"
"Nothing is more probable than my being deceived," said the man of
peace, casting furtive glances at the colossal stature and whiskered
front of his companion; "but the rumors we have at home, and the
uncertainty of meeting with such an enemy as yourself, induced me to fly
at your approach."
"'Twas not judiciously determined," said the trooper, "as Roanoke has
the heels of you greatly; and flying from Scylla, you were liable to
encounter Charybdis. Those woods and rocks cover the very enemies
you dread."
"The savages!" exclaimed the divine, instinctively placing the trooper
in the rear.
"More than savages; men who, under the guise of patriotism, prowl
through the community, with a thirst for plunder that is unsatiable, and
a love of cruelty that mocks the ingenuity of the Indian--fellows whose
mouths are filled with liberty and equality, and whose hearts are
overflowing with cupidity and gall--gentlemen that are ycleped the
Skinners."
"I have heard them mentioned in our army," said the frightened divine,
"and had thought them to be the aborigines."
"You did the savages injustice."
They now approached the spot occupied by Hollister, who witnessed with
surprise the character of the prisoner made by his captain. Lawton gave
his orders, and the men immediately commenced securing and removing such
articles of furniture as were thought worthy of the trouble; and the
captain, with his reverend associate, who was mounted on a mettled
horse, returned to the quarters of the troop.
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