"Brothers," said he--"for we are all brothers--sworn upon all that's
blessed an' holy, to obey whatever them that's over us, manin' among
ourselves, wishes us to do--are you now ready, in the name of God, upon
whose althar I stand, to fulfil yer oaths?"
The words were scarcely uttered, when those who had stood beside the
altar during the night, sprang from their places, and descending its
steps rapidly turned round, and raising their arms, exclaimed, "By all
that's good an' holy we're willin'."
In the meantime, those who sat upon the steps of the altar, instantly
rose, and following the example of those who had just spoken, exclaimed
after them, "To be sure--by all that's sacred an' holy we're willin'."
"Now, boys," said the Captain, "ar'n't ye big fools for your pains? an'
one of ye doesn't know what I mane."
"You're our Captain," said one of those who had stood at the altar, "an'
has yer ordhers from higher quarthers; of coorse, whatever ye command
upon us we're bound to obey you in."
"Well," said he, smiling, "I only wanted to thry yez; an' by the oath
ye tuck, there's not a captain in the county has as good a right to be
proud of his min as I have. Well, ye won't rue it, maybe, when the right
time comes; and for that same rason every one of ye must have a glass
from the jar; thim that won't dhrink it in the chapel can dhrink it
widout; an' here goes to open the door for thim.
Pages:
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168