counsel; but you know I have been upon
the war path, out among the red-skins, and am up to hunting and
flying."

"I thank you--we both thank you from the depths of our souls. And we
pray that the day may come when we shall be able to prove our
gratitude," said Lyon, earnestly.

"Never mind that! But put madam into her seat. She is ready now; and,
indeed, the sooner you are off the better," answered Munson.

Mr. Berners advanced towards Sybil, when the whole party was stopped by
a terrible event.

"No you don't, you infernal villain! I have caught you, have I? Stand!"
exclaimed a voice of thunder, and the stout farmer stood before them, at
the head of all his negroes, and with a loaded musket in his hand!

Like lightning young Munson threw himself before Sybil, drew a pistol
from his breast, and levelled it straight at the heart of their
opponent, exclaiming:

"Out of the way, you devil! and let her pass. Out of the way this
instant, or, by my life, I will kill you! I will! I will kill you, and
hang for her sake!"

The man raised his musket, and aimed it at the head of him whose hand
pointed the pistol to his own heart. And thus, like two duellists, they
stood fatally eyeing each other!

CHAPTER XXXIII.

A FATAL CRISIS.

Each at the life
Levelled his deadly aim; their fatal hands
No second stroke intended.--MILTON.

"Hold! on your lives!" exclaimed Lyon Berners, rushing between the
opponents, and with swift hands striking up the pistol of Robert Munson,
and turning aside the musket of Farmer Nye. "Would you shed each
other's blood so recklessly? Here is some mistake. Farmer, whom did you
take us for?"

"Who did I take you for, is it? For that cornsarned band of robbers as
have been mislesting the country for miles round this month past."

"Robbers?"

"Yes, robbers! as has been tarryfying the whole country side ever since
Hollow Eve!"

"I never heard of them."

"May be you didn't, but I took you for them all the same."

"And aimed your musket at that lady! And might have shot her dead, had
not this brave man thrown himself before her, with a loaded pistol in
his hand, levelled at your heart."

"How did I know it was a lady? How could I see in this dim light? I took
her for one of you, and I took you all for robbers," said the farmer,
sulkily.

"Well, you see who we are now?"

"Yes; I see as y