plied to his throat to stifle any cries,
should he be disposed to make them. But the poor fellow was too much
frightened to emit a sound, had he been never so much inclined to
scream.

"Make no noise," said a stern but disguised voice, "and you are safe.
No injury is designed. I will lead you. Follow quietly."

The man grasped his arm, and led him, as it seemed, out of the
travelled path into an adjoining field, for he was directed to lift
his feet at a particular spot, and in doing so, struck them against
what were evidently wooden bars, such as are everywhere to be found in
New England, at the entrances to the stone wall encircled lots. They
were followed by Holden, and, as the constable judged, from the slight
sounds he succeeded in occasionally catching, by another person.
When his captor seemed to think he was in a place where he would be
unlikely to be disturbed by a casual passer, he stopped and demanded
the key to the handcuffs. Every movement of the constable must have
been narrowly watched during the evening, for, as he hesitated, either
confused by the unexpected capture, and forgetful of where he had
placed the key, or desirous to gain time in the hope that help might
arrive--whatever might have been the motive, no time was granted, the
same stern voice instantly adding,

"The key is in the right pocket of your pantaloons: give it to me at
once."

With a trembling hand, the constable produced the key from his pocket,
and was confirmed, by what followed, in the belief that his captor
must have a coadjutor, for he still kept his hold, and uttered the
single word "here," as if addressing another, and handing him the key.
Presently, the handcuffs were thrown down at his feet, and he thought
he could detect the sound of receding footsteps. His captor then
demanded the mittimus, which he tore into small pieces, and scattered
around. In this condition muffled so that he could hardly breathe,
with a desperado, or he knew not how many at his side, who, at the
least attempt to make an outcry, might do him some bodily injury or
perhaps murder him, the next quarter of an hour seemed a whole dismal
night to the unfortunate Basset. At the expiration of that time, his
guard addressed him again, and in the same carefully feigned voice:

"You are in my power, and who would know it were I to leave your
corpse to stiffen on the snow? But I bear you no ill will, and have
no intention to hurt you. I would not harm a hair o