The night wanes, and I have much
to see to before daylight. To-morrow I must sleep--sleep--" and for a
moment Rivers seemed to muse upon the word sleep, which he thrice
repeated; then suddenly proceeding, as if no pause had taken place, he
abruptly placed his hand upon the shoulder of Munro, and asked--

"You will bear the lantern; this is all you need perform. I am resolute
for the rest."

"What will you use--dirk?"

"Yes--it is silent in its office, and not less sure. Are all asleep,
think you--your wife?"

"Quite so--sound when I entered the chamber."

"Well, the sooner to business the better. Is there water in that
pitcher? I am strangely thirsty to-night; brandy were not amiss at such
a time."

And speaking this to himself, as it were, Rivers approached the
side-table, where stood the commodities he sought. In this approach the
maiden had a more perfect view of the malignities of his savage face;
and as he left the table, and again commenced a brief conversation in an
under-tone with Munro, no longer doubting the dreadful object which they
had in view, she seized the opportunity with as much speed as was
consistent with caution and her trembling nerves, to leave the place of
espionage, and seek her chamber.

But to what purpose had she heard all this, if she suffered the fearful
deed to proceed to execution? The thought was momentary, but carried to
her heart, in that moment, the fullest conviction of her duty.

She rushed hurriedly again into the passage--and, though apprehending
momentarily that her knees would sink from under her, took her way up
the narrow flight of steps leading into the second story, and to the
youth's chamber. As she reached the door, a feminine scruple came over
her. A young girl seeking the apartment of a man at midnight--she shrunk
back with a new feeling. But the dread necessity drove her on, and with
cautious hand undoing the latch securing the door by thrusting her hand
through an interstice between the logs--wondering at the same time at
the incautious manner in which, at such a period and place, the youth
had provided for his sleeping hours--she stood tremblingly within the
chamber.

Wrapped in unconscious slumbers, Ralph Colleton lay dreaming upon his
rude couch of a thousand strange influences and associations. His roving
fancies had gone to and fro, between his uncle and his bewitching
cousin, until his heart grew softened and satisfied, not less with the
native pleasu