ny time it should be discovered.
Close by the shed, there is a plantation of young firs of some extent.
Thornton and I entered, and he dug a hole with the broken blade of the
knife, and buried it, covering up the hole again with the earth."

"Describe the place," said I. Dawson paused, and seemed to recollect; I
was on the very tenterhooks of suspence, for I saw with one glance all
the importance of his reply.

After some moments, he shook his head; "I cannot describe the place,"
said he, "for the wood is so thick: yet I know the exact spot so
well, that were I in any part of the plantation, I could point it out
immediately."

I told him to pause again, and recollect himself; and, at all events,
to try to indicate the place. However, his account was so confused and
perplexed, that I was forced to give up the point in despair, and he
continued.

"After we had done this, Thornton told me to hold the horses, and said
he would go alone, to spy whether we might return; accordingly he did
so, and brought back word, in about half an hour, that he had crept
cautiously along till in sight of the place, and then throwing himself
down on his face by the ridge of a bank, had observed a man, (whom he
was sure was the person with a cloak we had passed, and whom, he said,
was Sir Reginald Glanville,) mount his horse on the very spot of the
murder, and ride off, while another person (Mr. Pelham), appeared, and
also discovered the fatal place.

"'There is no doubt now,' said he, 'that we shall have the hue-and cry
upon us. However, if you are staunch and stout-hearted, no possible
danger can come to us; for you may leave me alone to throw the whole
guilt upon Sir Reginald Glanville.'

"'We then mounted, and rode home. We stole up stairs by the
back-way--Thornton's linen and hands were stained with blood. The former
he took off, locked up carefully, and burnt the first opportunity; the
latter he washed; and that the water might not lead to detection, drank
it. We then appeared as if nothing had occurred, and learnt that
Mr. Pelham had been to the house; but as, very fortunately, our
out-buildings had been lately robbed by some idle people, the wife and
servants had refused to admit him. I was thrown into great agitation,
and was extremely frightened. However, as Mr. Pelham had left a message
that we were to go to the pond, Thornton insisted upon our repairing
there to avoid suspicion."

Dawson then proceeded to say, that, on the