ce and wild screech of the urchin.

"Why, what is this, Briggs; what see you?" was the hasty inquiry of
Rivers.

"There, sir, there," exclaimed the watch, still half bewildered, and
pointing to the edge of the hill, where, in a condition seemingly of
equal incertitude with himself, stood the imbecile.

"Seize upon him--take him at once--let him not escape you!" were the
hasty orders of the outlaw. Briggs set forward, but his approach had the
effect of giving determination also to Chub; who, just as the pursuer
thought himself sure of his captive, and was indeed indirectly upon him,
doubled himself up, as it were into a complete ball, and without effort
rolled headlong down the hill; gathering upon his feet as he attained
the level, seemingly unhurt, and with all the agility of the monkey.

"Shall I shoot, sir?" was the inquiry of Briggs, as the urchin stood
off, laughing wildly at his good fortune.

"Now, don't"--was the cry--"Now, don't"--was the exclamation of Chub
himself, who, however, trusting nothing to the effect of his entreaty,
ran vigorously on his way.

"Yes, shoot him down," was the sudden exclamation of Munro; but Rivers
struck the poised weapon upward in the hands of the sentinel, to the
astonishment, not less of him than of the landlord.

"No--let him live, Munro. Let him live. Such as he should be spared. Is
he not alone--without fellowship--scorned--an outcast--without
sympathy--like myself. Let him live, let him live!"

The word of mercy from his lips utterly confounded his companion. But,
remembering that Rivers was a monster of contradictions, Munro turned
away, and gave directions to see after the other prisoners.

A few moments sufficed for this, and the panic was universal among the
inmates of the rock. The secret was now lost, unless immediate pursuit
could avail in the recovery of the fugitives. This pursuit was
immediately undertaken, and both Rivers and Munro, taking different
directions, and dispersing their whole force about the forest, set off
on the search.

Apprehensive of pursuit, the policy of Bunce, to whom Lucy gave up the
entire direction of their flight, was determined upon with not a little
judgment. Assured that his pursuers would search chiefly on the direct
route between their abode and the village, to which they would
necessarily surmise the flight was directed, he boldly determined upon a
course, picked sinuously out, obliquing largely from the true direction,
whic