Page:The Necromancer, or, The Tale of the Black Forest Vol. 2.djvu/84

 was going to give me a full account of the robbers deportment towards him after their return, of the splendid dinner which the old woman had prepared, assisted by him, and of their discourses at table.

I entreated the rough son of Mars to resign this recruit to me, and to accept from me double the binding money he had given him, but he did not relish my proposal, and John himself was little inclined to enter again into my service; at last I prevailed, by fair words and a small present, on the serjeant to wait a quarter of an hour longer, and he left the room after we had promised to be as expeditious as possible.

When he was gone I asked John, why he would rather be a soldier than enter again into my service.

"What else would you advise me to do?" replied he, with weeping eyes, "my life is exposed to the greatest danger in these