with me."

Earl was silent for a few moments and then said:

"This is all very good, Ensal, but it needs a supplement. Charles
Sumner's oratory and Mrs. Stowe's affecting portraiture of poor old
Uncle Tom were not sufficient of themselves to move the nation. There
had to be a John Brown and a Harper's Ferry. Preserve that paper and
send it forth. The blood of Earl Bluefield and his followers shed upon
the hill crowning Almaville will serve as an exclamation point to what
you have said in that paper," was Earl's comment.

Earl now arose to go. Ensal stood up facing him.

"Ensal, clasp my hand in farewell," said Earl feelingly.

"Earl, knowing the mission upon which you go to-night, criminal in its
utter folly, I would not for my life put my hand in yours," responded
Ensal.

A flush of anger overspread Earl's face, his lip quivered and he was
upon the eve of uttering some biting remark. He suppressed his anger,
however, and departed, determined upon making his offering of blood.
True American that he was, Ensal was determined that the offering should
be the output of brains, rather than of veins.

CHAPTER XXIII.

_They Grapple._

Almaville is asleep, watched by the quiet moon, now about to disappear,
and the far off silent stars.

Upon the bridge from which hundreds had seen little Henry Crump driven
to his death; where the majesty of the law had been trampled under foot
in the murder and mutilation of Dave Harper--upon this bridge now stood
Ensal awaiting the coming of Earl who had to pass that way to reach the
place of rendezvous agreed upon by himself and followers.

At about one o'clock Ensal, standing in the shadow of the framework of
the bridge, saw Earl walking rapidly in his direction. As the latter was
about to pass, Ensal laid a hand firmly upon his shoulder.

Earl looked around quickly to learn the meaning of the firm grasp and
recognized him. There was a look of determination in Ensal's eye that
caused Earl to feel that important developments were sure to follow.

"Earl, my friend, you shall not commit this blunder," said Ensal.

"Blood must be shed at some time and it might as well be shed now as at
any other time," said Earl, staring Ensal in the face as though he might
have reference to his (Ensal's) blood.

Ensal's grasp tightened, and he said, "I tell you frankly, Earl, you
will have to disable me before you get to that crowd to-night."

"Turn me loose," said Earl, in a quiet, d