e aware of
the disadvantages I shall labor under in making the evidence you have
furnished me available."

"I am," replied the attorney. "Do you think I would have yielded to you,
if I had not known it?"

"Have you told me the truth in these statements?" asked Hatchie.

The attorney hesitated; but a sharp twinge at the neck compelled him to
say that he had.

"Then I shall be obliged to trouble you to repeat some of your
revelations. Now, mark me, Mr. Maxwell; I am going to procure the
woodman and his son, to witness your statements."

"Fool! what avail will they be, extorted with a rope about my neck?"

"Perhaps we may be able to show you some law such as you never read in
your books. If, as I suspect, this carpet-bag contains papers, I doubt
not we shall find something to confirm your evidence."

The face of the lawyer grew a shade paler; but he spoke not.

"Before I go, let me charge you, at your peril, not to be obstinate; for
here I solemnly assure you that you shall swing by the branch above you,
if you refuse to answer," said Hatchie, going towards the cabin.

The scene of this exploit was at some distance from the log-cabin of the
woodman, and the mulatto had scarcely got out of sight before Vernon
appeared. He had been at a little distance from the parties during the
whole scene, but he had too much respect for the prowess of his late
conqueror to venture on a rescue. He had once been tempted to do so, and
had made the noise which had disturbed Hatchie. The blackleg, without
much sympathy for his confederate, had rather regarded the whole scene
as a good joke than as a serious affair; and, as he approached the
lawyer, his merriment and keen satire were not relished by the victim.

"But how is it, Maxwell, about this will? You have never told me about
it," said Vernon, who, ruffian as he was, believed in fair play.

"I will tell you another time; cut these ropes, and let us be off."

"But let me tell you, my fine fellow, that though I can rob a man who
has enough, I would not be concerned in such a dirty game as this," said
Vernon, as he severed the ropes which bound the attorney. "If you have
been helping old Dumont to wrong his niece, may I be hanged, as that
nigger would have served you, if I don't blow the whole affair!"

"You know nothing about it; but, let me tell you, I am not concerned in
the affair. The girl, I have no doubt, is a slave."

The confederates now made all haste to depart from