He made but a feeble effort
accordingly, in this direction, but was somewhat more earnest in
insisting upon the general propriety of forbearance, in a practice which
militated against law and order, and that justice should he administered
only by the proper hands. But to this, Mark Forrester had his ready
answer; and, indeed, our young traveller was speaking according to the
social standards of a wholly different region.
"There, again, 'squire, you are quite out. The laws, somehow or other,
can't touch these fellows. They run through the country a wink faster
than the sheriff, and laugh at all the processes you send after them.
So, you see, there's no justice, no how, unless you catch a rogue like
this, and wind up with him for all the gang--for they're all alike, all
of the same family, and it comes to the same thing in the end."
The youth answered languidly. He began to tire, and nature craved
repose, and the physician had urged it. Forrester readily perceived that
the listener's interest was flagging--nay he half fancied that much that
he had been saying, and in his best style, had fallen upon drowsy
senses.
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