"Artifice must be met by artifice;
but thou art much abler to advise against the wiles of the forest, than
one trained, as I have been, in the less cunning deceptions of
Christian warfare."
"What think'st, Dudley?" asked Content--"Will it be well to sally, or
shall we wait another signal from the conch?"
"Much dependeth on the quality of the guests expected," returned he of
whom counsel was asked. "As for the braggart gallants, that are
over-valiant among the maidens, and heavy of heart when they think the
screech of the jay an Indian whoop, I care not if ye beat the pickets to
the earth, and call upon them to enter on the gallop. I know the manner to
send them to the upper story of the block, quicker than the cluck of the
turkey can muster its young; but----"
"'Tis well to be discreet in language, in a moment of such serious
uncertainty!" interrupted the stranger. "We look for no gallants of
the kind."
"Then will I give you a conceit that shall know the reason of the music of
yon conch. Go ye two back into the house, making much conversation by the
way, in order that any without may hear.
Pages:
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238