“Why, yes—­it must be done, I suppose, though somehow or other I would it could be got rid of in any other way.”

“You see for yourself, Wat, there can be no other way; for as long as he lives, there is no security.  The few surviving guard will be seen to, and they saw too little to be dangerous.  They were like stunned and stupified men.  This boy alone was cool and collected, and is so obstinate in what he knows and thinks, that he troubles neither himself nor his neighbors with doubt or difficulty.  I knew him a few years ago, when something more of a boy than now; and even then he was the same character.”

“But why not let him start, and take the woods for it?  How easy to settle the matter on the roadside, in a thousand different ways.  The accumulation of these occurrences in the village, as much as anything else, will break us up.  I don’t care for myself, for I expect to be off for a time; but I want to see the old woman and Lucy keep quiet possession here—­”

“You are becoming an old woman yourself, Wat, and should be under guardianship.  All these scruples are late; and, indeed, even were they not, they would be still useless.  We have determined on the thing, and the sooner we set about it the better.  The night wanes, and I have much to see to before daylight.  To-morrow I must sleep—­sleep—­” and for a moment Rivers seemed to muse upon the word sleep, which he thrice repeated; then suddenly proceeding, as if no pause had taken place, he abruptly placed his hand upon the shoulder of Munro, and asked—­

“You will bear the lantern; this is all you need perform.  I am resolute for the rest.”

“What will you use—­dirk?”

“Yes—­it is silent in its office, and not less sure.  Are all asleep, think you—­your wife?”

“Quite so—­sound when I entered the chamber.”

“Well, the sooner to business the better.  Is there water in that pitcher?  I am strangely thirsty to-night; brandy were not amiss at such a time.”

And speaking this to himself, as it were, Rivers approached the side-table, where stood the commodities he sought.  In this approach the maiden had a more perfect view of the malignities of his savage face; and as he left the table, and again commenced a brief conversation in an under-tone with Munro, no longer doubting the dreadful object which they had in view, she seized the opportunity with as much speed as was consistent with caution and her trembling nerves, to leave the place of espionage, and seek her chamber.

But to what purpose had she heard all this, if she suffered the fearful deed to proceed to execution?  The thought was momentary, but carried to her heart, in that moment, the fullest conviction of her duty.