f the place, and I will
show it you to-morrow."

With that, as if all were quite settled, and settled exactly to his
mind, he walked off to his tent, whither Secundra had preceded him.

I cannot think of these last turns and wriggles of my old enemy, except
with admiration; scarce even pity is mingled with the sentiment, so
strongly the man supported, so boldly resisted his misfortunes. Even at
that hour, when he perceived himself quite lost, when he saw he had but
effected an exchange of enemies, and overthrown Harris to set Hastie
up, no sign of weakness appeared in his behaviour, and he withdrew to
his tent, already determined (I must suppose) upon affronting the
incredible hazard of his last expedient, with the same easy, assured,
genteel expression and demeanour as he might have left a theatre withal
to join a supper of the wits. But doubtless within, if we could see
there, his soul trembled.

Early in the night word went about the camp that he was sick; and the
first thing the next morning he called Hastie to his side, and inquired
most anxiously if he had any skill in medicine. As a matter of fact,
this was a vanity of that fallen divinity student's, to which he had
cunningly addressed himself. Hastie examined him; and being flattered,
ignorant, and highly suspicious, knew not in the least whether the man
was sick or malingering. In this state he went forth again to his
companions; and (as the thing which would give himself most consequence
either way) announced that the patient was in a fair way to die.

"For all that," he added, with an oath, "and if he bursts by the
wayside, he must bring us this morning to the treasure."

But there were several in the camp (Mountain among the number) whom this
brutality revolted. They would have seen the Master pistolled, or
pistolled him themselves, without the smallest sentiment of pity; but
they seemed to have been touched by his gallant fight and unequivocal
defeat the night before; perhaps, too, they were even already beginning
to oppose themselves to their new leader: at least, they now declared
that (if the man was sick) he should have a day's rest in spite of
Hastie's teeth.

The next morning he was manifestly worse, and Hastie himself began to
display something of humane concern, so easily does even the pretence of
doctoring awaken sympathy. The third the Master called Mountain and
Hastie to the tent, announced himself to be dying, gave them full
particulars a