iskey, he
had more to lose by detection than they, and deprecated even more any
unnecessary risk. He evidently took great umbrage at the introduction of
Nehemiah amongst them.

"Oh yes," he observed, in response to the cordial greeting which he
met; "an' I'm glad ter see ye all too. I'm powerful glad ter kem ter the
still enny time. It's ekal ter goin' ter the settlemint, or plumb ter
town on a County Court day. Ye see _everybody_, an' hear _all_ the news,
an' meet up with _interesting strangers_, I tell ye, now, the mill's
plumb lonesome compared ter the still, an' the mill's always hed the
name of a place whar a heap o' cronies gathered ter swap lies, an'
sech."

The irony of this description of the social delights and hospitable
accessibilities of a place esteemed the very stronghold of secrecy
itself--the liberty of every man in it jeopardized by the slightest
lapse of vigilance or judgment--was very readily to be appreciated by
the group, who were invited by this fair show of words to look down
the vista of the future to possible years of captivity in the jails
of far-away States as Federal prisoners. The men gazed heavily and
anxiously from one to another as the visitor sank down on the rocks in a
relaxed attitude, his elbow on a higher ledge behind him, supporting his
head on his hand; his other hand was on his hip, his arm stiffly akimbo,
while he looked with an expression of lowering exasperation at Yerby.
It was impossible to distinguish the color of his garb, so dusted
with flour was he from head to foot; but his long boots drawn over his
trousers to the knee, and his great spurs, and a brace of pistols in his
belt, seemed incongruous accessories to the habiliments of a miller.
His large, dark hat was thrust far back on his head; his hair, rising
straight in a sort of elastic wave from his brow, was powdered white;
the effect of his florid color and his dark eyes was accented by the
contrast; his pointed beard revealed its natural tints because of his
habit of frequently brushing his hand over it, and was distinctly
red. He was lithe and lean and nervous, and had the impatient temper
characteristic of mercurial natures. It mattered not to him what was
the coercion of the circumstances which had led to the reception of the
stranger here, nor what was the will of the majority; he disapproved
of the step; he feared it; he esteemed it a grievance done him in his
absence; and he could not conceal his feelings no