ree nights ago that two
thieves went into the pasture to take old Marshall's horses, supposing he
was too aged and infirm to thwart them, even if he should learn their
designs; they went early in the evening, before people usually retired to
rest; they caused a disturbance among the horses, which called out a couple
of neighbors who chanced to be there, who went to the pasture and demanded
of the thieves what they wanted; when they had the insolence to reply, that
they came after the horses and were going to have them. With this the men
fired upon them, but only with the intention of frightening them away; but
they were not so easily scared, and continued to follow up after the
horses, which were not easily caught, especially by strangers. Seeing this,
the men reloaded their rifles, and, taking the best aim the darkness would
allow, fired again; this time with the desired effect, as it was believed
one of the villains was wounded."

"I had no idea they were getting so bold!"

"No doubt they are numerous, and numbers beget confidence, you know. But we
must teach them a lesson or two they will not soon forget."

"By the way, George Gordon came home from a hunt a day or two ago, with a
wound in his arm. Do you think it possible he could have been one of the
thieves that night?"

"The truth is, I don't know who to trust nor who to suspect. I have no
doubt there are numbers of seemingly honest people who belong to the
secret gang of thieves. I should hardly have believed it of Gordon; but
there is no telling. How does he account for the wound?"

"He says his gun accidentally went off while he was leaning upon it with
his arm over the muzzle."

"Guns are not apt to play such scaly tricks as that; and we had better
watch him."

"By-the-way, I heard a report yesterday, to the effect that Thompson had
shot, or shot at, some thieves the other night."

"Yes, and you will hear of more shooting; mark that! And if the thieves do
not cease their operations, you will hear of some of them being shot dead
pretty soon!"

At this point in the conversation, a trampling among the horses in the
pasture attracted the attention of the 'Squire.

"Thieves, now!" he exclaimed; and taking down a couple of rifles, he gave
one to his neighbor and retaining the other himself, the two sallied forth
to ascertain what was going on. It was a starlight night, and they could
see some distance tolerably clearly. No sooner did they come in full vie