and I should have escaped the mortification of being foiled by a mere
stripling, and almost stricken to death by the heel of his horse."

"And all your own fault and folly, Guy. What business had you to advance
upon the fellow, as you did, before everything was ready, and when we
could have brought him, without any risk whatever; into the snare, from
which nothing could have got him out? But no! You must be at your old
tricks of the law--you must make speeches before you cut purses, as was
your practice when I first knew you at Gwinnett county-court; a practice
which you seem not able to get over. You have got into such a trick of
making fun of people, that, for the life of me, I can't be sorry that
the lad has turned the tables so handsomely upon you."

"You would no doubt have enjoyed the scene with far more satisfaction,
had the fellow's shot taken its full effect on my skull--since, besides
the failure of our object, you have such cause of merriment in what has
been done. If I did go something too much ahead in the matter, it is but
simple justice to say you were quite as much aback."

"Perhaps so, Guy; but the fact is, I was right and you wrong, and the
thing's beyond dispute. This lesson, though a rough one, will do you
service; and a few more such will perhaps cure you of that vile trick
you have of spoiling not only your own, but the sport of others, by
running your head into unnecessary danger; and since this youth, who got
out of the scrape so handsomely, has beat you at your own game, it may
cure you of that cursed itch for tongue-trifling, upon which you so much
pride yourself. 'Twould have done, and it did very well at the county
sessions, in getting men out of the wood; but as you have commenced a
new business entirely, it's but well to leave off the old, particularly
as it's now your policy to get them into it."