e me!"

"I am no friend of yours, Wat Adair," said Robinson, sternly.

"Speak for me--Galbraith--speak, for old acquaintance sake!"

"Hold!" said Robinson to the crowd who had gathered round to pluck the
fugitive from his present refuge. "One word, friends! stand back, I have
somewhat to say in this matter."

"He gave Butler into Hugh Habershaw's hands," cried out some of the
crowd.

"He took the price of blood, and sold Butler's life for money--he shall
die!" shouted others.

"No words!" exclaimed many, "but up with him!"

"Mr. Robinson," screamed Adair, with tears starting from his eyes, "only
hear me! I was forced to take sides against Major Butler. The Tories
would have burnt down my house; they suspected me,--I was obliged,--Mike
Lynch was witness,--mercy, mercy!" and here the frightened culprit cried
loud and bitterly.

"Friends," said Horse Shoe calmly to the multitude, "there is better
game to hunt than this mountain-cat. Let me have my way."

"None has a better right than Horse Shoe Robinson," said a speaker from
the group, "to say what ought to be done to Wat Adair. Speak out, Horse
Shoe!"

"Speak! We leave it to you," shouted some of the leaders: and instantly
the crowd fell back and formed a circle round Horse Shoe and Adair.

"I give you your choice," said the sergeant, addressing the captive,
"for though your iniquities, Wat Adair, desarve that you should have
been the first that was strung up to yonder tree, yet you shall have
your choice, to tell us fully and truly, without holding back name of
high or low, who put you on to ambush Major Arthur Butler's life at
Grindall's Ford. Tell us that, to our satisfaction, and answer all other
questions besides that we may ax you, and you shall have your life,
taking, howsever, one hundred lashes to the back of it."

"I will confess all, before God, truly," cried Adair with eagerness.
"James Curry told me of your coming, and gave me and Mike Lynch money to
help Hugh Habershaw."

"James Curry had a master in the business," said Robinson: "His name?"

Adair hesitated for an instant and stammered out "Captain St. Jermyn."

"He was at your house? Speak it, man, or think of the rope!"

"He was there," said Adair.

"By my soul! Wat Adair, if you do not come out with the whole truth,"
said Robinson, with angry earnestness, "I take back my promise. Tell me
all you know."

"Curry acted by the captain's directions," continued the woodsman, "he
was well