It was
the first time the strange beast had spoken, since his arrival in the
encampment. Admonished by so terrible a warning, the hags scattered
themselves, like vultures frightened from their prey, still screaming,
and but half diverted from their purpose.
In the mean time the sudden appearance, and the imminency of the
danger, quickened the blood in the veins of Paul and Middleton, more
than all their laborious frictions, and physical expedients. The
former had actually risen to his feet, and assumed an attitude which
perhaps threatened more than the worthy bee-hunter was able to
perform, and even the latter had mounted to his knees, and shown a
disposition to do good service for his life. The unaccountable release
of the captives from their bonds was attributed, by the hags, to the
incantations of the medicine; and the mistake was probably of as much
service, as the miraculous and timely interposition of Asinus in their
favour.
"Now is the time to come out of our ambushment," exclaimed the old
man, hastening to join his friends, "and to make open and manful war.
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