sperate and outrageous, however, that
we were compelled, within the last week or so, to try the severest
discipline with him. He, however, cannot be the person you want, for his
name is Moore; at least, that is the name under which he was sent here."

Down in a narrow, dark dungeon, where the damp and stench were
intolerable, and nothing could be seen until a light was procured, they
found something lying on filthy straw that had human shape. The hair and
beard were long and overgrown; the features, begrimed with filth, were
such as the sharpest eye could not recognize; and the whole body was so
worn and emaciated, so ragged and tattered in appearance, that it was
evident at a glance that foul practices must have been resorted to in
order to tamper with life."

"Now, sir," said the doctor, addressing the stranger, "I will leave you
and your friends to examine the patient, as perhaps you might feel my
presence a restraint upon you."

The stranger, after a glance or two at Fenton, turned around, and said,
sternly, "Peace-officer, arrest that man, and remove him to the parlor
as your prisoner. But hold," he added, "let us first ascertain whether
this is Mr. Fenton or not."

"I will soon tell you, sir," said Corbet, approaching the object before
them, and feeling the left side of his neck.

"It is him, sir," he said; "here he is, sure enough, at last."

"Well, then," repeated the stranger, "arrest that man, as I said, and
let two of you accompany him to the parlor, and detain him there until
we join you."

On raising the wretched young man, they found that life was barely in
him; he had been asleep, and being roused up, he screamed aloud.

"Oh," said he, "I am not able to bear it--don't scourge me, I am dying;
I am doing all I can to die. Why did you disturb me? I dreamt that I
was on my mother's knee, and that she was kissing me. What is this? What
brings so many of you now? I wish I had told the strange gentleman in
the inn everything; but I feared he was my enemy, and perhaps he was. I
am very hungry."

"Merciful God!" exclaimed the stranger; "are such things done in a free
and Christian country? Bring him up to the parlor," he added, "and let
him be shaved and cleansed; but be careful of him, for his lamp of life
is nearly exhausted. I thank you, Corbet, for the suggestion of the
linen and clothes. What could we have done without them? It would have
been impossible to fetch him in this trim."

We must pass o