'Were you inquiring for me?'
'We's wanting to see the minister; there's a little job to be done up our way, and as the regular hand is sick we've come to git you.'
Henry had become quite familiar with these rude sons of the forest, and therefore their appearance and manners were not at all surprising to him.
'What kind of a job is it you have on hand, my friends?'
'Oh, it's a little weddin' job; a couple of young un's want hitchin together; and Dave sent us for Goble, but the old crittur's got the rhumatiz, so he can't go no how; and as we thought it warn't no matter who does it, so as it's done, we've come arter you.'
'What David? David Cross! He is not going to be married, is he?'
'But you won't speak of it; so if you will be about dusk at the corner of the north road, we'll be there and show you the way.'
'I will be there; but you must not lose me in your wild country;' smiling as he said it.
'Never fear, sir, we'll take you safe and bring you back safe, and there shan't be a hair o' your head hurt; only you must'nt mind if the boys is noisy a little; but when they see it ain't Goble that's among 'em they'll behave more decenter, for they set store by you, minister, all over.'
At the appointed time Henry was on the spot; a thick fog had settled around as evening approached, and the two guides were obliged very soon to light their pine knots. As Henry followed on through the thick woods, had it not been that he was somewhat accustomed to scenes of the kind, he might have felt no little uneasiness; for the men were wild looking figures, their long streaming hair, rude garments, dark, Indian countenances, together with the flaming brands throwing their pitchy glare upon the huge trunks of the giant pines through which they threaded their way, while all beyond the little circle of light in which they walked was a wilderness of darkness—the whole scene required no little confidence for one to be quite at ease. The men followed no beaten road, but were guided in their course by marks known only to themselves.