spread from the
sentinel at the door to his comrades; so that when Harvey and Wharton
reached the open space before the building, they found a dozen idle
dragoons loitering about with waggish intention of quizzing the
fanatic and employed in affected admiration of the steeds.

"A fine horse!" said the leader in this plan of mischief; "but a
little low in flesh; I suppose from hard labor in your calling."

"What are you at there, scoundrels?" cried Lieutenant Mason, as he
came in sight from a walk he had taken to sneer at the evening parade
of the regiment of militia. "Away with every man of you to your
quarters, and let me find that each horse is cleaned and littered when
I come round." The sound of the officer's voice operated like a charm,
and no priest could desire a more silent congregation, although he
might possibly have wished for one that was more numerous. Mason had
not done speaking, when it was reduced to the image of Caesar only.
The peddler took the opportunity to mount, but he had to preserve the
gravity of his movements, for the remark of the troopers upon the
condition of their beasts was but too just, and a dozen dragoon horses
stood saddled and bridled at hand to receive their riders at a
moment's warning.

"Well, have you bitted the poor fellow within," said Mason, "that he
can take his last ride under the curb of divinity, old gentleman?"

"There is evil in thy conversation, profane man," cried the priest,
raising his hands and casting his eyes upwards in holy horror; "so I
will depart from thee unhurt, as Daniel[114] was liberated from the
lions' den."

[Footnote 114: read account in the book of Daniel (Bible).]

"Off with you, for a hypocritical,[115] psalm-singing, canting rogue
in disguise," said Mason scornfully. "By the life of Washington! it
worries an honest fellow to see such voracious[116] beasts of prey
ravaging a country for which he sheds his blood. If I had you on a
Virginian plantation for a quarter of an hour, I'd teach you to worm
the tobacco with the turkeys."

[Footnote 115: not sincere.]

[Footnote 116: very hungry.]

"I leave you, and shake the dust off my shoes, that no remnant of this
wicked hole may tarnish the vestments of the godly!"

"Start, or I will shake the dust from your jacket, designing knave!
But hold! whither do you travel, master blackey, in such godly
company?"

"He goes," said the minister, "to return with a book of much
condolence