hoot aivery
mother's son of them vilyins."

The Captain and Sylvanus, with Rufus and Ben, all testified to the
moving of several teams, with rough-looking characters on board, along
the roads that led towards Flanders, and the Lake Settlement in
particular. The Squire and Mr. Nash had noticed the same.

"Ben," said the latter, taking off his disguise, "I think I can trust
you. I am the detective Nash."

Toner started, but quickly recovered himself, and, rising, gave his hand
to the man of aliases, saying, "You kin, Mr. Nash, s'haylp me. Old man
Newcome swears he's a goin' to hev your life, but he won't ef I'm any
good."

The detective shook hands warmly, and, taking Ben aside, found that he
had no personal knowledge of Rawdon, the Newcome of whom he spoke being
apparently the go between. The intimacy between them, which was near
ruining the young man, had come about through Toner's attention to
Newcome's daughter, Sarah Eliza. "But," continued the unhappy lover,
"the old man's been and had Serlizer off for more'n a year, and puts me
off and off and better off, till I just up and wouldn't stand it no
more. I ain't a goin' to sell his stuff, nor drink his stuff, nor hev
nawthun more to do along of his gang, but I'd like to know where
Serlizer's put to, and I'm here and my gun, with a lot of powder and
shot and slugs, for the stummik of any gallihoot as lays a finger on
you, Mr. Nash, or the doctor or the gals."

Returning to the group, the detective urged immediate defensive action,
leaving the offensive till the morrow. The Squire at once looked up his
armoury, consisting of a rifle, a fowling piece (double-barrelled) and a
pair of heavy horse-pistols, with abundant ammunition. The Captain
reported that Sylvanus had a shotgun (single-barrelled), and that he had
brought the blunderbuss with which he fired salutes off the _Susan
Thomas_. Coristine answered for the revolvers carried by himself and the
dominie. The clergy were called in and the situation explained, when
both volunteered for service. Mr. Perrowne had a very good gun at his
lodgings; and his landlady, whose father had been in the army, possessed
a relic of him in the shape of an ancient carbine, which he was sure she
would lend to Mr. Errol, with bayonet complete. He went for them, under
escort of Rufus and Ben. When Mr. Terry was told, he begged for his son
in law's "swate-lukin' roifle," and was as cheerful as if a wedding was
in progress. Finally, Tim