the
heartiest youth in the land would not be often apt to find the echo they
seek, though they cried for it at the uttermost pitch of the pipe."

The look and the language of the speaker were alike significant, and the
sinister meaning of the last sentence did not escape the notice of him
to whom was addressed. His reply was calm, however, and his mind grew
more at ease, more collected, with his growing consciousness of
annoyance and danger. He answered the stranger in a vein not unlike his
own.

"You are pleased to be eloquent, worthy sir--and, on any other occasion,
I might not be unwilling to bestow my ear upon you; but as I have yet to
find my way out of this labyrinth, for the use of which your
facetiousness would have me pay a tax, I must forego that satisfaction,
and leave the enjoyment for some better day."

"You are well bred, I see, young sir," was the reply, "and this forms an
additional reason why I should not desire so soon to break our
acquaintance. If you have mistaken your road, what do you on this?--why
are you in this part of the country, which is many miles removed from
any public thoroughfare?"

"By what right do you ask the question?" was the hurried and
unhesitating response. "You are impertinent!"

"Softly, softly, young sir. Be not rash, and let me recommend that you
be more choice in the adoption of your epithets. Impertinent is an ugly
word between gentlemen of our habit. Touching my right to ask this or
that question of young men who lose the way, that's neither here nor
there, and is important in no way. But, I take it, I should have some
right in this matter, seeing, young sir, that you are upon the turnpike
and I am the gate-keeper who must take the toll."

A sarcastic smile passed over the lips of the man as he uttered the
sentence, which was as suddenly succeeded, however, by an expression of
gravity, partaking of an air of the profoundest business. The traveller
surveyed him for a moment before he replied, as if to ascertain in what
point of view properly to understand his conduct.

"Turnpike! this is something new. I never heard of a turnpike and a gate
for toll, in a part of the world in which men, or honest ones at least,
are not yet commonly to be found. You think rather too lightly, my good
sir, of my claim to that most vulgar commodity called common sense, if
you suppose me likely to swallow this silly story."

"Oh, doubtless--you are a very sagacious young man, I make no