erable demur and delay on the part of Sharples
that the carpenter and his companion could gain admittance to the
round-house. Reconnoitring them through a small grated loophole, he
refused to open the door till they had explained their business. This,
Wood, acting upon Terry's caution, was most unwilling to do; but,
finding he had no alternative, he reluctantly made known his errand and
the bolts were undrawn. Once in, the constable's manner appeared totally
changed. He was now as civil as he had just been insolent. Apologizing
for their detention, he answered the questions put to him respecting the
boys, by positively denying that any such prisoners had been entrusted
to his charge, but offered to conduct him to every cell in the building
to prove the truth of his assertion. He then barred and double-locked
the door, took out the key, (a precautionary measure which, with a grim
smile, he said he never omitted,) thrust it into his vest, and motioning
the couple to follow him, led the way to the inner room. As Wood obeyed,
his foot slipped; and, casting his eyes upon the floor, he perceived it
splashed in several places with blood. From the freshness of the stains,
which grew more frequent as they approached the adjoining chamber, it
was evident some violence had been recently perpetrated, and the
carpenter's own blood froze within his veins as he thought, with a
thrill of horror, that, perhaps on this very spot, not many minutes
before his arrival, his adopted son might have been inhumanly butchered.
Nor was this impression removed as he stole a glance at Mrs. Sheppard,
and saw from her terrified look that she had made the same alarming
discovery as himself. But it was now too late to turn back, and, nerving
himself for the shock he expected to encounter, he ventured after his
conductor. No sooner had they entered the room than Sharples, who waited
to usher them in, hastily retreated, closed the door, and turning the
key, laughed loudly at the success of his stratagem. Vexation at his
folly in suffering himself to be thus entrapped kept Wood for a short
time silent. When he could find words, he tried by the most urgent
solicitations to prevail upon the constable to let him out. But threats
and entreaties--even promises were ineffectual; and the unlucky captive,
after exhausting his powers of persuasion, was compelled to give up the
point.

The room in which he was detained--that lately occupied by the Mohocks,
who, it a