even when it was
moonlight, the wide branches threw a dark and heavy shadow, and the
passage beneath them was gloomy travel. Many a foot traveller hesitated
to pass into that umbrageous circle, and skirted the fence beyond the
branches on the further side of the road instead.

When Nicolas Lavilette, returning from the Seigneury with the precious
bag of gold for Papineau, came hurriedly along the road towards the
village, he half halted, with sudden premonition of danger, a dozen feet
or so from the great tree. But like most young people, who are inclined
to trust nothing but their own strong arms and what their eyes can
see, he withstood the temptation to skirt the fence; and with a little
half-scornful laugh at himself, yet a little timidity also (or he would
not have laughed at all), he hurried under the branches. He had not gone
three steps when the light of a dark lantern flashed suddenly in his
face, and a pistol touched his forehead. All he could see was a figure
clothed entirely in black, even to hands and face, with only holes for
eyes, nose and mouth.

He stood perfectly still; the shock was so sudden. There was something
determined and deadly in the pose of the figure before him, in the touch
of the weapon, in the clearness of the light. His eyes dropped, and
fixed involuntarily upon the lantern.

He had a revolver with him; but it was useless to attempt to defend
himself with it. Not a word had been spoken. Presently, with the fingers
that held the lantern, his assailant made a motion of Hands up! There
was no reason why he should risk his life without a chance of winning,
so he put up his hands. At another motion he drew out the bag of gold
with his left hand, and, obeying the direction of another gesture,
dropped it on the ground. There was a pause, then another gesture, which
he pretended not to understand.

"Your pistol!" said the voice in a whisper through the mask.

He felt the cold steel at his forehead press a little closer; he also
felt how steady it was. He was no fool. He had been in trouble before
in his lifetime; he drew out the pistol, and passed it, handle first, to
three fingers stretched out from the dark lantern.

The figure moved to where the money and the pistol were, and said, in a
whisper still:

"Go!"

He had one moment of wild eagerness to try his luck in a sudden assault,
but that passed as suddenly as it came; and with the pistol still
covering him, he moved out into the o