I cannot always be exact; but, in general, such was the flood of exclamations that all but swept away that ten-year-old robber, murderer, ravisher of women and incendiary.
"I am going to read you something from his hand," said the teacher, "and then if anybody still doubts the boy's viciousness----"
The work that the teacher read was indeed of such a nature as to leave small room for doubts; and I, who have chosen Walter for my hero, anticipate difficulty in convincing the reader that he was not so bad as he seemed--after his
"On the steed, Off I speed, With helmet on head And a sword in my hand and the enemy dead; Quick, away!"
"Christian souls," cried the whole party, "is he mad?"
"Rather late, Near the gate A push and a blow, Vanquished dragoon, Margrave laid low----"
"Heaven save us, what has he against the Margrave," wailed the mother.
"Don't you see, it's for booty," said Juffrouw Laps. "I told you so: He began with the Bible, he'll end with----"
"Did you ever hear the like--he has scarcely shed his milk teeth!"
"And the prize-- Pretty eyes-- She was bought with steel----"
"And the prize-- Pretty eyes-- She was bought with steel; I bore her away to the cave just to feel How it seemed."
"Heavenly grace, what is he going to do in the cave?"
"In my arm, Free from harm Lay the maid as we sped; Her cries, sweet complaints, and the tears----"
"Oh, blessed peace, and the poor thing crying!"
"Her cries, sweet complaints, and the tears she shed-- O, delight!"
"And he calls that delight! I'm getting right cold."
"Then again, O'er the plain. Right and left, nothing spurned, Here a villa destroyed or a cloister burned For fun."
"Farther yet, I forget-- But the deeds they were dire, And the road was marked with blood and fire And revenge!"
"Mercy on us! What had they done to him!"
"Revenge's sweet, And is meet For the King of the World----"
"Revenge's sweet And is meet For the King of the World, Who alone is supreme, with a banner unfurled Forever!"
"What sort of a thing is he talking about?"
"All! Hurrah! But, I say No pardon shall be lavished, The men shall be hanged and the women----"
"Trudie, Trudie, the camphor bottle! You see--I----"
"The men shall be hanged and the women ravished----"
"For pleasure," repeated the teacher in a grave-yard voice, "for pleasure!"