on their homeward way, Jim ascended to the cupola again,
and waved his bandanna in farewell.

Two days afterward, Sam Yates left his host, and rowed himself down to
the landing in the same canoe by which he had reached Number Nine. He
found his conveyance waiting, according to arrangement, and before night
was housed among his friends at Sevenoaks.

While he had been absent in the woods, there had been a conference
among his relatives and the principal men of the town, which had
resulted in the determination to keep him in Sevenoaks, if possible, in
the practice of his profession.

To Yates, the proposition was the opening of a door into safety and
peace. To be among those who loved him, and had a certain pride in him;
to be released from his service to Mr. Belcher, which he felt could go
no farther without involving him in crime and dishonor; to be sustained
in his good resolutions by the sympathy of friends, and the absence of
his city companions and temptations, gave him the promise of perfect
reformation, and a life of modest prosperity and genuine self-respect.

He took but little time in coming to his conclusion, and his first
business was to report to Mr. Belcher by letter. He informed that
gentleman that he had concluded to remain in Sevenoaks; reported all his
investigations on his way thither from New York; inclosed Jim's
statement concerning the death of a pauper in the woods; gave an account
of the disinterment of the pauper's bones in his presence; inclosed the
money unused in expenses and wages, and, with thanks for what Mr.
Belcher had done in helping him to a reform, closed his missive in such
a manner as to give the impression that he expected and desired no
further communication.

Great was Mr. Belcher's indignation when he received this letter. He had
not finished with Yates. He had anticipated exactly this result from the
investigations. He knew about old Tilden, for Buffum had told him; and
he did not doubt that Jim had exhibited to Yates the old man's bones. He
believed that Benedict was dead, but he did not know. It would be
necessary, therefore, to prepare a document that would be good in any
event.

If the reader remembers the opening chapter of this story, he will
recall the statement of Miss Butterworth, that Mr. Belcher had followed
Benedict to the asylum to procure his signature to a paper. This paper,
drawn up in legal form, had been preserved, for Mr. Belcher was a
methodical, busin