rcy, promising to tell all he knew.

"Who was the priest?" repeated the dragoon, drawing back his
formidable[120] leg and holding it in threatening suspense.

[Footnote 120: exciting fear.]

"Harvey, Harvey!" cried Caesar, dancing from one leg to the other, as
he thought each member in turn might be assailed.

"Harvey who, you black villain?" cried the impatient lieutenant, as he
executed a full measure of vengeance by letting his leg fly.

"Birch!" shrieked Caesar, falling on his knees, the tears rolling in
large drops over his face.

"Harvey Birch!" echoed the trooper, hurling the black from him and
rushing from the room. "To arms! To arms! Fifty guineas for the life
of the peddler spy--give no quarter to either. Mount! Mount! To arms!
To horse!"

The first impulse of Henry was, certainly, to urge the beast he rode
to his greatest speed at once. But the forward movement that the youth
made for this purpose was instantly checked by the peddler. Henry
reluctantly restrained his impatience and followed the direction of
the peddler. His imagination, however, continually alarmed him with
the fancied sounds of pursuit.

"What see you, Harvey?" he cried, observing the peddler to gaze
towards the building they had left with ominous interest; "what see
you at the house?"

"That which bodes us no good," returned the peddler. "Throw aside the
mask and wig; you will need all your senses without much delay. Throw
them in the road. There are none before us that I dread, but there are
those behind who will give us a fearful race! Now ride, Captain
Wharton, for your life, and keep at my heels."

The instant that Harvey put his horse to his speed, Captain Wharton
was at his heels urging the miserable animal he rode to the utmost. A
very few jumps convinced the captain that his companion was fast
leaving him, and a fearful glance thrown behind informed him that his
enemies were as speedily approaching.

"Had we not better leave our horses?" said Henry, "and make for the
hills across the fields on our left? The fence will stop our
pursuers."

"That way lies the gallows," returned the peddler; "these fellows go
three feet to our two, and would mind the fences no more than we do
these ruts; but it is a short quarter to the turn, and there are two
roads behind the wood. They may stand to choose until they can take
the track, and we shall gain a little upon them there."

"But this miserable horse is blown already," cri