ence due to
one in full communion.

When the Assistant left the Council, he debated with himself how, if
Sir Christopher accepted the service, he might join Arundel, and the
soldier Joy with him. Could he succeed, he considered that he would be
in a fair way to rid himself at once of three persons who interfered
with his designs. The heat of his animosity was directed indeed
principally against Arundel and Joy, the Knight coming in for a
portion as their favorer and abettor. But in the pursuit of an object,
no scruples of conscience ever interfered with the plans of Spikeman,
willing to involve alike friend and foe in one common destruction, if
so only his purposes could be accomplished. He calculated somewhat
upon the bold temper of Arundel, and also upon his regard for the
Knight, by whose side he doubted not the young man would be willing to
defy any danger to which the other would expose himself.

With this view he took care, by means of his spy, Ephraim Pike, to
acquaint Arundel with the honor intended for Sir Christopher. The
expedition was represented by Pike as a mere party of pleasure, and as
affording fine opportunities for observing the tribes in their native
haunts. The good sense of the young man, and the experience he already
had, taught him better than to regard it exactly in the light wherein
the spy exhibited it; but, though conscious that there must be danger,
in the excited condition of the Taranteens, he could not believe it to
be great, else neither would Winthrop ask such exposure of life, nor
would the Knight accept of the enterprise. As for what danger was to
be encountered, it rather stimulated than deterred in the desire to
partake of it, as the lion hunt has greater attractions for the hunter
than the chase of the deer. Some words dropped from Pike about the
woodcraft of Joy, and his bravery; but he dared not speak plainer for
fear of betraying himself.

The information of Pike, it seems, was not without effect, for early
on the morning of the following day, Arundel started for the
habitation of his friend, taking with him what he considered necessary
for a distant journey in the woods. The distance was passed over in a
couple of hours; but, early as it was, he found that a messenger had
anticipated him. This he discovered, as well from the language of the
Knight, who stood in the porch of his house with a letter in his hand,
as from the appearance of the man with whom he was conversing, wh