"  Ay,  't  was  a  deed  of  revenge  or  pure  malice,
—  either  of  a  native  or,  perhaps,  of  some  of  the
Protestants.  To  say  truth,  Father  Mohl  had
many  enemies  among  them.  He  has  been  a
great  stirrer  up  of  dissension  'twixt  Catholic  and


Sir  Christopher


Protestant,  and  't  is  partly  on  account  of  him  and
his  brethren  that  Leonard  Calvert  is  gone  home
to  consult  with  Lord  Baltimore.  Father  Mohl
had  ever  a  sneering  way  with  him,  and  to  look  at
him  one  would  say  he  had  taken  it  with  him  to
the  next  world."

"  Ay,  't  is  a  ghastly  smile  !  Think  you  could
we  draw  the  lips  more  together  and  close  the  eye
lids  above  that  horrible  stare  ?  "

"  You  can  try.      Nay —  't  is  vain."
"Hulloa!     Hulloa!     Hulla-ho ! "
The  distant  call   brought  back   the  two  men
for  the  first  time  to  the  thought  of  their  com
rades.      Huntoon  looking  round  saw  that  the  don
key  had  entangled  his  reins  in  the  low  branches
of  a  tree  near  by.     As  he  moved  toward  it  Brent
called  out,  —

"  Nay,  leave  him  there  !  We  shall  have  need
of  him.  Take  my  horse  and  go  back  to  the
women,  and  prepare  them  for  what  they  must
see.  Mount  Mistress  Neville  on  Anne's  donkey,
then  stay  you  with  them  and  my  horse,  and  send
Neale  and  Cornwaleys  back  to  help  me  here."

The  younger  man  bowed  and  turned  back  as
he  was  bidden.  At  the  joining  of  the  road  he
saw  the  four  grouped  where  he  had  left  them,
Neale  and  Cornwaleys  talking  in  low  tones,  and
Peggy  feeding  nuts  to  a  wild  squirrel  half  tamed
by  the  magic  of  her  voice.
