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Show 228 UJ<..:IIAJ!D llURDl~. they gnvo it to me in clwrgc to follow .you, and.·to. fintl out. who nucl what you were; to learn your motives for kJllmg the? onth that we were in pursuit of; :tnd to take a1l steps for mal.m~g so good a s11ot and ready a hand one of our own .. Do you_thmk I lost sight of you for a single instant from that t1mC to tlus 1 Be sure 1 did not. No !-I snw you from the m~mcnt yo\1 took yonr nag from the stunted poplar, where you ;astened lnm. I ;n~trked every footstep you have taken since. "hen you stopped •1t thnt plantation, and told your fr iend of your success-" • "Great God! you didn't hear what we said 1" "EYery syllable. 'rhat was a most important part of my service: I wouldn't have missed a word or look of that conference." P ickett turned full upon tho inflexible emissary, and gazed upon him with eyes of unmixed astonishm.ent. and terror. :"'hen he spoke at length, it was in accents of mmgled despair and curiosity:- u And wherefore was this important 1 Of what use will it be to you to know that I was working for another m:m in this business1" u It helps us to another member of tho Mystic Brotherhood, my brother. It st rengthens our ann; it increases our resources; it ripens our strength, and hastens our plans. He, too, must be one of. us! It is for this I seek to know him." u But there's no need with l.im ," said Pickett. "Hew-no need 1" "He's rich ; he's not in want of money, as we are. Why should he be one of us 1" "To keep what he's got," said the other coolly. u But, suppose he won't join you 1" "We'll bang him, then, my brother! You shall prove that he was the murdere1· !" ' "The devil you say !-but I'll do no such thing." "Then, brother, we must hang you both!" The eyes of Pickett looked the terror that his lips could not speak i and, without further words, he led the way to the pl~ce of meeting, urging no further opposition to a will before wluch l1is own quailed in subjection. 00:\I JNO !-THE OA).IE BLOCKED. CHAPTER XXXIII. OOJ\.IINO! -THE GAl\IB ULOCKBO • --"Now we n.re n.lone, sir; And thou hast. liberty to tmlond the bm·den 'Vhich t.hou gronn'st nuder."- MASSINOER. 22~ 'fHERE is 110 fascination in the snake, true or fabled, of more tenacious hold upon the nature of the victim, than was that of the emissary of the Mystic Brotherhood upon tho miserable creatmc Pickett. A wretch born in degradation, living as it were by stealth, and in constant dread of penal atonement, life was torture enough of itself, when it came coupled with the constant fear of justice. But when to this danger was addeU that of an nccountability to a power no Jess arbitrary thnn the laws, and wholly illegitimate, the misery of the wretch was complete. But if such was the influence of such a condition over Pickett's mind, what must it be o' 'er the no less dishonorable nnd far more base offender who employed him 1 Though a murderer- a cold-blooded, calculating murderer, who could s~ulk behind a bush, and shoot down his victim from n covert, Without warning made, or time given for preparation-he was y~t hardy enou~h, if he had tho sensibility for hate, t-o avenge hts wrong by l11s own hand, and not by that of an agent. J ohn llurdis had proved himself deficient even in this doubtful sort of courage. He could sm ile, and be the villnin-co~1ld ilcsirc and devise the murder of his enemy-but wanted even the poor :·alor of the murderer. What must be the feeling, the fear, of l11s leprous heart, when he is taught his true condition -when he finds his secret known-when he feels himself in the .power of n clan l1aving a thonsand tongues, and hourly exposmg themselves to a. thousand risks of general detection 1 It would have been a sight for study, to behold those three vil - |