The government officer, with his trained instincts, knew just where to be, in order to obtain the most vital information.  He now joined Merwyn, and was struck by his extreme pallor, a characteristic of the young fellow under extreme emotion.

“Mr. Merwyn,” he said, hastily, “you have done enough for two to-day, You need rest.  This is going to be a desperate encounter.”

“Forward!” shouted Carpenter.

A proud smile lighted up Merwyn’s features, as he said:  “Good-by.  Thank you for such faith as you have had in me;” and he moved off with the others.

Mr. Vosburgh muttered, “I shall see this fight, and I shall solve that embodied mystery whom we have thought a coward;” and he followed so near as to keep Merwyn under his eye.

A black, sulphurous cloud was rising in the west.  This little dark blue column approaching from the east, marching down Bleecker Street, was insignificant in comparison, yet it was infinitely the more dangerous, and charged with forces that would scatter death and wounds such as the city had never witnessed.

No words were spoken by the resolute men.  The stony pavement echoed their measured, heavy tread.  Turning into Broadway they saw the enemy but a block and a half away, a howling mob, stretching northward as far as the eye could reach.  It was sweeping the thoroughfare, thousands in line.  Pedestrians, stages, vehicles of all kinds, were vanishing down side-streets.  Pallid shopkeepers were closing their stores as sailors take in sail before a cyclone.

Carpenter halted his command, and sent small detachments up parallel side-streets, that they might come around and fall upon the flanks of the mob.

As these men were moving off on the double-quick, Merwyn left his squad and said to Carpenter:  “I am a citizen, and I stipulated that I should fight as I chose.  I choose to fight with you.”

“Well, well, so long as you fight,” was the hasty answer.  “You shall have plenty of it, if you keep near me.”  Then he added, sternly:  “Mark you, young fellow, if you show the white feather I’ll knock you over myself.  Those devils yonder must be taught that the one thing this force can’t do is run.”

“Brain me if I do not do my whole duty,” was the firm reply; and he took his place at the right of the front rank.

A moment later he was startled by Mr. Vosburgh, who seized his hand and said, earnestly:  “Merwyn, no man ever did a braver thing than you are doing now.  I can’t forgive myself that I wronged you in my thoughts.”

“You had reason.  I’m doing no better than these other men, and I have a thousand-fold their motive.”  Then he added, gravely, “I do not think you ought to be here and your daughter alone.”

“I know my duty,” was the quiet reply; “and there are those who must be informed of the issue of this fight as soon as it is over.  Once more, farewell, my brave friend;” and he disappeared.