never relaxed from an official and sullen reserve. A moody frown sat
upon his brow, and his communication with the prisoners was confined to
short and peremptory commands; whilst, at the same time, he forbade the
slightest intercourse with them on the part of any of the guard. During
the short progress to Christie's he frequently rode apart with
Habershaw; and the conversation which then occupied these two was
maintained in a low tone, and with a serious air that denoted some grave
matter of deliberation.

It was more than an hour after sunrise when the cavalcade reached the
point of their present destination. There were signs of an anxious
purpose in the silence of the journey, broken as it was only by low
mutterings amongst the men, above which sometimes arose an expression of
impatience and discontent, as the subject of their whispered discussions
appeared to excite some angry objection from several of the party; and
this mystery was not less conspicuous in the formal order of the halt,
and in the pause that followed upon their arrival at the habitation.

The house, in front of which they were drawn up, was, according to the
prevailing fashion of the time, a one-storied dwelling covering an ample
space of ground, built partly of boards and partly of logs, with a long
piazza before it, terminating in small rooms, made by inclosing the
sides for a few feet at either extremity. Being situated some twenty
paces aside from the road, the intervening area was bounded by a fence
through which a gate afforded admission. A horse-rack, with a few
feeding troughs, was erected near this gate; and a draw-well, in the
same vicinity, furnished a ready supply of water. With the exception of
a cleared field around the dwelling, the landscape was shaded by the
natural forest.

A consultation of some minutes' duration was held between Habershaw and
Curry, when the order to dismount was given, accompanied with an
intimation of a design to tarry at this place for an hour or two; but
the men, at the same time, were directed to leave their saddles upon
their horses. One or two were detailed to look after the refreshment of
the cattle, whilst the remainder took possession of the principal room.
The first demands of the troop were for drink, and this being indulged,
the brute feeling of conviviality which in gross natures depends
altogether upon sensual excitement, began once more to break down the
barriers of discipline, and to mount into