t. The water-way on
their south, near the bank of which the road lay, widened abruptly,
and became a broad, natural canal, with crumbling shores. Arlington
paused to speculate on the strange aspect of things. Long had he
journeyed among bushes and trees, over logs and across streams and
oozy marshes; now he deemed he was nearing the Mississippi. "I am De
Soto the Second; an explorer of new regions, a discoverer of strange
watercourses. This Acheron at my left must flow into some larger body
of water, if it flows at all. Courage, Jetty! We are on the way to the
Father of Waters."

Climbing once more into the saddle, Arlington resumed his ride,
patting his horse on the neck, and encouraging him with words.

"Patience, good boy; keep up a day or two more. Surely this widening
stream on our left creeps to the big river. See! A boat! A vessel made
by man's hands lies on the shore of this Dead Sea!"

Joyfully Chester sprang to the ground, and leaving the animal to
browse, ran down to the edge of the bluff to learn if any living
creature were aboard. He discovered three or four large boats,
freighted with barrels and boxes. He called, but no answer came back.
Turning to look after his horse, he noticed a foot-path leading into a
thicket, and having pushed his way amid the wet bushes, he came into a
broader path, which brought him to a supposititious tavern, the
headquarters of Palafox's gang.

"A queer place for a public house," thought Arlington, reading the
sign over the door. "Table set in the wilderness; I am out of danger
of starvation, anyhow. Blessed be the name of Cacosotte."

Thus communing with himself, the young man pounded vigorously on the
puncheon door. No one came to open to him. Loudly he called in the
hearty manner of the backwoodsman:

"Hello the house!"

Nobody answered the call, though Arlington could have sworn he heard
suppressed voices within. It flashed upon him that the place might be
a trap for travellers, and the sign-board a decoy. His two heavy
pistols, each more than a foot long, hung strapped to his belt. The
priming was fresh; the flints were accurately set.

"Hello, there, within!"

Still no answer, yet again the sound of voices--women's voices. The
stranger left the front portal to investigate the rear end of the long
cabin. Loopholes in the log walls permitted air and light to enter the
rooms. Through one of these openings, an aperture which might very
likely conceal the muzzle of