"
Although inwardly much pleased with any cause of delay to a service that
he so little relished, Hollister affected some displeasure at the
detention.
"Nothing but a cannon ball can take one of my lads from his charger," he
said; "and it's not very likely that we shall have as fair fighting as
cannon and musketry, in a business of the evil one's inventing; so,
Elizabeth, you may go if you will, but the cart will not be wanting."
"Now, sargeant dear, you lie, anyway," said Betty, who was somewhat
unduly governed by her potations. "And wasn't Captain Singleton shot off
his horse but tin days gone by? Aye, and Captain Jack himself too; and
didn't he lie on the ground, face uppermost and back downwards, looking
grim? And didn't the boys t'ink him dead, and turn and l'ave the
rig'lars the day?"
"You lie back again," cried the sergeant, fiercely; "and so does anyone
who says that we didn't gain the day."
"For a bit or so--only I mane for a bit or so," said the washerwoman;
"but Major Dunwoodie turned you, and so you licked the rig'lars. But the
captain it was that fell, and I'm thinking that there's no better rider
going; so, sargeant, it's the cart will be convanient. Here, two of you,
jist hitch the mare to the tills, and it's no whisky that ye'll be
wanting the morrow; and put the piece of Jenny's hide under the pad; the
baste is never the better for the rough ways of the county Westchester.
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