A cold, chilly aspect lay upon the surface of the earth, and the white mists that had descended from the mountain-tops, or were drawn up from the ground by the influence of the sun, were, although more condensed, beginning to get a warmer look.
Notwithstanding the secrecy with which this enterprise was projected it had taken wind, and many of those who had suffered by the depredations of the tories were found joining the band of pursuers, and many others who were friendly to them, or who had relations among them, also made their appearance, but contrived to keep somewhat aloof from the main body, though not at such a distance as might seem to render them suspected; their object being to afford whatever assistance they could, with safety to themselves and without incurring any suspicion of affinity to the unfortunate tories.
The country was of intricate passage and full of thick woods.

At this distance of time, now that it is cleared and cultivated, our readers could form no conception of its appearance then.

In the fastnesses and close brakes of those woods lay the hiding-places and retreats of the tories--"the wood kernes" of Spenser's day.

A tory-hunt at that time, or at any time, was a pastime of no common, danger.

Those ferocious and determined banditti had little to render life desirable.