and at times to cudgel them soundly, and at others to lead them into all sorts of wild adventures.
Among others, there was a tale current of his having beset a hard-headed old negro, named Knot, as he was reeling homeward from a husking frolic, somewhat the worse for his potations, and had led him a helter-skelter chase, all night long, through bush and brier: at one time dragging him through the swamp at the head of a small stream called Flag Brook, and at another, ducking him in the Dosoris mill-pond, paying no regard to his entreaties for rest, but, as he became weary, plying him with a fiery liquor of such potency as to keep up his strength and courage, and make him as reckless as the goblin himself; and that the negro had been banged about in this rakehelly manner until the distant crow of a cock gave warning of the approach of day. The ghost then dashed at a tremendous rate into the fastnesses of Boggy Swamp, and, with a loud yell, disappeared, not forgetting to bestow a hearty thwack on the head of Knot, which left him senseless.
The story was laughed at by the young and incredulous; but the older inhabitants, who had grown gray and wise with their years, placed implicit faith in the tale. They had lived long in the world, and had amassed a great fund of experience; and the most of them recollected that when they were boys, ghosts and hobgoblins were plenty. Moreover, it was certain that Knot was found on the morning after the adventure, lying at the foot of a large tree in Boggy Swamp, very drunk—no doubt, from the effects of the miraculous liquor, and very much stupefied—doubtless, from the effects of the blow.
From this time, Knot became a standard authority on all subjects relating to the unseen world. From that date, too, Dosoris became more of a wizard lane than ever.
Zadoc Town had been one of Knot's most virulent opponents, and had once or twice, in broad daylight, and under the wing of his sister, openly avowed his atter disbelief of the whole story, and had even said, that he would like to catch Derrick stopping him, "that was all!"
Returning Tommy's salutation in a tone as valiant as his own, he
