Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-06-06
Select MltstelIanp.
THE LONG PACK.
CONCLUDED FROM LAST WEEK.

The way he was packed up was artful and
curious. His knees were brought up towards
his breast, and his feet and legs stuffed in a
wooden box; another wooden box of larger
size, and wanting the bottom, made up the va
cancy betwixt his lace and knees, and there
being only one fold of canvass around this, he
breathed with the greatest freedom; but it had
undoubtedly been the heaving of his breast
which had caused the movement noticed by the
the servants. His right arm was within the
box, and to his hand was tied a cutlass, with
which he could rip himself from his confinement
at once. There were also four loaded pistols
secreted with him, and silver wind call. On
coming to the pistols and oatiass, ss Villain,'
said old Richard, " see what he has here. But
should not call him villain said he again,
and softenug his tone; "for he has now gone
to answer at that bar where no false witness,
nor loquacious orator, can bias the justice Of the
sentence pronounced on him. He is now in the
true world, and am in the false one. We can
Judge only from appearances, but, thanks to our
kind maker and preserver, that he was discov-
cred, else it is probable that none of us should
have again seen the light of day"
These moral reflections from the mouth of
old Richard, by degrees raised the spirits of Ed
ward; he was bewildered in uncertainty, and
had undoubtedly given himself up for lost-but
he now began to discover that he had done a
merorious action, and for the first time since he
had fired the fatal shot, ventured to speak,
"Fah, it was lucky that shot then," said Ed
ward-but neither of his companions answered
either good or bad
Alice, though rather grown desperate, be.
haved and assisted at this bloody affair, bet
ter than might have been expected. Edward
surveyed the pistols all round, two of which was
Of curious workmanship. "But what do you
think he was going to do with all these ?" sait
Edward. 81 think you need not ask that ,
Richard answered. Faith it was n mercy
that shot, after all, !" said Edward, "for if We
had loosed him out, we should all have beer
dead in minute have given him devil o.
a bpadslde, though. But look ye, Richard
Providence has directed me to the right spot
for | might as readily have lodged the content.
of Copenhagen in one of these empty boxes"
SIT has been deep laid scheme" said Rich
ard, "to murder US, and rob our masters house
there must certainly be more concerned in i
more than these two."
Ideas beget ideas, often quite different AM
then others again in unspeakable gradaton
which run through and shift in the mind with al
much velocity as the streamers round the pole il
frosty night.
OnRichards mentioning more concerned, Ed
ward instantaneousy thought of gang q
thieves by night. How he would break the LEI
ofone-shoot another through the head-an
scatter them like chaff before the wind. II
would rather shoot one robber on his feet or O.
horseback, than ten lying tied up IN packs-an
then what glorious prey of pistols he woul
get from the dead rascals-how he would loat
and prime, and fire away from within --hoy
Alice would scream, and Richard would pray
and all would 60 on with the noise and rapid
ty of windmill, and he would acquire everlas
ing fame. So high was the young and arder
mind of Edward wrought up by this train {
IDEAS that he was strIding up and down til
door while his eyes cleaned as with tint {
madness.
sob! if l had but plenty guns, and nothing
do but to Shoot how would pepper the dogs
said he with great vehemence, to the no sma
astonishment of his two associate, who though
him gone mad.
"What can the fool mean r said old Rchar
what can he all at the dogs"
HOh, it is the robbers that mean," said Et
ward.
. "What robbers, you young fool ?" said Ricf
} ard
"Why, do not you think that the pedlar wi
come back at the dead of the night to tie assn
lance OF his friend, and bring plenty of help vii
him too ?" said Edward.