a
dozen of his men; "and some of you dismount with me, and search these
rocks; the villain lies here concealed."
"Hold!" roared the discomfited captain, raising himself with difficulty
on his feet. "If one of you dismount, he dies. Tom, my good fellow, you
will help me to straddle Roanoke again."
The astonished subaltern complied in silence, while the wondering
dragoons remained as fixed in their saddles, as if they composed part of
the animals they rode.
"You are much hurt, I fear," said Mason, with something of condolence in
his manner, as they reentered the highway, biting off the end of a
cigar for the want of a better quality of tobacco.
"Something so, I do believe," replied the captain, catching his breath,
and speaking with difficulty. "I wish our bonesetter was at hand, to
examine into the state of my ribs."
"Sitgreaves is left in attendance on Captain Singleton, at the house of
Mr.
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