Mr. Maguffin’s eyes expanded, and his jaw dropped.

“Yoh’s got the devantidge ob yoh ’umble sarvant, Mistah Hill.”

“It’s not possible that a gentleman of your larnin’ is ignorant of such simple, aisy polysyllables as them?”

“I’se afeard yoh’s got me this time, sah.”

“It stands to raison that there’s limits to everybody’s voccabuelary, onless it’s a great scholard like Mr. Wilkinson; but I thought, perhaps, it was for a school taycher you would be settin’ up?”

“Oh my! no, Mistah Hill, my edurecation was passimoniously insurficient.  Most all my bettah class language I’se acquied fom clugymen ob de Baktis pussuasion.”

“And they never tayched ye deipnosophist nor gastromical?”

“No, sah, they didn’t, I’se humblerated ter confess.”

The old schoolmaster looked at Mr. Hislop with a serious expression of mingled incredulity and commiseration, saying:  “Such ignerance, Annerew, such ignerance!”; and somehow Mr. Maguffin did not see his way to gathering up the broken threads of conversation.

Timotheus was despatched by the Squire to summon a brother J.P., and the township constable, in order that immediate action against known criminal parties might be taken, as well as to notify the farmers adjacent that they were expected to sit in a coroner’s jury.  Having made all necessary legal arrangements, the Squire returned to the colonel, who, from a memorandum before him, sketched the plan of campaign.  He proposed to put the five Richards as marines under the command of the Captain to break down the grating between the third and fourth lakes, and push on to attack the enemy from that side.  He wanted four mounted men armed with revolvers, and with stout sticks in lieu of swords, fearless horsemen whom he could lead through swamp or over obstacles to hold the masked road.  The remaining body under the Squire, he thought, might follow the track of the fugitives of the night, and constitute the main besieging force.  As to those who should perform the respective duties, apart from the persons named, the Squire suggested waiting till the inquests—­which would bring some additions to the local population—­were over.  He hoped much from his fellow justice of the peace, Mr. Walker.  Tom Rigby, an old pensioner, and the township constable, would probably have his hands full looking after the prisoners.  Fortunately, the post office store of ammunition was not yet exhausted, to say nothing of that contained in various flasks and shot belts, and in the shape of cartridges.  The colonel, apropos of warlike weapons, bemoaned the absence of bayonets, and warmly advocated a proposition of the lawyer’s, that each combatant should carry, slung over the shoulder or in such way as not to interfere with the handling of his gun, a strong stick like those proposed by the commander-in-chief for his cavalry.  Toner and Rufus were immediately roused from their slumbers, and sent to cut the requisite bludgeons, and drill them with holes to pass a cord through.  Shortly after they had departed on their errand, the household awoke to life and activity, and, through casually opened doors, there came the gratifying odours of breakfast in preparation.