deputy; he has been naturalized, and would answer admirably, if he could only ride on horse-back."
"Yes, Mr. Sheriff," said his companion, "and as he understands ropes so well, he would be very expert, should occasion happen for his services, in the way of Jack Ketch."
"No," interrupted the other, "I flatter myself that no one could hang a man better than———that is—ha—oh! yes, Benjamin would do extremely well, in such an unfortunate dilemma, if he could be persuaded to attempt it. But I should despair of the thing. I never could induce him to hang, or teach him to ride on horseback. I must seek another deputy."
"Well, sir, as you have abundant leisure for all these important affairs, I beg that you will forget that you are the High Sheriff, and devote some little of your time to gallantry. Where are the beauties and improvements which you were to show me?"
"Where! why every where. Here I have laid out some new streets; and when they are opened, and the trees felled, and they are all built up, will they not make a fine town? Well, 'duke is a liberal-hearted fellow, with all his stubbornness.—Yes, yes, I must have at least four deputies, besides a jailer."
"I see no streets in the direction of our walk," said Elizabeth, "unless you call the short avenues through these pine bushes by that name.—Surely you do not contemplate building houses, very soon, in that forest before us, and in those swamps."
"We must run our streets by the compass, coz, and disregard trees, hills, ponds, stumps, or, in fact, any thing but posterity. Such is the will of your father, and your father, you know———"
