ted out of their money,--to hear the clink of
the goold I 'm never to handle,--and to watch all the fine livin' and
coortin' that I 've no share in."

"Be satisfied. You shall have the money; I pledge my word upon it."

"I don't care for your word. I have a better security than ever it was."

"And what may that be?" said the other, cautiously.

"Your neck in a halter, Mr. Linton," said he, laughing ironically. "Ay,
ye don't understand me,--poor innocent that ye are! but I know what I 'm
saying, and I have good advice about it besides."

"How do you mean good advice, Tom?" said Linton, with seeming kindliness
of manner. "Whom have you consulted?"

"One that knows the law well," said Tom, with all the evasive shrewdness
of his class.

"And he tells you--"

"He tells me that the devil a bit betther off you'd be than
myself,--that you are what they call an 'accessory'--that's the word; I
mind it well."

"And what does that mean?"

"A chap that plans the work, but has n't the courage to put hand to it."

"That's an accessory, is it?" said the other, slowly.

"Just so." He paused for a few seconds, then added,

"Besides, if I was to turn 'prover, he says that _I'd_ only be
transported, and 't is _you_ would be hanged"--the last word was
uttered in a harsh and grating tone, and followed by a laugh of insolent
mockery--"so that you see 'tis better be honest with me, and pay me my
hire."

"You shall have it, by G----!" said Linton, with a deep vehemence; and,
drawing a pistol from his bosom, he fired. The other fell, with a loud
cry, to the bottom of the boat. A brief pause ensued, and then Linton
raised the body in his arms to throw it over. A faint struggle showed
that life was not extinct, but all resistance was impossible. The
lightness of the boat, however, made the effort difficult; and it
was only by immense exertion that he could even lift the heavy weight
half-way; and at last, when, by a great effort, he succeeded in laying
the body over the gunwale, the boat lost its balance and upset. With
a bold spring, Linton dashed into the current, and made for shore; but
almost as he did so, another and a stronger swimmer, who had thrown off
his clothes for the enterprise, had reached the spot, and, grasping the
inert mass as it was about to sink, swam with the bleeding body to the
bank.

When Casbel gained the stairs, he threw the wounded man upon his
shoulder, for signs of life were still remaining, and hast