But after the first sensation of bewilderment had passed, it was
evident that the shock which the popular mind had received from Perez'
words, was not wholly disagreeable, but rather suggestive of a certain
shuddering delight. The introspective gleam which shone in everybody's
eye, betrayed the half-scared pleasure with which each in his own mind
was turning over the daring imagination.
"Wy not, arter all?" said Meshech Little, hesitatingly, as if his
logic didn't convince himself. "They wuz gonter lick us. They'd a had
us licked by this time. It's tit for tat."
"I s'pose Goramity made our backs as well as theirn," observed Abner.
"The on'y odds is in the kind o' coats we wears. Ourn ain't so fine ez
theirn, but it's the back an not the coat that gits licked. Arter Pete
has tuk orf ther coats thar won't be no odds."
The chuckle with which this was received, showed how fast the people
were yielding to the awful charm of the thought.
"Dew yew s'pose Cap'n really dass dew it?" asked Obadiah.
"Dew it? Yes he'll dew it, you better b'lieve. Did yer see the set of
his jaw w'en he wuz talkin so quiet-like baout lickin em? I wuz in the
army with Perez, an I know his ways.
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