s reflected fully back from that of his
companion, whose habit of face, however, in this respect, was more
notorious for gravity than any other less stable expression. He carried
out, in words, the fancied occurrence; described the lawyer as raving
over his undocketed and unargued cases, and the numberless embryos lying
composedly in his pigeonholes, awaiting, with praiseworthy patience, the
moment when they should take upon them a local habitation and a name;
while he, upon whom they so much depended, was fretting with unassuaged
fury in the constraints of his prison, and the absence from that scene
of his repeated triumphs which before had never been at a loss for his
presence.

"But come--let us mount," said the landlord, who did not feel disposed
to lose much time for a jest. "There is more than this to be done yet in
the village; and, I take it, you feel in no disposition to waste more
time to-night. Let us be off"

"So say I, but I go not back with you, Wat. I strike across the woods
into the other road, where I have much to see to; besides going down the
branch to Dixon's Ford, and Wolf's Neck, where I must look up our men
and have them ready. I shall not be in the village, therefore, until
late to-morrow night--if then."

"What--you are for the crossroads, again," said Munro. "I tell you what,
Guy, you must have done with that girl before Lucy shall be yours. It's
bad enough--bad enough that she should be compelled to look to you for
love. It were a sad thing if the little she might expect to find were to
be divided between two or more."

"Pshaw--you are growing Puritan because of the dark. I tell you I have
done with _her_. I can not altogether forget what she was, nor what I
have made her; and just at this time she is in need of my assistance.
Good-night! I shall see Dillon and the rest of them by morning, and
prepare for the difficulty. My disguise shall be complete, and if you
are wise you will see to your own. I would not think of flight, for much
may be made out of the country, and I know of none better for our
purposes. Good-night!"

Thus saying, the outlaw struck into the forest, and Munro, lingering
until he was fairly out of sight, proceeded to rifle the person of
Forrester--an act which the disdainful manner and language of his
companion had made him hitherto forbear. The speech of Rivers on this
subject had been felt; and, taken in connection with the air of
authority which the mental superiori