Charles John Cutcliffe Wright Hyne

The Filibusters Charles John Cutcliffe Wright Hyne

THROUGHOUT the event narrated in the follow- ing history there were two Influences at work, which, counting from start to finish, we regarded with a very different set of emotions. At first, being ignorant of their bare existence, we ignored them with all completeness. We had confidence in our wit, and the strength of our own right hands, and felt fear for no man living. Next, having the work of the Influences violently thrust against our wishes and our welfare, or, again, pulling in our favour, we considered them with awe and some fright, as men must do things which shoot mysterious arrows and boons out of nothingness. But afterwards, when we saw their fingers gripped on all the Master-strings, and knew with precision what manner of creatures they were, then we came to look upon the Influences with the two extremes of sentiment this day known to men. When the Influence was adverse, we classed it with the worst of things diabolic; but when it aided us, an enthusiasm spirited up in us that was near akin to worship. We did not act on precedent in this, as there was no such thing as precedent to draw from. Our minds worked as our natures drove them; human-wise, that is; and because the Influences themselves were intensely human in the least as in the greatest of their efforts, nothing happened which might not have been altogether expected.