s. Carruthers waited upon him.
Then he looked up Sylvanus in the kitchen, and told him to report as
soon as he had taken his supper. "We have no time to lose, Pilgrim," he
added, "so let Tryphena alone till our talk is over. She'll keep."

"I ain't agoin' ter persume ter tech Trypheeny, Square, an' I'll be
along in a half tack," replied The Crew.

Next, Nash was found smoking a cigar, and talking very earnestly with
Mr. Errol about presentiments, and sudden remembrances of childhood's
days. He dropped the conversation at once when business was mentioned,
and, in a few minutes, the Squire's official room contained five men,
with very serious faces, seeking to come to a full understanding of what
seemed a diabolical plot on the part of some spiteful malefactors. Four
of these have already been indicated; the fifth was the lawyer, who
proved a useful addition for pumping Sylvanus dry and taking careful
notes.

While the consultation was in progress, a gentle tap came to the door,
and, following it, a voice that thrilled the lawyer, saying, "May I come
in, uncle; I have some news for you?" Carruthers opened the door, when
Miss Carmichael told him that young Hill, the girls' brother, had
arrived with another man, and wanted to see him immediately on special
business that would not wait, and that they seemed to have been out
shooting. The Squire went out and returned with Rufus and Ben Toner. The
former related how Ben had gone to afternoon meetin' to tell what he
knew of the conspiracy to clean out all the scabs in Flanders, and have
trade run smooth. Coristine examined his old patient, who readily
responded, and Nash, who was now Chisholm in beard and moustache, helped
the interrogation. Toner's information, like that of Sylvanus, came from
accidentally overhearing the talk of four men in a waggon, driving
Flanders way during church time, while he was fishing in the river.

"I heerd 'em say as they'd be a big blayuz afore mornin', and as Squier
Cruthers, and the bailiff, and Nash, and a raivenue gaal, had got to go
to kingdom come. One on 'em says he seen Mr. Nash and got a hit off his
stick. He's a goin' to lay for him straight and for them two walkin'
spies likeways."

"What made you look up Rufus?" asked the lawyer.

"I thort the raivenue gaal might a been one of his sisters that's here.
Besides, he's got a gun, and so have I, and I'm a goin' to be true to my
word, Doctor, to you and the bailiff too, ef I have to s