at his illegitimate son, the Duke of
Monmouth, a Protestant, might succeed him. Some had even hinted that
Charles II., while flying from Cromwell, had secretly married Lucy
Waters, the mother of the duke; but this has never been proved in
history.

The somewhat ostentatious manner in which the Duke of York had been
accustomed to go to mass, during the life of his brother, was the chief
cause of the general dislike in which he was held. Even Charles, giddy
and careless as he was in general, saw the imprudence of James' conduct,
and significantly told him on one occasion that _he_ had no desire to go
upon his travels again, whatever James might wish. When it became
currently reported all over the American colonies that this bigoted
Catholic would, on the death of his brother, become their ruler, the New
Englanders began to tremble for their religion. There was murmuring from
every village and plantation, keeping society in a constant ferment.

The three hunters were still discussing their ill luck when the sound of
horse's hoofs fell on their ears, and they turned slowly about to see a
stranger approaching them on horseback. His sad, gray eye had something
wild and supernatural about it. His costume had at one time been
elegant, but was now stained with dust and travel. It included a wrought
flowing neckcloth, a sash covered with a silver-laced red cloth coat, a
satin waistcoat embroidered with gold, a trooping scarf and a silver
hat-band. His trousers, which were met above the knees by a pair of
riding boots, like the remainder of his attire, was covered with dust.

The expression of pain on his face was misconstrued by the superstitious
hunters into a look of fiendish triumph, and John Louder, seizing the
arm of Bly, whispered:

"It is he!"

"Perhaps----"

"I know it, Bly, for he hath followed me all day."

"Then wherefore not give him the ball, which he hath guarded from the
deer?"

"It would be of no avail, John. A witch cannot be killed with lead. He
would throw the ball in my face and laugh at me."

The three walked hastily along, casting wary and uneasy glances behind
as the horseman drew nearer. Each trembled lest the horseman should
speak, and once or twice he seemed as if he would; but pain, or some
other cause unknown to the hunters, prevented his doing so. He rode
swiftly by, disappearing over the hill in the direction of Salem.

When he was out of sight the three hunters paused, and, falling on th