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HE had scarcely uttered the words, when a
low growl in the copse near them was
suddenly heard; and an instant afterwards
the gypsy sprung in the direction
of the sound, which resembled the noise of
rapidly retreating footsteps.

The gypsy followed with long leaps, like a
wild-cat in pursuit of his prey; but in spite of
all, the sounds became more and more indistinct,
and suddenly ceased. The concealed personage
had escaped.

Earle had remained motionless, leaning
against the gnarled tree.

In ten minutes the gypsy returned to the spot,
breathing heavily from his exertion.

“We have been tracked,” he said, hastily.

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Earle nodded.

“I thonght so,” he said.

“You thought so?”

“Yes; that is to say, I feared as much.”

“Why?”

“I was at Westbrooke Hall late this evening,
and had a conversation with Sir Murdaugh Westbrooke.
As I went ont, I heard him summon a
confidential servant, or gamekeeper, whose name
is Wilde. The man followed me, hung around
the tavern at the village for an hour, disappeared,
I thought; but now I find that he is a better
hand at wooderaft than I am, a mere sailor.
He has tracked me, and overheard all.”

The gypsy knit his brow.

“You take it cooly, brother.”

“There is no reason why I should take it
otherwise.”

“He will inform Sir Murdaugh.”

“Of what?”

“Of all he has heard.”

“He has heard nothing.”

“Nothing!”

“We have been talking in the Rommanye
Rye,” said Earle.

The gypsy looked at him with admiration.

“That is true, brother,” he said; “and you

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have a long head on your shoulders. Now what
is to be done?”

Earle reflected for an instant.

“The affair looks unpromising,” he said;
“but something may, perhaps, take place which
will guide you in your business. The night is
clear, we have some hours before us: why not
pay a visit to the park of Westbrooke Hall, and
try to discover, for one thing, whether I am mistaken
in thinking that the man Wilde has
tracked me? If I am right, he will return to
make his report. Through a window chink we
may overhear something; from a tree, which a
good sailor like myself can easily climb, we
may see something. Who knows? Let us try,
at least.”

And, followed by the gypsy, who evidently
regarded him with admiration, Earle set out
rapidly in the direction of Westbrooke Hall. In
half an hour, they were near the boundaries of
the park, which was encircled by a high wall.

As they drew nearer, they all at once discovered
a light vehicle, to which a single horse
was attached, standing in the shadow of the
wall, at a point where the stones had partially
fallen, and left a gap.

Through this gap two men were seen lifting

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a third wrapped in a cloak, and apparently in
the last stages of intoxication.

“Stand up, my hearty!” said one of the
men, with a low laugh; “this way you have of
going and getting yourself as drunk as a beast
is not according to good morals, old fellow!
There! use your legs and come on. Sir Murdaugh
is waiting for you.”

“Be quiet, and hush your gab, mate,” said
the other; “who knows who may be prowling
about?”

“After midnight?”

“Yes. There are the gypsy people.”

“Well, they do hate Sir Murdaugh.”

“There, again. I have often warned you
about calling names; stop it! Bear a hand
there.”

“You are right, mate. Come on, aged inebriate!”

And the two men half dragged, half carried
the third along a path through the shrubbery,
toward the hall.

Earle and the gypsy followed, walking noiselessly
and keeping in the shadow.

As they approached the hall, a low growl from
a kennel, where a hound seemed to be chained,
greeted them, and a moment afterwards the

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door of the hall opened slightly, and revealed
the figure of Sir Murdaugh Westbrooke, clad in
his long dressing-gown, and holding a light in
his hand.

Earle and the gypsy had reached the thicket
near which the former had encountered the
gamekeeper. In this they ensconsed themselves,
and could see everything.

Sir Murdaugh shot a keen glance in the direction
of the three figures.

“Make haste!” he said, impatiently.

“Come on, old gentleman!” muttered one of
the men to the one between them.

The figure staggered, and would have fallen
had not the two men held it up by main force.
As it staggered, the hat fell off, the cloak
dropped to the ground; and the light revealed
all.

The figure was clad in a shroud, and the jaw
had fallen.

It was a corpse.

p517-051

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