almost to the sole dictation of his accomplice, in whom a somewhat
lofty distaste for such a peculiarity had occasioned a manner and habit
of mind, the superiority of which was readily felt by the other. Still,
we must do the landlord the justice to say that he had no such passion
for bloodshed as characterized his companion.

"Why strike again!" was the response of Rivers. "You talk like a child.
Would you have had him live to blab? Saw you not that he knew us both?
Are you so green as to think, if suffered to escape, his tongue or hands
would have been idle? You should know better. But the fact is, he could
not have lived. The first blow was fatal; and, if I had deliberated for
an instant, I should have followed the suggestions of your humanity--I
should have withheld the second, which merely terminated his agony."

"It was a rash and bloody deed, and I would we had made sure of your man
before blindly rushing into these unnecessary risks. It is owing to your
insane love of blood, that you so frequently blunder in your object"

"Your scruples and complainings, Wat, remind me of that farmyard
philosopher, who always locked the door of his stable after the steed
had been stolen. You have your sermon ready in time for the funeral, but
not during the life for whose benefit you make it. But whose fault was
it that we followed the wrong game? Did you not make certain of the
fresh track at the fork, so that there was no doubting you?"

"I did--there was a fresh track, and our coming upon Forrester proves
it. There may have been another on the other prong of the fork, and
doubtless the youth we pursue has taken that; but you were in such an
infernal hurry that I had scarce time to find out what I did."

"Well, you will preach no more on the subject. We have failed, and
accounting for won't mend the failure. As for this bull-headed fellow,
he deserves his fate for his old insolence. He was for ever putting
himself in my way, and may not complain that I have at last put him out
of it. But come, we have no further need to remain here, though just as
little to pursue further in the present condition of our horses."

"What shall we do with the body? we can not leave it here."

"Why not?--What should we do with it, I pray? The wolves may want a
dinner to-morrow, and I would be charitable. Yet stay--where is the dirk
which you found at the stable? Give it me."

"What would you do?"

"You shall see. Forrester's horse is off--