“No, no; I said not skrimmagers,” returned the other, raising himself upon a knee, and ceasing to eat; “so long as they stand, they are too good for the best troops in the royal army. Each man does his work as if fighting by the job; and then, they think while they fight, and don’t send bullets to the clouds, that were meant to kill men on earth.”
“You talk and look, sir, as if you wished them success,” said Henry, sternly.
“I wish success to the good cause only, Captain Wharton. I thought you knew me too well, to be uncertain which party I favored.”
“Oh! you are reputed loyal, Mr. Birch. But the volleys have ceased!”
Both now listened intently for a little while, during which the irregular reports became less brisk, and suddenly heavy and repeated volleys followed.
“They’ve been at the bayonet,” said the peddler; “the rig’lars have tried the bayonet, and the rebels are driven.”
“Aye, Mr. Birch, the bayonet is the thing for the British soldier, after all. They delight in the bayonet!”
“Well, to my notion,” said the peddler, “there’s but little delight to be taken in any such fearful weapon. I dare say the militia are of my mind, for half of them don’t carry the ugly things. Lord! Lord! captain, I wish you’d go with me once into the rebel camp, and hear what lies the men will tell about Bunker Hill and Burg’yne; you’d think they loved the bayonet as much as they do their dinners.”
There was a chuckle, and an air of affected innocency about his companion, that rather annoyed Henry, and he did not deign to reply.
The firing now became desultory, occasionally intermingled with heavy volleys. Both of the fugitives were standing, listening with much anxiety, when a man, armed with a musket, was seen stealing towards them, under the shelter of the cedar bushes, that partially covered the hill. Henry first observed this suspicious-looking stranger, and instantly pointed him out to his companion. Birch started, and certainly made an indication of sudden flight; but recollecting himself, he stood, in sullen silence, until the stranger was within a few yards of them.