Among the most conspicuous of
the orators were those with whom our readers have already
made slight acquaintance in our account of the sortie by
Captain Erskine's company for the recovery of the supposed
body of Frederick de Haldimar. One was for impaling him
alive, and setting him up to rot on the platform above
the gate. Another for blowing him from the muzzle of a
twenty-four pounder, into the centre of the first band
of Indians that approached the fort, that thus perceiving
they had lost the strength and sinew of their cunning
war, they might be the more easily induced to propose
terms of peace. A third was of opinion he ought to be
chained to the top of the flag-staff, as a target, to be
shot at with arrows only, contriving never to touch a
mortal part. A fourth would have had him tied naked over
the sharp spikes that constituted the chevaux-de-frize
garnishing the sides of the drawbridge. Each devised some
new death--proposed some new torture; but all were of
opinion, that simply to be shot, or even to be hanged,
was too merciful a punishment for the wretch who had so
wantonly and inhumanly butchered the kind-hearted,
gentle-mannered officer, whom they had almost all known
and loved from his very boyhood; and they looked forward,
with mingled anxiety and vengeance, to the moment when,
summoned as it was expected he shortly would be, before
the assembled garrison, he would be made to expiate the
atrocity with his blood.
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