lower end of the house was a knot, busy at
the game of "spoiled five," their ludicrous table being the crown of a
hat, placed upon the floor in the centre. These all sat upon the ground,
their legs stretched out, their torch-bearer holding a lit bunch of fir
splinters, stuck for convenience sake into the muzzle of a horse-pistol.
In the upper end, again, sat another clique, listening to a man who
was reading a treasonable ballad. Such of them as could themselves read
stretched over their necks in eagerness to peruse it along with him,
and such as could not--indeed, the greater number--gave force to its
principles by very significant gestures; some being those of melody, and
others those of murder; that is to say, part of them were attempting
to hum a tune in a low voice, suitable to the words, whilst others more
ferocious brandished their weapons, as if those against whom the spirit
of the ballad was directed had been then within the reach of their
savage passions. Beside the fire, and near the middle of the house, sat
a man, who, by his black stock and military appearance, together with a
scar over his brow that gave him a most repulsive look, was evidently
a pensioner or old soldier. This person was engaged in examining
some rusty fire-arms that had been submitted to his inspection. His
self-importance was amusing, as was also the deferential aspect of
those who, with arms in their hands, hammering flints or turning screws,
awaited patiently their turn for his opinion of their efficiency. But
perhaps the most striking group of all was that in which a thick-necked,
bull-headed young fellow, with blood-colored hair, a son of Rousin
Redhead's--who, by the way, was himself present--and another
beetle-browed slip were engaged in drawing for a wager, upon one of
the school-boy's slates, the figure of a coffin and cross-bones. A
hardened-looking old sinner, with murder legible in his face, held the
few half-pence which they wagered in his open hand, whilst in the other
he clutched a pole, surmounted by a bent bayonet that had evidently seen
service. The last group worthy of remark was composed of a few
persons who were writing threatening notices upon a leaf torn out of
a school-boy's copy, which was laid upon what they formerly termed a
copy-board, of plain deal, kept upon the knees, as a substitute for
desks, while the boys were writing. This mode of amusement was called
waiting for the Article-bearer, or the Captain, for s