Let the old man go. Boys, put the brother of your
mother in his place."
"Touch me not!" cried Abiram. "I'll call on God to curse you if you
touch me!"
The wild and disordered gleam of his eye, at first induced the young
men to arrest their steps; but when Abner, older and more resolute
than the rest, advanced full upon him, with a countenance that bespoke
the hostile state of his mind, the affrighted criminal turned, and,
making an abortive effort to fly, fell with his face to the earth, to
all appearance perfectly dead. Amid the low exclamations of horror
which succeeded, Ishmael made a gesture which commanded his sons to
bear the body into the tent.
"Now," he said, turning to those who were strangers in his camp,
"nothing is left to be done, but for each to go his own road. I wish
you all well; and to you, Ellen, though you may not prize the gift, I
say, God bless you!"
Middleton, awe-struck by what he believed a manifest judgment of
Heaven, made no further resistance, but prepared to depart.
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