roisterers took offence at plain gospel
speech, driving me forth into the wilderness, even as Jehovah's
prophets of old. Since that hour I have been a wanderer on the face of
the earth, finding small comfort in this life; yet Ezekiel Cairnes is
merely the poor servant of the Lord, the chief of sinners, and must
abide in travail until He cometh."

He cast up his eyes in pious affectation, his lips moving as though he
meditated in prayer.

"Then your name is Cairnes?"

"Ezekiel Cairnes, late of the Connecticut colony, and am permitted by
the Lord's mercy to write Reverend before my unworthy appellation."

"A Puritan preacher!" I exclaimed in some disgust. "I have heard of
your sort before, yet have been spared a meeting until now. Where do
you propose going?"

"The Lord leadeth His anointed, young man. Even as Jonah abode in the
belly of the whale, so doth the water bear me onward as the Almighty
willeth."

His wandering eyes rested thoughtfully upon my companion, now returning
toward us, sauntering listlessly along the sandy shore.

"I know not, friend, who you may be, save as you have seen fit to
reveal," he said shrewdly. "Yet I would venture a guess as to yonder
gayly attired cavalier."

"A guess?" I echoed, taken completely by surprise. "It is small chance
you would hit right--what might your guess be?"

"Chevalier Charles de Noyan."

"How know you that?"

He chuckled grimly, evidently well pleased at my astonishment.

"'Tis no work of the evil one, friend. I am but just escaped also from
the hands of the Philistines," he explained, becoming angry at the
thought, and ducking his red head vehemently. "While in their
unhallowed company, a gray-bellied son of Belial questioned me much
regarding yonder fine gentleman, ere he waxed exceedingly wroth at my
plain speech in matters of the spirit, bidding his jabbering crew of
papists to heave me overboard."

"How far away did this occur?" I asked, looking anxiously up the river.

"Oh, mayhap some such matter as twenty leagues," he returned
indifferently, his gaze idly following mine. "Let me reflect; it was
at the hour for sunset prayer I fell in with their party. I have heard
it said this stream hereabout hath a sweep of seven or more miles the
hour, and I kept well in the current of it."

"Do you mean you have been swimming since sunset yesterday?"

"Nay, friend; I beg be not over-hasty in conclusions. I merely reposed
easily upon my back,