Page:Long pack, or, The robbers discovered (3).pdf/17

17 around the pole in a frosty night. On Richard's mentioning more concerned, Ed- ward instantaneously thought of a gang of thieves by night.---How he would break the leg of one---shoot another through the head ---and scatter them like chaff before the wind. He would rather shoot one robber on his feet or on horseback, than ten lying tied up in packs; and then what a glorious prey of pistols he would get from the dead rascals ---how he would prime and load and fire away with perfect safety from within !---how Alice would scream, and Richard would pray, and all would go on with the noise and rapidity of a windmill, and he would acquire everlasting fame. So high was the young and ardent mind of Edward wrought up by this train of ideas, that he was striding up and down the floor, while his eyes gleamed as with a tint of madness. Oh! if I had but plenty of guns, and nothing ado but to shoot, how 9 would pepper the dogs!” said he with great vehemence; to the no small astonishment of his two associates, who thought him gone mad. " What can the fool mean?" said old Richard, “What can he ail at the dogs?" "Oh, it is the robbers that I mean," said Edward. “What robbers, you young fool?” said Richard.” "Why, do not you think that the pedlar will come back at the dead of the night, to