OCR Text |
Show 29ti HIC JJ:\!lD uunnrs. Tcn-.J[ile Branch 1 K o, 'squire, as you confessed YMlrsclf', it was because you were afraid to shoot, though everything ht111g on that one Jir c. Had you tumbled that fellow, we hadn't S<'Cll this; and if it ll:td Leon convenient for me to IHlvc done it, :;s God's my judge, l'd much rather llllVC put thC' Lullct tl1rough a dozen fellows like tlwt, than through one clever chap like l3ilt Carrington. That's a busi ness troubl es me, 'squi re; and more than once since he's been covered, l'\·c seen him walk over my path, leaving a cold chill nil a long the track behind him." "Pshaw, Den, nt your ghosts :~guin." "No, 'squire, they're at me. But let's talk no more nbout it. What cau't be undone, may as well be let alone. "rc must work out our troubles as we c::m; aud the worst trouble to our thoughts is, tltat we lt~wc wodcccl ourselves into them. \Vo have nobody but ourselves to bbrne." The marmcr of Pickett bad become somewhat dogged nnd inflexible, nnd it warned llunlis, who was 11rompt in observillg the cltanges of temper in his neighbor, to be more cons id erate in his remarks, aJHl more conciliating in his tone of utterance. "\Vel!, but Ben, w!Jat is toLe done? 'Ylutt arc we to do about this summons 1 How slwll we get over it 1 how b. void it 1" 11 Avoid it! I don't tltink to avoid it, 'squ ire." "'Yhat! you intend to go wllCn they call you 1" "Certainly-what can I do? Don't you intend to go? Did you not l)romise obedience 1" "Yes, but I never thought of going. My hope was, that something might turn up between this and then, that would interpose for my safety. Indeed I never thought of anything at the moment, but how best to get rid of the emissary." "rrlw.t's the smallest matter of all," said Pickett. "1\ow it is," replied llurdis, "but it was not then, fOr I dreaded lest some one slwuld ask his business. Besides, 110 was brought up to me by Richard, and his keen eyes Reem always to look through me when lJC speaks. As you say, to get rid of him is in truth a small business, to getting rid of his g:mg. H ow can that be done is the question 1 I had hope when I came to you-" rl'he otLer interrul)tcd him hastily. "Don't come to me for lwpe, 'squire; I fihould bungle, per· DF.SPATR OF 1'11£ \'ICTIMS. 297 haps, ill what I arlv ise you to do, or in whnt I do for you myself. Let us ench paddle our canoes apmt. I'm a poor man that can't hope to nulnngc well tlte business of a rich one; and as I 've done so badly for you before, it won't be wise in you to employ me again. Tmleccl, for that matter, I won't be employ· ed by yon ngnin. lt's hard enough to do evil for another, at1d much harder, to get no thanks for it." "Pshaw, Bcu, you're in your sulks now-think better of it, my friend. Don't mind a ltarsh word-a hasty word-uttered when I was angry, and without mean ing." "I don't mind that, 'squire-! wish it was as easy to forget nll the rest, as to forgi,·e that. But the blood, 'squire-the blood that is on my hands- blood that I didn't mean to spi ll, 'squire - 'tis that mnkcs me angry and sulky-so that I don't care wlwt comes up. I t's all one to me what happens now." u Dut this fellow, Ben. You say you It ave resolved to comply with the summons, and to go when they call for you 1" "Yes." "And what am I to do 1" "'l'he same, I suppose. I'm ready to go now; and I give you the last counsel, 'squi re, which I think I ever will give you, and that is to make the best of a bad situation-do with a good grace what you can't help doi11g, and it will go the bet. ter with yon. They can't l1avc any good reason to expose a man of family to shame, and they will keep your secret so long as you obey their laws." 11 But suppose they command me to commit crime-to rob, to murder1" u'·Vcll then you must ask yourself whicJ1 you'd prefer-to obey or to swing. lt's an easy question." "On all sides-the pit-the fire-the doom!" was the piti· able and despairing exclamation of Hurd is, as he clasped l1is forehe~td with his 1tands, and closed his eyes against the terrors which his imagination brought before them. Suddenly recur· ring, he asked- "But why, Ben, do you say this is the last counsel which you will give me 1 You do not mean to suffer a. l1asty nnd foolish word, for which I have already uttered my regrets, to operate in your mind against me-'' 13° |