Once within the
cover of this little recess, the sturdy woodsman bestowed his large frame,
with as much attention to comfort and security as the circumstances would
permit. Here he prepared to pass many weary minutes, before there should
be further need of his services.
The reader will find no difficulty in believing that one of opinions like
those of the borderer, did not enter on his silent watch without much
distrust of the character of the guests that he might be called upon to
receive. Enough has been shown to prove that the suspicion uppermost in
his mind was, that the unwelcome agents of the government had returned on
the heels of the stranger. But, notwithstanding the seeming probability of
this opinion, there were secret misgivings of the earthly origin of the
two last windings of the shell. All the legends, and all the most credited
evidence in cases of prestigious agency, as it had been exhibited in the
colonies of New-England, went to show the malignant pleasure the Evil
Spirits found, in indulging their wicked mockeries, or in otherwise
tormenting those who placed their support on a faith, that was believed to
be so repugnant to their own ungrateful and abandoned natures.
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