CHAPTER IV.
Now it came to pass that when Uncle Samuel heard of these things, he was sorely riled; yea, his wrath was like unto a six-story stack of wolverines and wild-cats, mixed with sudden death and patent chain-lightning.
Howbeit he lost no time, and tarried not to take a long swear over the business,
But sent forth his ships:
Sending likewise Thurlow, whose surname was Weed, to prevail over Mason and Sly-deal, and come vitriol over their vinegar.
But when the people heard Thurlow say, 'I go, indeed, unto Europe, but not on this business—Slidell may slide for aught I care,'
Then the multitude winked one unto the other, so that such terrible winking was never before seen,
Exclaiming, 'Oh, yes—in a horn. We knew it not before, but now we know it for certain.'
And a certain Simeon, whose surname was Draper, stood up in the market-place and wagered that Thurlow would pull the wool over Mason, and humble him;
And there were no takers. Selah.