he
bandaged and bloody Ruffin--came close up to me; and, after scowling
upon me with his fierce, bloodshot eyes, bent forward until his lips
almost touched my face, and then hissed out--

"Perhaps, Mister nigger-stealer, you've niver heerd ov _Justice Lynch_?"

A thrill of horror run through my veins. The fearful conviction flashed
before my mind that _they_ were _going to Lynch me_!

CHAPTER SEVENTY SEVEN.

THE SENTENCE OF JUDGE LYNCH.

An undefined suspicion of something of this sort had already crossed my
thoughts. I remembered the reply made from the boats, "You shall answer
to _us_. _We_ are the law." I had heard some mysterious innuendoes as
we passed through the woods--I had noticed too, that on our arrival in
the glade, we found those who had gone in the advance halted there, as
if waiting for the others to come up; and I could not comprehend why we
had stopped there at all.

I now saw that the men of the party were drawing to one side, and
forming a sort of irregular ring, with that peculiar air of solemnity
that bespeaks some serious business. It was only the boys, and some
negroes--for these, too, had taken part in our capture--who remained
near me. Ruffin had simply approached to gratify his revengeful
feelings by tantalising me.

All these appearances had aroused wild suspicions within me, but up to
that moment they had assumed no definite form. I had even endeavoured
to keep back such a suspicion, under the vague belief, that by the very
imagination of it, I might in some way aid in bringing it about!

It was no longer suspicion. It was now conviction. They were going to
Lynch me!

The significant interrogatory, on account of the manner in which it was
put, was hailed by the boys with a shout of laughter. Ruffin
continued--

"No; I guess you han't heerd ov that ar justice, since yur a stranger in
these parts, an' a Britisher. You han't got sich a one among yur
bigwigs, I reckin. He's the fellar that ain't a-goin' to keep you long
in Chancery. No, by God! he'll do yur business in double-quick time.
Hell and scissors! yu'll see if he don't."

Throughout all this speech the brutal fellow taunted me with gestures as
well as words--drawing from his auditory repeated bursts of laughter.

So provoked was I that, had I not been fast bound, I should have sprung
upon him; but, bound as I was, and vulgar brute as was this adversary, I
could not hold my tongue.

"Were I free, you ruff