They were men of action, not of words; and,
though they hesitated not, in what they deemed a good cause, to close
with their man in deadly combat, they were true as steel to a friend in
the hour of his need.
With these men the exploits of Hatchie, which had been related, and
perhaps exaggerated, by Jerry Swinger, who was a leading spirit of the
party, had been much applauded, and he had, in spite of the odium of his
social position, obtained a powerful influence over them. They heard him
with attention, and deferred to his skill and judgment. By his advice,
and to remove the confusion of the affray from the vicinity of the
cottage, it was determined to receive the invaders near the beach where
he had overheard Vernon propose to land. Jerry Swinger, whom natural
talent and the wish of the party seemed to indicate as leader, marched
the expedition towards the avenue which had been made in the bushes by
the ruffians.
For so many men, excited as they were by the anticipation of a conflict,
they were remarkably quiet and orderly. Dr.
Pages:
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322