with Prudence, the
contemplation of which it unpleasantly interrupted. The prospect of
the soldier's liberation was exceeding disagreeable. It would
interfere with, and perhaps defeat plans, which in blind passion he
hugged to his heart. But engrossed by his unworthy madness, he could
not then mature any scheme not connected with its immediate
gratification. Machinations for the further accomplishment of his
designs must be postponed for a calmer moment. It came after the
interruption occasioned by the arrival of his wife, and soon his
active brain had shaped his ideas into definiteness.

Accordingly in the evening, as soon as it became so dark that features
were not readily distinguishable in the streets, the Assistant took
his way to the prison in which the soldier was confined. It stood on
the edge of the settlement, and was a low, one-story building,
strongly made of unhewn logs, within a few feet of which was the
dwelling of the jailer, but little differing from it in exterior. In
those days a very strong jail was not so important as at present. If
one had committed a crime so heinous that he was unfit to live, he was
forthwith put beyond the power of doing mischief; but if the offence
were of a less atrocious character, modes of punishment were usually
resorted to which did not involve the necessity of supporting him at
public charge--such, for instance, as whipping, cutting off the ears,
slitting the nose, and like improvements of the human form divine. If
through defect of the prison, or from any other cause, the offender
escaped, it was pretty certain that he would not make his appearance
in a hurry, lest some worse thing might befall him, and so there was
one malcontent the less, and one disturber of the peace gone, even
though the ends of punishment were not perfectly attained.

Spikeman, on reaching the house of the jailer, was about to knock at
the door, when his attention was arrested by sounds which made him
pause. The weather being warm, the window was open, and he was able to
hear distinctly what was said within. Motives of delicacy or honor
weighed not much in the mind of a man like him, and he scrupled not to
appropriate any advantage to be derived from eaves-dropping.

"What made you, Sam Bars, take all the ornaments off Philip but the
bracelets, without saying anything to me?" inquired a voice, which
Spikeman recognized as belonging to the jailer's wife.

"Why, Margery, to confess, I forgot to