fairly frightened, and will
take the route back to the old range. He will doubtless go to old
Allen's clearing, and carry the first news. There will be a search, and
when they find the body, they will not overlook the weapon, which I
shall place beside it. There will then be other pursuers than me; and if
it bring the boy to the gallows, I shall not regret our mistake to
night."

As he spoke, he took the dagger, the sheath of which he threw at some
distance in advance upon the road, then smeared the blade with the blood
of the murdered man, and thrust the weapon into his garments, near the
wound.

"You are well taught in the profession, Guy, and, if you would let me, I
would leave it off, if for no other reason than the very shame of being
so much outdone in it. But we may as well strip him. If his gold is in
his pouch, it will be a spoil worth the taking, for he has been melting
and running for several days past at Murkey's furnace."

Rivers turned away, and the feeling which his countenance exhibited
might have been that of disdainful contempt as he replied,

"Take it, if you please--I am in no want of his money. _My_ object was
not his robbery."

The scorn was seemingly understood; for, without proceeding to do as he
proposed, Munro retained his position for a few moments, appearing to
busy himself with the bridle of his horse, having adjusted which he
returned to his companion.

"Well, are you ready for a start? We have a good piece to ride, and
should be in motion. We have both of us much to do in the next three
days, or rather nights; and need not hesitate what to take hold of
first. The court will sit on Monday, and if you are determined to stand
and see it out--a plan which I don't altogether like--why, we must
prepare to get rid of such witnesses as we may think likely to become
troublesome."

"That matter will be seen to. I have ordered Dillon to have ten men in
readiness, if need be for so many, to carry off Pippin, and a few
others, till the adjournment. It will be a dear jest to the lawyer, and
one not less novel than terrifying to him, to miss a court under such
circumstances. I take it, he has never been absent from a session for
twenty years; for, if sick before, he is certain to get well in time for
business, spite of his physician."

The grim smile which disfigured still more the visage of Rivers at the
ludicrous association which the proposed abduction of the lawyer
awakened in his mind, wa