ow that
you are not guilty. Do you see this?"

"It all looks mighty likely, certain."

"Don't it look more than likely? Don't it look just as if it could not be
otherwise?"

"Why, yes; it does look so, that's a fact."

"Of course you would like to cast the blame somewhere else?"

"We would, that's certain."

Well, you can do it. I have already prepared the way, and if you will
follow my instructions to the letter, the thing is done?"

"Give us our parts and we will act them to the life," said Bill, who had
been spokesman for both, as was usual at such times.

"Ay," said Dick, "and to the death, too, I guess."

"Quite likely, quite likely!" rejoined Duffel. "Do you think you will have
the nerve to perform this extreme act Should it become necessary?"

"Does Lieutenant Duffel take us to be cowards, that he makes such a
white-livered insinuation?"

"By no means; I only wished to know if you were _now_ prepared for any
emergency that might come up?"

"Yes, any time and always. Go on."

"My plan is this: So soon as the horses are in our possession, we must
convey them to the middle of the 'Swamp,' and be back by morning, or noon
at furthest, _and show ourselves_. If we are about early, say as soon as
possible after the animals are missed, and _take part in the search_, few,
if any, will think of us as being the thieves, as they are pleased to term
such operators, while we can, at the same time, turn the hunt after the
horses in the direction in which they are not to be found, if we can do so
without exciting suspicions of our aims. Mark that! we must be cautious and
not overdo the thing, or it will be worse for us than to do nothing."

"We understand."

"Well, that is all on that point; but there is something more to be done;
we must direct suspicion to some one else; some one must be accused, and
_he must not be about_. You comprehend?"

"Perfectly."

"Well, I have the sheep already prepared for the sacrifice."

"Who is he, and where will we find him?"

"_Charles Hadley_ is the man, and you will find him just in the right
place--the dark passage in the road to C----; he passes that point every
night about nine or ten o'clock. You know what to do with him."

"Would it not be as well to carry him to the save and imprison him? You
know, it would not be murder, then."

"I had thought of that; but if we take him there, it will not do to let him
out again, for, if we did, it would be the end of us all; s