Harkee, my friend; thou knowest the road so well, we will choose to
follow thy conduct."
Content, who seldom permitted ordinary events to disturb the equanimity of
his temper, quietly assented, and led the way up the ladder, like one who
saw no ground for apprehension in the undertaking. The agent of the crown
sprang after him, taking care to keep as near as possible to the person of
his leader, and calling to his inferiors to lose no time in backing him
with their support. The whole mounted through the trap, with an alacrity
nothing short of that with which they would have pressed through a
dangerous breach; nor did either of the four take time to survey the
lodgment he had made, until the whole party was standing in array, with
hands grasping the handles of their pistols, or seeking as it were
instinctively the hilts of their broadswords.
"By the dark visage of the Stuart!" exclaimed the principal personage,
after satisfying himself by a long and disappointed gaze, that what he
said was true, "here is nought but an unarmed savage boy!"
"Didst expect to meet else?" demanded the still unmoved Content.
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