The young sailor handed to his friend a card, on which was written, in letters imitating print, these words: _May 21st, 1817, at 5:12 a.m_. At the Spout. _The number is_ *eight*. Be *Prompt*--*Be True*. _Forget not the Pass_. "A F E." "What do you want to do?" asked John, after reading the words on the card. "I can make but little meaning out of this." "Why, of course," replied Marston, "I want you to go with me to this rendezvous. I am determined to find out the mystery. You see, there will be eight there--seven besides myself; at any rate, that is what I understand the card to mean. If anything be wrong, I can scarcely hope to contend successfully against seven men. At an hour so early, few upon whom I could call for help will be about--probably not one at that lonely place. Yet I am determined, at all hazards, to solve the mystery. If you think there is too much risk in the affair, John, I will go by myself." "As to that matter," said John, "you know that I don't care about the risk, as you call it; so that if you are determined to go I will accompany you. But the affair may be only a joke; and I don't wish to do anything that will make me the subject of laughter." "It may be a joke to try my courage," observed Marston. "In any view of the case," he continued, after a pause, "I am determined to make the venture." "And I shall accompany you," said John. "The place designated, I suppose, is the Spout on Saint Leonard's Creek?" "Of course it is," was the answer. "There is no other place in this neighbourhood called the Spout." "But my going with you," said John, reflectively, "may be the very cause of danger to you, since I have received no card of invitation. By the way, what is that piece of paper on the floor behind you near the door. Bless my life!" he continued, picking up the paper; "it is addressed to me, and contains, word for word, a card like the one addressed to you." "You will go now, I suppose, unhesitatingly," said Captain Marston. "Certainly," was the reply. "But I had better awaken one of the servants, and leave a message for the family." "There is no use in doing that," said Henry. "I left no message at home. We shall be back, in all probability, by the time they are up. Have you not a pair of pistols? I remember that we each bought, in Baltimore, a pair precisely alike, during my last visit home. We should go well armed, and in that condition, I think, as we are both good shots, and not at all nervous, that we shall be very nearly, if not quite, a match for the other six." "My pistols," answered young Coe, "are here on the table, and ready for use. I loaded them immediately on my return from a drum-fishing excursion last night, on account of an adventure which befell me on my way home. This card may have something to do with that adventure." "Ah! What is that adventure to which you refer!" asked Captain Marston, with much expression of interest.