glory;
and then producing two pistols of pure beaten gold, he held them out
and proffered me the choice of one, saying: "See what thy master hath
provided thee!" I took one of them eagerly, for I perceived at once
that they were two of the very weapons that were let down from Heaven
in the cloudy veil, the dim tapestry of the firmament; and I said to
myself. "Surely this is the will of the Lord."

The little splendid and enchanting piece was so perfect, so complete,
and so ready for executing the will of the donor, that I now longed to
use it in his service. I loaded it with my own hand, as Gil-Martin did
the other, and we took our stations behind a bush of hawthorn and
bramble on the verge of the wood, and almost close to the walk. My
patron was so acute in all his calculations that he never mistook an
event. We had not taken our stand above a minute and a half till old
Mr. Blanchard appeared, coming slowly on the path. When we saw this, we
cowered down and leaned each of us a knee upon the ground, pointing
the pistols through the bush, with an aim so steady that it was
impossible to miss our victim.

He came deliberately on, pausing at times so long that we dreaded he
was going to turn. Gil-Martin dreaded it, and I said I did, but wished
in my heart that he might. He, however, came onward, and I will never
forget the manner in which he came! No, I don't believe I ever can
forget it, either in the narrow bounds of time or the ages of eternity!
He was a broadly, ill-shaped man, of a rude exterior, and a little bent
with age; his hands were clasped behind his back and below his coat,
and he walked with a slow swinging air that was very peculiar. When he
paused and looked abroad on nature, the act was highly impressive: he
seemed conscious of being all alone, and conversant only with God and
the elements of his creation. Never was there such a picture of human
inadvertency! a man approaching step by step to the one that was to
hurl him out of one existence into another with as much ease and
indifference as the ox goeth to the stall. Hideous vision, wilt thou
not be gone from my mental sight! if not, let me bear with thee as I
can!

When he came straight opposite to the muzzles of our pieces, Gil-Martin
called out "Eh!" with a short quick sound. The old man, without
starting, turned his face and breast towards us, and looked into the
wood, but looked over our heads.

"Now!" whispered my companion, and fired. But my ha