nd refused the
office, for I was not at that moment sure about becoming an assassin in
the cause of Christ and His Church. I thought I heard a sweet voice
behind me, whispering to me to beware, and I was going to look round,
when my companion exclaimed: "Coward, we are ruined!"

I had no time for an alternative: Gil-Martin's ball had not taken
effect, which was altogether wonderful, as the old man's breast was
within a few yards of him. "Hilloa!" cried Blanchard, "what is that
for, you dog!" and with that he came forward to look over the bush. I
hesitated, as I said, and attempted to look behind me; but there was no
time: the next step discovered two assassins lying in covert, waiting
for blood. "Coward, we are ruined!" cried my indignant friend; and that
moment my piece was discharged. The effect was as might have been
expected: the old man first stumbled to one side, and then fell on his
back. We kept our places, and I perceived my companion's eyes gleaming
with an unnatural joy. The wounded man raised himself from the bank to
a sitting posture, and I beheld his eyes swimming; he however appeared
sensible, for we heard him saying in a low and rattling voice: "Alas,
alas! whom have I offended, that they should have been driven to an act
like this! Come forth and shew yourselves, that I may either forgive
you before I die, or curse you in the name of the Lord." He then fell
a-groping with both hands on the ground, as if feeling for something he
had lost manifestly in the agonies of death; and, with a solemn and
interrupted prayer for forgiveness, he breathed his last.

I had become rigid as a statue, whereas my associate appeared to be
elevated above measure. "Arise, thou faint-hearted one, and let us be
going," said he. "Thou hast done well for once; but wherefore hesitate
in such a cause? This is but a small beginning of so great a work as
that of purging the Christian world. But the first victim is a worthy
one, and more of such lights must be extinguished immediately."

We touched not our victim, nor anything pertaining to him, for fear of
staining our hands with his blood; and the firing having brought three
men within view, who were hasting towards the spot, my undaunted
companion took both the pistols, and went forward as with intent to
meet them, bidding me shift for myself. I ran off in a contrary
direction, till I came to the foot of the Pearman Sike, and then,
running up the hollow of that, I appeared on th