Bangs was not a detective, but a man of warm, brotherly heart, as he
told the tale of the outwardly always cheerful, but inwardly
sore-hearted, Nash, cut off in the midst of his years and usefulness.
Then old Styles appeared, and, with a salute, the detective mounted and
rode away to join the forces in front, while the ladies journeyed
homeward. Mr. Bangs soliloquized as he rode rapidly on. "Boys read
detective stories, and think our life an enviable one. They dowte on
the schemes, the plots and counterplots, the risks, the triumphs, and
look beyond to fame and rewerd, but they know nothing of the miserable
envies and jealousies, the sespicions, the checks and counterchecks, and
the demnable policy of the depertment, encouraging these irresponsible
informers, dem 'em, to break up all legitimate business and merder
honest men. O Nesh, my pore dead friend, yo're avenged in a wey, bet
who's going to avenge yore pore sister, and even this devil of a Flower
or Herding, whose death lies at the door of that greater devil of a
Rawdon?"

The expedition was waiting for him at Richards', the colonel in command.
The scow had departed in charge of the captain, who had orders to do
nothing to the barrier till he heard a signal shot; then he was to
respond with the unmistakable blunderbuss, and batter down the
obstruction. Squire Walker, Mr. Perrowne, and Maguffin had patrolled,
without meeting even a passing team or wayfarer; but the colonel judged
it best to get off the road without delay. Accordingly the waggons were
left in Richards' shed, and the infantry doubled forward after the
colonel and Bangs. When the rocky ascent was reached, over which the
fugitives of the night before had clambered, a halt was called, and the
colonel gave Dr. Halbert instructions. Just where the rock rose out of
the swamp, Sergeant Terry's squad entered, and easily wheeled round
large trunks of trees resting on stone pivots, revealing a good
waggon-track, the masked road. This the cavalry occupied, looking to the
priming of their pistols, and bringing their clubs into handy positions.
The Squire's squad scaled the height near the road, and Mr. Terry's took
ground farther to the right. The doctor led the way in front of and
between the two sections. The cavalry moved slowly, keeping pace with
the climbers. Soon the crest was reached, and the main body began to
descend gradually, when the dominie slipped and his piece went off, the
trigger having caught i