"We shall be hanged without mercy," was the dread sum of these
uncomfortable reflections.
"I know not what you may be," said Will; "but I intend to run for it.
I've an old dame would make a sore disturbance at my death, more
especially if dangling from the gallows-tree, which of all the trees in
the wood hath been my aversion ever since I saw Long Tom of the Nab make
so uncomfortable a shriving from thence."
"Run, then," said Nicholas, rather stoutly, and in a tone of more
confidence than heretofore. "I'll stay my ground this bout; and,
further, I do propose to commit yon knaves into the holy keeping of our
four-cornered crib, where they may be indulged in recreations of another
sort than setting the whole country by the ears. 'Twill save our necks
to slip theirs into the noose."
This happy suggestion, the whole of these honest and conscientious
servants of the church were prepared to obey. They might with safety
accuse the strangers; indeed, it was more than probable they had hit out
the right source of the mischief; so, marching up boldly to the
execution of this Christian purpose, they were proceeding to lay hands
on the foremost of the culprits.
Pages:
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289