There was nothing popular in the idea of a state
expelling them from a soil of which it made no use itself; and few among
the persons composing the array had ever given themselves much if any
trouble, in ascertaining the nice, and with them entirely metaphysical
distinction, between the _mine_ and _thine_ of the matter. The
proposition, therefore, startled none, and prudence having long since
withdrawn from their counsels, not a dissenting voice was heard to the
suggestion of a union between the two parties for the purpose of common
defence. The terms, recognising all of both sides, as upon an equal
footing in the profits of the soil, were soon arranged and completed;
and in the space of a few moments, and before the arrival of the
new-comers, the hostile forces, side by side, stood up for the new
contest as if there had never been any other than a community of
interest and feeling between them. A few words of encouragement and
cheer, given to their several commands by Munro and Dexter, were
scarcely necessary, for what risk had their adherents to run--what to
fear--what to lose? The courage of the desperado invariably increases in
proportion to his irresponsibility.
Pages:
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326