If a fellow did wrong he was pounded--if there was anybody capable of doing it.

If not he went free.
The almost unvarying success of the Raiders in--their forays gave the general impression that they were invincible--that is, that not enough men could be concentrated against them to whip them.

Our ill-success in the attack we made on them in April helped us to the same belief.

If we could not beat them then, we could not now, after we had been enfeebled by months of starvation and disease.

It seemed to us that the Plymouth Pilgrims, whose organization was yet very strong, should undertake the task; but, as is usually the case in this world, where we think somebody else ought to undertake the performance of a disagreeable public duty, they did not see it in the light that we wished them to.