"A pest upon girls, and the devil take the whole sex!" said Sterling, devoutly.
"Peace! and get you to your horse."
"Ay, presently," replied Sterling; and as Oran leaped on his own black steed, Catherine having been already lifted to the saddle, he pulled a pistol from his bosom, and aimed it at the unsuspecting outlaw. Oran Gilbert bounded forward, and Sterling lowered his hand.
"A miss were certain death," he muttered, "and the shadow was on the moon. 'Sessa, let the world slide'—to-morrow comes after to-day, and the longer we fast the richer the feast.
| 'Nor shall we miss to have the bliss Good ale'—— |
Good ale? good devils!——
| 'Nor shall we miss to have the bliss Good blood doth bring men to!'— |
Now were White Surrey but visible, I should know what to do: but the beast lifted up his heels, and was gone a-larking the moment I dismounted.——And these dogs have left me to shift for myself, without even a horse to help me! Wisdom is at as low an ebb among them as gratitude. Necessity and vengeance harp on the same string. Fare thee well, Oran the Hawk; but fly as high and as wildly as thou wilt, I see the little bee-bird that shall bring thee to the ground, bleeding."
With these words, he sat down upon a stone, and there remained until the tramp of the retreating horsemen was no longer brought to his ear.