"I am so little acquainted, sir, with the rebel uniform, that I really
was unable to distinguish, whether those men, whom you say are your own,
did or did not belong to the gang of marauders."
"Apology, sir, is unnecessary," replied the trooper, curling his lip.
"It is not your task, as a minister of God, to take note of the facings
of a coat. The standard under which you serve is acknowledged by
us all."
"I serve under the standard of his gracious Majesty, George III,"
returned the priest, wiping the cold sweat from his brow. "But really
the idea of being scalped has a strong tendency to unman a new-beginner,
like myself."
"Scalped!" echoed Lawton, stopping short in his walk. Then recollecting
himself, he added, with composure, "If it is to Dunwoodie's squadron of
Virginia light dragoons that you allude, it may be well to inform you
that they generally take a bit of the skull with the skin."
"Oh! I can have no apprehensions of gentlemen of your appearance," said
the divine, with a smirk. "It is the natives that I apprehend."
"Natives! I have the honor to be one, I assure you, sir."
"Nay, I beg that I may be understood--I mean the Indians; they who do
nothing but rob, and murder, and destroy."
"And scalp!"
"Yes, sir, and scalp too," continued the clergyman, eying his companion
a little suspiciously; "the copper-colored, savage Indians.
Pages:
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455