ght would succeed,
though I heard that in the evening which caused me to have misgivings on
the subject. I learned that Hadley received intelligence that his mother
and uncle were both sick and not expected to recover.--They live in
Philadelphia: the uncle, his mother's brother, a bachelor, by the way, with
whom she is living, is reputed wealthy, and, it is said, has willed his
property to young Hadley. The news of these events was brought to him
yesterday, and he made immediate preparations to go east, but did not
expect to get off until this morning. I presume, however, he must have
started yesterday in the after part of the day; but be this as it may, I
wish you and Dick to follow after him, and don't fail to finish him somehow
and somewhere. If you could only manage to get ahead of him and waylay him
at some point in the mountains, it would be the best place for you to do
the deed and conceal the commission of the act."

"Yes, if he should be alone."

"Which will most likely be the case, at least a portion of the time. But
should no such opportunity occur, or should you fail to get beyond him on
the way, you must watch for him in the city; follow him as closely as his
shadow, and in some dark alley, or at some unseasonable hour, put him out
of the way."

"Exactly."

"You understand that this _must_ be done, do you?"

"If Lieutenant Duffel says so."

"Well, I do say so, most emphatically. I am more anxious than ever to have
him settled, since this new phase of affairs has come up."

"I understand; but when are we to start?"

"Early in the morning. We will find out as soon as possible whether he
started yesterday; then you must show yourselves for a little while, as was
before determined; and as soon afterward as possible be off. Be sure to get
on the right track, and don't lose it."

"Never fear on that head. We will follow him as the lion does his prey."

"Well, I leave the matter with you; see that you acquit yourself as a good
soldier. Give Dick such instruction as may be needed.--Here he comes."

Dick rode up on the horse he had stolen, and they all immediately repaired
to the swamp, where the scheme of villainy had been planned, in the middle
of which the horse was concealed for the present, as they were unable to
take him further then without incurring great risk of detection.

The next morning after mingling awhile with the indignant crowd of
citizens, who were collected together on hearing of the