black cap, and the rascal takes a hard ride on a rail, a duck in the
pond, and a perfect seasoning of hickories, tell thar ain't much left of
him, or, may be, they don't stop to curry him, but jest halters him at
once to the nearest swinging limb."

"Sharp justice! and which of these punishments will they be likely to
bestow upon the Yankee?"

"Well thar's no telling; but I reckon he runs a smart chance of grazing
agin the whole on 'em. They've got a long account agin him. In one way
or t'other, he's swindled everybody with his notions. Some bought his
clocks, which only went while the rogue stayed, and when he went they
stopt forever. Some bought ready-made clothes, which went to pieces at
the very sight of soap and water. He sold a fusee to old Jerry Seaborn,
and warranted the piece, and it bursted into flinders, the very first
fire, and tore little Jerry's hand and arm--son of old Jerry--almost to
pieces. He'll never have the right use of it agin. And that ain't all.
Thar's no counting up his offences."

"Bad as the fellow is, do you think it possible that they will torture
him as you describe, or hang him, without law, and a fair trial?"

"Why, Lord love you, ha'n't I told you that he'll have a fair trial,
afore the regilators, and thar'll be any number of witnesses, and
judges, and sheriffs, and executioners. But, ef you know'd Bunce, you'd
know that a fair trial is the very last marcy that he'd aix of
Providence. Don't you think now that he'll git anything worse than his
righteous desarvings. He's a fellow that's got no more of a saving soul
in him than my whip-handle, and ain't half so much to be counted on in a
fight. He's jest now nothing but a cheat and a swindle from head to