And, indeed, most of those to whom, such outrageous and criminal attacks wera assigned, seemed to feel flattered by being appointed to the performance of them.
At length, when these matters were, arranged, and completed, the whole body was ordered to fall into rank, and the large-man, who acted as leader, walked for a times up and down in front of them, after which, as nearly opposite their centre as possible, he deliberately knelt down, and held his two open palms across each other for some seconds, or perhaps for half a minute.
A low fearful murmur, which no language could describe, and no imagination conceive--without having heard it, ran along the whole line.
Whether it proceeded from compassion or exultation, or a blending of both mingled with horror and aversion, or a diabolical, satisfaction, it is difficult or rather absolutely impossible to say.

The probability is, however, that it was made up of all these feelings, and that it was their unnatural union, expressed under such wild and peculiar circumstances, that gave it the impressive and dreadful effect wo have described.
"What does he mane ?" said some of the youthful and inexperienced portion of them, in the accustomed whisper.
"There's a death to take place to-night," replied an older member; "there's either a man or family doomed, God knows which!" He then arose, and going along the front: rank, selected by name twenty-four individuals, who were made to stand in order; to one of these he whispered the name and residence of the victim; this one immediately whispered the secret to the person next him, who communicated it in his turn, and thus it went round until the last had received it.

This being accomplished, he stood apart from the appointed murderers, and made them all, one after another, whisper to him the name and residence as before.
"Now," said the leader, "it's my duty to tell you that there's a man to be done for tonight; and you must all know his crime.

He was warned by us no less than four times not to pay tithe, and not only that, but he refused to be sworn out to do so, and wounded one of the boys that wor sent by me one night to swear him.

He has set us at defiance by publicly payin' his tithes to a man that we'll take care of some o' these nights.
He's now doomed, an' was tried on the last night of our meetin'.