il you show him his room," and he gave the proprietor
of the premises a knowing wink.

As Hadley rose to follow the host, he thanked the men for their kindness,
and Dick turned away to conceal his feelings, for he was really sick at
heart, bad as he was, at the thought that so noble a fellow should fall a
sacrifice for such a base purpose; and he half resolved to give him warning
of his danger, and save his life. While his thoughts were thus occupied,
the host returned, and he and Bill very soon went out together, Dick too
well knew for what purpose.

"Ef I could only let them out and get them off safely, I'd do it," mused
Dick; "but there it is, I can't do it, and it's no use tryin'."

But notwithstanding he came to this hopeless conclusion, he continued to
think about the matter. At last he concluded:

"Well, ef I can't do anything else, I ken give the feller a friendly word
of advice, jist to kinder put him on his guard, like."

So he stepped to the door of Hadley's room, and gently tapping it until he
gained the occupant's attention, whispered in his listening ear:

"There is danger about, stranger, and ef you take the advice of a friend,
you'll not sleep over heavy to-night. Better have your arms ready for
anything that may happen."

"Thank you! my friend," whispered Hadley, in response.

"No thanks, stranger; I'd help you more, if I could; but my hands are
kinder tied like, and if they were free, sarcumstances would prevent me
from givin' you any aid."

Having thus compromised the matter with his conscience, Dick walked away,
resolved to have nothing to do with the affair. Indeed, his sickness of the
"wimen bizness" was hourly increasing, and he was half tempted to leave
Bill, unless he would relinquish Eveline.

While these events were transpiring, Eveline, wide awake and excited by
fear, continued to listen to every sound without, remaining perfectly still
herself, so that the inmates of the house supposed she was sleeping.

We will here remark, that the house was a double-cabin, with a kitchen
attached to one of the ends, and a sleeping-room to the other. The family
were in the kitchen, and Eveline was in the room opposite to it on the same
side, but at the other end of the house. The part of the cabin leading to
and from the kitchen, was in one large room; but the part leading to and
from Eveline's room, was divided into three apartments, two small
sleeping-rooms, and one large hall-shaped one, exte