ome one coming!" exclaimed the captain, rising
and listening. "It is Le Noir, who was to meet me here to-night on
important business!"

CHAPTER XXI.

GABRIEL LE NOIR.

Naught's had! all's spent!
When our desires are gained without content.
--Shakespeare.

"The colonel!" exclaimed the three men in a breath, as the door opened
and a tall, handsome and distinguished-looking gentleman, wrapped in a
black military cloak and having his black beaver pulled low over his
brow, strode into the room.

All arose upon their feet to greet him as though he had been a prince.

With a haughty wave of the hand, he bade them resume their seats, and
beckoning their leader, said:

"Donald, I would have a word with you!"

"At your command, colonel!" said the outlaw, rising and taking a candle
and leading the way into the adjoining room, the same in which fourteen
years before old Granny Grewell and the child had been detained.

Setting the candle upon the mantelpiece, Black Donald stood waiting for
the visitor to open the conversation, a thing that the latter seemed in
no hurry to do, for he began walking up and down the room in stern
silence.

"You seem disturbed, colonel," at length said the outlaw.

"I am disturbed--more than disturbed! I am suffering!"

"Suffering, colonel?"

"Aye, suffering! From what think you? The pangs of remorse!"

"Remorse! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!" laughed the outlaw till all the rafters
rang.

"Aye, man, you may laugh; but I repeat that I am tortured with remorse!
And for what do you suppose? For those acts of self-preservation that
fanatics and fools would stigmatize as crimes? No, my good fellow, no!
but for one 'unacted crime!'"

"I told your honor so!" cried the outlaw, triumphantly.

"Donald, when I go to church, as I do constantly, I hear the preacher
prating of repentance; but man, I never knew the meaning of the word
until recently."

"And I can almost guess what it is that has enlightened your honor?"
said the outlaw.

"Yes, it is that miserable old woman and babe! Donald, in every vein of
my soul I repent not having silenced them both forever while they were
yet in my power!"

"Just so, colonel; the dead never come back, or if they do, are not
recognized as property holders in this world. I wish your honor had
taken my advice and sent that woman and child on a longer journey."

"Donald, I was younger then than now. I--shr