Mr. Berners advanced towards Sybil, when the whole party was stopped by a terrible event.
“No you don’t, you infernal villain! I have caught you, have I? Stand!” exclaimed a voice of thunder, and the stout farmer stood before them, at the head of all his negroes, and with a loaded musket in his hand!
Like lightning young Munson threw himself before Sybil, drew a pistol from his breast, and levelled it straight at the heart of their opponent, exclaiming:
“Out of the way, you devil! and let her pass. Out of the way this instant, or, by my life, I will kill you! I will! I will kill you, and hang for her sake!”
The man raised his musket, and aimed it at the head of him whose hand pointed the pistol to his own heart. And thus, like two duellists, they stood fatally eyeing each other!
CHAPTER XXXIII.
A FATAL CRISIS.
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Each at the life Levelled his deadly aim; their fatal hands No second stroke intended.—Milton. |