d, and I would pledge my life the Knight is not in it."

"Verily thou mayest be right, yet is there a possibility of mistake.
Ephraim, with our hands on the plough, we will not look back. We must
burn this nest of hornets, and should the Knight of the Melice be
burned with it, there will be no harm done."

"I suppose," said Ephraim, rather sulkily, "this is a service you want
to put on my shoulders, but an' you wish to burn the house, you can
burn it yourself."

"That can I not do," answered Spikeman. "The thing must be done
secretly, so that it may appear the consequence of some accident. Were
I to absent myself I should be missed, but thou canst do it without
suspicion."

"And suppose it done, what then?" asked Pike.

"Thou shalt have a gold piece for that which costs thee but little
trouble and no risk."

"How shall it be done?"

"I will presently take all the inmates of the cabin with us on our
return. After we have gone a few rods, do thou retrace thy steps and
fire the building, and hurry back immediately."

"But should I be missed?"

"There is little probability of that; but thou knowest me, Ephraim,
and can be certain that I will be able to account satisfactorily
therefor should it happen."

"Yea, I do know thee," said Ephraim to himself, "for as cunning a one
as Beelzebub himself; but thou hast never failed me, and I will trust
thee yet again. I will do the thing," he said aloud, "since thy mind
is set thereon; but it rubs mightily against the grain."

"Thou shalt not repent it," replied Spikeman. "We are in some sort
confederates, and our fates are so interwoven that thy fortunes depend
on mine."

With these prophetic words the Assistant left his coadjutor, and
returning to the apartment of the lady, requested her to prepare
herself and the Indian child to accompany him. She made no reply, and,
on his departure, sat some little time pondering what it became her to
do; after which, she rose and prepared some articles of clothing.

Spikeman soon re-appeared, and directing one of his soldiers to carry
the clothing, begged the lady to follow him. This she did without
objection, holding the girl by the hand, and appearing indifferent to
all that happened. She found Arundel and Joy, with a number of strange
persons, in the largest room of the building, preparing for departure.
The countenances of the two men expressed the indignation which they
felt, but they were obliged to content themselves with