ruck the
fatal blow, and amused one another and the company by describing the
cries and contortions of the murdered man.

At first they had shown some secrecy in their arrangements; but at the
time which this narrative describes their proceedings were
extraordinarily open, for the repeated failures of the law had proved
to them that, on the one hand, no one would dare to witness against
them, and on the other they had an unlimited number of stanch witnesses
upon whom they could call, and a well-filled treasure chest from which
they could draw the funds to engage the best legal talent in the state.
In ten long years of outrage there had been no single conviction, and
the only danger that ever threatened the Scowrers lay in the victim
himself--who, however outnumbered and taken by surprise, might and
occasionally did leave his mark upon his assailants.

McMurdo had been warned that some ordeal lay before him; but no one
would tell him in what it consisted. He was led now into an outer room
by two solemn brothers. Through the plank partition he could hear the
murmur of many voices from the assembly within. Once or twice he caught
the sound of his own name, and he knew that they were discussing his
candidacy. Then there entered an inner guard with a green and gold sash
across his chest.

"The Bodymaster orders that he shall be trussed, blinded, and entered,"
said he.

The three of them removed his coat, turned up the sleeve of his right
arm, and finally passed a rope round above the elbows and made it fast.
They next placed a thick black cap right over his head and the upper
part of his face, so that he could see nothing. He was then led into
the assembly hall.

It was pitch dark and very oppressive under his hood. He heard the
rustle and murmur of the people round him, and then the voice of
McGinty sounded dull and distant through the covering of his ears.

"John McMurdo," said the voice, "are you already a member of the
Ancient Order of Freemen?"

He bowed in assent.

"Is your lodge No. 29, Chicago?"

He bowed again.

"Dark nights are unpleasant," said the voice.

"Yes, for strangers to travel," he answered.

"The clouds are heavy."

"Yes, a storm is approaching."

"Are the brethren satisfied?" asked the Bodymaster.

There was a general murmur of assent.

"We know, Brother, by your sign and by your countersign that you are
indeed one of us," said McGinty. "We would have you know, however, that
in th