24. CHAPTER XXIV.
THE GIANT GREAT-HEART.
AS soon as Andrew's skiff, the “Grisilde,” was
brought back and the ruffians had gone off up the
ravine, Andrew left Mrs. Wehle sitting by the fire
in the loom-room of the castle, while he crossed
the river to look after Gottlieb. Little Wilhelmina
insisted on going with him, and as she handled a steering-oar
well he took her along. They found Gottlieb with his arms
cruelly pinioned sitting on a log in a state of utter dejection,
and dripping with water from his ducking.
“Ich zay, Antroo, ish dish vat dey galls a vree goontry,
already? A blace vare troonk shcounders dosh vot ever dey
hadn't ort! Dat is vree koontry. Mein knabe ish roon off ver
liebin a Yangee; unt a vool he ish, doo. Unt ich ish hoong
unt troundt unt darrdt unt vedderd unt drakt out indoo de ribber,
unt dolt if I ko back do mein vrau unt kinder I zhall pe kilt
vunst more already. Unt I shpose if ich shtays here der Gainduckee
beobles vill hang me unt dar me unt trown me all over
in der ribber, doo, already, pekoz I ish Deutsch. Ich zay de voorld
ish all pad, unt it and doo pe vinished vunst already, I ton't gare
how quick, so ash dem droonk vools kit vot pelongs doo 'em
venever Gabrel ploes his drumbet.”
“They'll get that in due time, my friend,” said Andrew, untying
the rope with which Gottlieb had been pinioned. “Come,
let us go back to our own shore.”
“Bud daint my zhore no more. Dey said I'd god doo hang
again vunst more if I ever grossed de Ohio Ribber vunst again already,
but I ton't vants doo hang no more vor noddin already.”
“But I'll take care of that,” said Andrew. “Before to-morrow
night I'll make your house the safest place in Clark township.
I've got the rascals by the throat now. Trust me.”
It took much entreaty on the part of Andrew and much
weeping and kissing on the part of Wilhelmina to move the heart
of the terrified Gottlieb. At last he got into the skiff and allowed
himself to be rowed back again, declaring all the way that he
nebber zee no zich a vree koontry ash dish voz already.
When Bill Day and his comrades got up the next morning
and began to think of the transactions of the night, they did not
seem nearly so ludikerous as they had at the time. And when
Norman Anderson and Bill Day and Bob Short read the notice
on the door of Mandluff's store they felt that “arsony” might
have a serious as well as a ludikerous side.
Andrew at first intended to institute proceedings against the
rioters, but he knew that the law was very uncertain against
the influences which the eight or nine young men might bring to
bear, and the prejudices of the people against the Dutch. To
prosecute would be to provoke another riot. So he contented
himself with this
“Proclamation!
“To whom it may concern: I have a list of eight men connected
with the riotous mob which broke into the house of Gottlieb Wehle, a
peaceable and unoffending citizen of the United States. The said eight
men proceeded to commit an assault and battery on the person of the
said Gottlieb Wehle, and even endeavored at one time to take his life.
And the said riotous conduct was the result of a conspiracy, and the
said assault with intent to kill was with malice aforethought. The said
eight men, after having committed grievous outrages upon him by
dipping him in the water and by other means, warned the said Wehle
not to return to the State. Now, therefore, I give notice to all
and several of those concerned in these criminal proceedings that
the said Wehle has returned by my advice; and that if so much as a
hair of his head or a splinter of his property is touched I will appear
against said parties and will prosecute them until I secure the infliction
of the severest penalties made and provided for the punishment
of such infamous crimes. I hope I am well enough known here to
render it certain that if I once begin proceedings nothing but success
or my death or the end of the world can stop them.
“Andrew Anderson,
“Backwoods Philosopher.
“At the Castle, May 12th, 1843.”
“It don't look so ludikerous as it did, does it, Bill?” squeaked
Jim West, as he read the notice over Bill's shoulder.
“Shet your mouth, you fool!” said Bill. “Don't you never
peep. Ef I'd a been sober I might a knowed ole Grizzly would
interfere. He always does.”
In truth, Andrew was a sort of Perpetual Champion of the
Oppressed, and those who did not like him feared him, which is
the next best thing.
