n mighty, and withal, as
crafty as he was rapacious, so that there is very little doubt that, had
he lived some four or five centuries since, he would have figured as one
of those wicked giants, who took a cruel pleasure in pocketing beautiful
princesses and distressed damsels, when gadding about the world, and
locking them up in enchanted castles, without a toilet, a change of linen,
or any other convenience. In consequence of which enormities they fell
under the high displeasure of chivalry, and all true, loyal, and gallant
knights were instructed to attack and slay outright any miscreant they
might happen to find above six feet high; which is doubtless one reason
why the race of large men is nearly extinct, and the generations of latter
ages are so exceedingly small.

Governor Risingh, not withstanding his giantly condition, was, as I have
hinted, a man of craft. He was not a man to ruffle the vanity of General
Van Poffenburgh, or to rub his self-conceit against the grain. On the
contrary, as he sailed up the Delaware, he paused before Fort Casimir,
displayed his flag, and fired a royal salute before dropping anchor. The
salute would doubtless have been returned, had not the guns been
dismounted; as it was, a veteran sentinel who had been napping at his
post, and had suffered his match to go out, returned the compliment by
discharging his musket with the spark of a pipe borrowed from a comrade.
Governor Risingh accepted this as a courteous reply, and treated the
fortress to a second salute, well knowing its commander was apt to be
marvelously delighted with these little ceremonials, considering them so
many acts of homage paid to his greatness. He then prepared to land with a
military retinue of thirty men, a prodigious pageant in the wilderness.

And now took place a terrible rummage and racket in Fort Casimir, to
receive such a visitor in proper style, and to make an imposing
appearance. The main guard was turned out as soon as possible, equipped to
the best advantage in the few suits of regimentals, which had to do duty,
by turns, with the whole garrison. One tall, lank fellow appeared in a
little man's coat, with the buttons between his shoulders; the skirts
scarce covering his bottom; his hands hanging like spades out of the
sleeves; and the coat linked in front by worsted loops made out of a pair
of red garters. Another had a cocked hat stuck on the back of his head,
and decorated with a bunch of cocks' tails;