table which served him as a desk, seized a pen.

"It's good enough to think about, Price," admitted Mahaffy grudgingly.

"It's better to do; and if anything happens to me the papers I am going
to leave will tell you how it's to be done. Man, there's a million of
money in sight, and we've got to get it and spend it and enjoy it! None
of your swinish thrift for me, but life on a big scale--company, and
feasting, and refined surroundings!"

"And you are going to meet Fentress in the morning?" asked Mahaffy. "I
suppose there's no way of avoiding that?"

"Avoiding it?" almost shouted the judge. "For what have I been living?
I shall meet him, let the consequences be what they may. To-night when
I have reduced certain facts to writing I shall join you at Belle Plain.
The strange and melancholy history of my life I shall place in your
hands for safe keeping. In the morning I can be driven back to Boggs'."

"And you will go there without a second?"

"If necessary; yes."

"I declare, Price, you are hardly fitted to be at large! Why, you act as
if you were tired of life. There's Yancy--there's Cavendish!"

The judge gave him an indulgent but superior smile.

"Two very worthy men, but I go to Boggs' attended by a gentleman or I go
there alone. I am aware of your prejudices, Solomon; otherwise I might
ask this favor of you."

Mr. Mahaffy snorted loudly and turned to the door, for Yancy and
Cavendish were now approaching the house, the latter with a meal sack
slung over his shoulder.

"Here, Solomon, take one of my pistols," urged the judge hastily. "You
may need it at Belle Plain. Goodby, and God bless you!"

Just where he had parted from Ware, Carrington sat his horse, his brows
knit and his eyes turned in the direction of the path. He was on his way
to a plantation below Girard, the owner of which had recently imported
a pack of bloodhounds; but this unexpected encounter with Ware had
affected him strangely. He still heard Tom's stammering speech, he was
still seeing his ghastly face, and he had come upon him with startling
suddenness. He had chanced to look back over his shoulder and when he
faced about there had been the planter within a hundred yards of him.

Presently Carrington's glance ceased to follow the windings of the path.
He stared down at the gray dust and saw the trail left by Hues and his
party. For a moment he hesitated; if the dogs were to be used with
any hope of success he had no time to spare, and