The rest of his ragged company remained seated, their heads low, staring at the earth, panting in the thin air. There was no sound but the swack - swack of the machete.

a learn'd laureate

[…] I said you didn't like them ere strong liquors, but if he warn't particular, I was sure you would pledge him in a glass of juniper, for I had always made you, since we had been man and vife, take a drop afore you went to market, to keep cold out.

a man with a suave demeanor