Tim’s courage now began to ooze out of his toes, and he rode very close to his brave young master, but somewhat behind him.
“There it is, Tim,” said Ned, pointing to the gibbet in the distance. “Can’t you hear the creaking sound of its rusty iron as it sways to and fro?”
“Y-e-e-s,” answered Tim, and his teeth began to chatter. “Y-e-e-s, young master, I do; but if you haven’t any objection, I’ll stay where I am until you return.”
“But I have objections, Tim, and very grave ones. Haven’t you promised to go to sea with me, and brave all the dangers and perils of the ocean?”
“True, sir but I didn’t bargain to go and confront living devils though,” groaned Tim.
“Very well, then, it is in order to make you accustomed to strange sights and strengthen your nerves, that I brought you with me to-night.”
“Very kind of you, sir,” said Tim; “very indeed; but I thinks as how I’ve seen enough of strange sights to-night to strengthen my nerves for ever, if it’s all the same to you, sir.”
It was all to no purpose, Ned would not allow Tim to remain behind on any consideration, but smiled, as he cast a sidelong glance at his servant’s long, pale face.
They had now approached within a few yards of the gibbet, and stopped to gaze at it.
“I told you how it was,” said Ned, laughing. “It must have been all a trick, or delusion. Why here is the Red Man safe and sound in his iron gibbet; he couldn’t be in two places at once.”