Left alone, the Skinner began to throw fearful glances around, to espy
the hiding places of his tormentors. For the first time the horrid idea
seemed to shoot through his brain that something serious was intended by
the Cowboy. He called entreatingly to be released, and made rapid and
incoherent promises of important information, mingled with affected
pleasantry at their conceit, which he would hardly admit to himself
could mean anything so dreadful as it seemed. But as he heard the tread
of the horses moving on their course, and in vain looked around for
human aid, violent trembling seized his limbs, and his eyes began to
start from his head with terror. He made a desperate effort to reach the
beam; but, too much exhausted with his previous exertions, he caught the
rope in his teeth, in a vain effort to sever the cord, and fell to the
whole length of his arms. Here his cries were turned into shrieks.
"Help! cut the rope! captain!--Birch! good peddler! Down with the
Congress!--sergeant! for God's sake, help! Hurrah for the king!--O God!
O God!--mercy, mercy--mercy!"
As his voice became suppressed, one of his hands endeavored to make its
way between the rope and his neck, and partially succeeded; but the
other fell quivering by his side. A convulsive shuddering passed over
his whole frame, and he hung a hideous corpse.
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