rsevere in her project. Though full
of fear, she never for a moment thought of retreat from the decision
which she had made. Her character afforded an admirable model for the
not unfrequent union that we find in woman, of shrinking delicacy with
manly and efficient firmness.

Munro and Rivers, having first been assured that all was quiet, by a
ramble which they took around their hiding-place, returned to the little
chamber of the latter, such as we have described it in a previous
portion of our narrative, and proceeded to the further discussion of
their plans. The mind of the landlord was very ill at ease. He had
arrived at that time of life when repose and a fixed habitation became
necessary; and when, whatever may have been the habits of earlier
manhood, the mind ceases to crave the excitements of adventure, and
foregoes, or would fain forego, all its roving characteristics. To this
state of feeling had he come, and the circumstances which now denied him
the fruition of that prospect of repose which he had been promising
himself so long, were regarded with no little restlessness and
impatience. At the moment, the colleagues could make no positive
arrangements for the future. Munro was both to give up the property
which, in one way or other, he had acquired in the neighborhood, and
which it was impossible for him to remove to any other region; and,
strange to say, a strong feeling of inhabitiveness--the love of home--if
home he could be thought to have anywhere--might almost be considered a
passion with his less scrupulous companion.

Thus situated, they lingered on in the hope that the military would soon
be withdrawn from the neighborhood, as it could only be maintained at
great expense by the state; and then, as the country was but nominally
settled, and so sparsely as to scarcely merit any consideration, they
felt assured that they might readily return to their old, or any
practices, and without any further apprehension. The necessity, however,
which made them thus deliberate, had the effect, at the same time, of
impressing them with a gloomy spirit, not common to either of them.

"Let us see, Munro," said the more desperate ruffian; "there is, after
all, less to apprehend than we first thought. In a week, and the court
will be over; in another week, and the guard will be withdrawn; and for
this period only will it be necessary that we should keep dark. I think
we are now perfectly safe where we are. The only per