Listen how
the wind whistles through the trees; and hark! there is the howling of
evil spirits abroad."
"I see him," said Caesar, opening his eyes to a width that might have
embraced more than an ideal form.
"Where?" interrupted the sergeant, instinctively laying his hand on the
hilt of his saber.
"No, no," said the black, "I see a Johnny Birch come out of he
grave--Johnny walk afore he buried."
"Ah! then he must have led an evil life indeed," said Hollister. "The
blessed in spirit lie quiet until the general muster, but wickedness
disturbs the soul in this life as well as in that which is to come."
"And what is to come of Captain Jack?" cried Betty, angrily. "Is it yeer
orders that ye won't mind, nor a warning given? I'll jist git my cart,
and ride down and tell him that ye're afeard of a dead man and
Beelzeboob; and it isn't succor he may be expicting from ye. I wonder
who'll be the orderly of the troop the morrow, then?--his name won't be
Hollister, anyway."
"Nay, Betty, nay," said the sergeant, laying his hand familiarly on her
shoulder; "if there must be riding to-night, let it be by him whose duty
it is to call out the men and set an example. The Lord have mercy, and
send us enemies of flesh and blood!"
Another glass confirmed the veteran in a resolution that was only
excited by a dread of his captain's displeasure, and he proceeded to
summon the dozen men who had been left under his command.
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