he threat which his companion had uttered that day,
these appearances seemed to point to a solution of the burning
building. He readily understood that Ben, in revenge for the indignity
the squire had cast upon him, had set the barn on fire, and was now
running away by the light of it.

This was more than he had bargained for. However ill-natured he felt
towards the squire for his proposal to send him to Jacob Wire's, it
never occurred to him to retaliate by committing a crime. His ideas of
Christian charity and of forgiveness were but partially developed; and
though he could not feel right towards his powerful enemy, he felt no
desire to punish him so severely as Ben had done.

His companion gave him a short answer, and manifested no disposition
to enlarge upon the subject; and for several minutes both maintained a
profound silence.

The boat, drifting slowly with the current, was passing from the pond
into the narrow river, and it required all Harry's skill to keep her
from striking the banks on either side. His mind was engrossed with
the contemplation of the new and startling event which had so suddenly
presented itself to embarrass his future operations. Ben was a
criminal in the eye of the law, and would be subjected to a severe
penalty if detected.

"I shouldn't have thought you would have done that," Harry observed,
when the silence became painful to him.

"Done what?" asked Ben, sharply.

"Set the barn afire."

"Who said I set it afire?"

"Well, I can see through a millstone when there is a hole in it."

"I didn't say I set the barn afire."

"I know you didn't; but you said you meant to pay the squire off for
what he had done to you."

"I mean to."

"Haven't you done it already?"

"I didn't say I had," answered Ben, who was evidently debating with
himself whether he should admit Harry to his confidence.

"But didn't you set the barn afire?"

"What if I did?"

"Why, I should say you run a great risk."

"I don't care for that."

"I see the reason now, why you wouldn't tell me what you was going to
do before."

"We are in for it now, Harry. I meant to pay off the squire, and--"

"Then you did set the barn afire?"

"I didn't say so; and, more than that, I don't mean to say so. If you
can see through a millstone, why, just open your eyes--that's all."

"I am sorry you did it, Ben."

"No whining, Harry; be a man."

"I mean to be a man; but I don't think there was any need of burning