any remark upon it. Repeatedly his head had flown
round over his shoulder, to catch a glimpse of what he dredded to
see, but, notwithstanding the excitement of his imagination, he could
behold nothing.

"O, Tom! O, Prime!" exclaimed the poor fellow, "let us go home. I wish
we was fairly out of this scrape."

"Why," said Tom, "we're 'most there now. We should be laughed at if
we was to give it up so. Who's afraid o' sperits? They're nothing but
moonshine. I vow," he cried, pointing over the opposite side of the
boat, "if he ain't there agin! Look, Basset."

But Basset was too busy with his paddle to look. With a twist of his
wrist he had whirled the bow of the boat in the direction of the bank
they had just left, and was paddling away for dear life. This time
he appeared to arrive at the condition that the middle of the stream
would be the safest position, and having attained that, he kept, as
nearly as he could judge, at equal distances from the banks. A short
space only now remained to be passed over, and in a few moments they
were abreast of the island. Here the two men rested on their oars, and
a whispered consultation was held, at the conclusion of which the
boat was quietly pulled towards the goal. This was not done, however,
without another attempt on the part of the constable to postpone
the capture for that night, but the proposal was overruled by his
associates, who scouted at his fears, and declared there was no
danger.

Basset's nerves were in a shocking condition. The doleful stories
croaked into his ears the whole passage down; the darkness of the
hour; Holden's terrible character; and the remoteness from any
assistance other than that of Gladding and Primus, in whom his
confidence diminished every moment, conspired to throw him into the
abjectest trepidation. But there was no retreat; Gladding was as
obstinate as a mule, and as for the General, true to his military
reputation, he insisted on advancing, and the unfortunate officer of
the law, who was as much afflicted, with spiritual as with material
fears, found himself in a dilemma, the solution of which was taken
away from him. No alternative remained. He must, be the consequences
what they might, see the adventure through. Borrowing, therefore,
courage from despair, with a timid step and palpitating heart, he left
the boat and closely followed his companions.

No light was visible, and the constable began to hope that Holden
was away from home, a