He stood stiff
and erect, the image of pride engendered by ignorance.
"'Tis our last," said Rigby, folding up the message; "and if our arms
are blessed, as we have hoped, and, it may be, unworthily deserved, ere
the going down of to-morrow's sun yon strong tower wherein she trusteth
shall be as smoke; for the hope of the wicked shall perish."
"Yea, their idols shall fall down; yea, their walls shall be as
Jericho," said the drum-major, with a sing-song whine, to sanctify his
blasphemous allusions, "and shall utterly fall at the sound of"----
"Thy two drumsticks, mayhap," returned Morgan, sharply; for this latter
personage, though his presence became needful in the camp by reason of
his reputed skill and bravery, was a great scandal to the real and
conscientious professors--of whom not a few had joined the ranks of the
besiegers--as well as the hypocritical and designing; some of whom did
not hesitate to liken him to Achan and the accursed thing, by reason of
which they were discomfited before their enemies.
"Thine ungodly speeches, Master Morgan, I would humbly trust, may not be
as the fuel that, when the fire cometh, shall consume the camp, even the
righteous with the wicked," said Gideon, as if shrinking from the
contact of so unholy a personage.
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