rike across into the left hand road; in this I will move no farther."

"That's as wise a thing as we can do," replied Robinson. "If you have
doubts of a man, seem to trust him, but take care not to follow his
advice. There is another hint I will give you, let us examine our
fire-arms to see that we are ready for a battle."

Butler concurring in this precaution, the sergeant dismounted, and
having primed his rifle afresh, attempted to fire it into the air, but
it merely flashed, without going off. Upon a second trial the result was
the same. This induced a further examination, which disclosed the fact
that the load which had been put in the day previous had been
discharged, and a bullet was now driven home in the place of the powder.
It was obvious that this was designed. The machination of an enemy
became more apparent when, upon an investigation into the condition of
Butler's pistols, they were also found incapable of being used.

"This is some of Michael Lynch's doings whilst we were eating our
breakfast," said Horse Shoe, "and it is flat proof of treason in our
camp. I should like to go back if it was only for the satisfaction of
blowing out Wat's brains. But there is no use in argufying about it. We
must set things to rights, and move on with a good look-out ahead."

With the utmost apparent indifference to the dangers that beset them,
the sergeant now applied himself to the care of restoring his rifle to a
serviceable condition. With the aid of a small tool which he carried for
such a use, he opened the breach and removed the ball: Butler's pistols
were likewise put in order, and our travellers, being thus restored to
an attitude of defence, turned their horses' heads into the thicket upon
their left, and proceeded across the space that filled up the angle made
by the two branches of the road; and, having gained that branch which
they sought, they pressed forward diligently upon their journey.

The path they had to travel was lonely and rugged, and it was but once
or twice, during the day, that they met a casual wayfarer traversing
the same wild. From such a source, however, they were informed that they
were on the most direct road to Grindall's ford, and that the route they
had abandoned would have conducted them to the Dogwood spring, a point
much out of their proper course, and from which the ford might only have
been reached by a difficult and tortuous by-way.

These disclosures opened the eyes of Butler an