The first was William Bowen, the
second who closely followed his com
panion was Augustus Horton. They
emerged from tiie arcade into an open
piece of turf, around which the trunks
of the giant trees formed a species of a
wall.
“Where, in the name of all that's dia
bolical. are you leading me. Bill?” said
Augustus, looking about him.
“I guess yon don't know your way in
this here wood by moonlight. Air. Hor
ton.” answered Bill Bowen, laughing;
“but we re all right for all that. This
is the spiff where we appointed to meet
that young Englishman and your pre
cious cousin. Air. Mortimer Percy, who
ought to be ashamed of himself for tak
ing a Britisher's part against Ids own
countryman, and against his own tlesh
and blood, too. as far as that goes.”
“Cursc him!” muttered Augustus be
tween his teeth.
“Curse him, and welcome, sir. for my
part —but this is where we promised to
meet him and his friend. We re close
against Craig’s plantation. You could
see the nigger huts beyond the trees if
the leaves were not so*tarnation thick.”
"Hark!” said the young planter;
“what s that?”
fiie rustling of the leaves announced
the arrival of the two men for whom
they had waited. Tuey approached by
the same pathway a*s that by which
Augustus ami *MII had come
“What's thaty” echoed Bowen; “why
it's your cousin and his friend. 1 guess;
so keep your pow der dn .”
Mortimer Percy ami Gilbert Mar
grave drew near them as William B ov
en spoke. The four men bowet I stiiliy
to each other.
