Colonel Blood sauntered along in the silence of the night towards Harmer’s house, as handsome, bold, and cool-handed a knave as ever lived. He had just reached the narrow mill bridge, when he perceived the dark figure of a young man leaning over the hand-rail, and gazing in the shining water. Directly he heard the approach of footsteps, he turned, and his eyes sparkled with fierce delight. “’Tis he!” said the young man, “I cannot be mistaken. I have long desired this meeting. I came to bury myself beneath these shining waters, but ere I do, let me crush the skull of this villain, who has ruined me and blasted all my happiness; for, before his accursed shadow darkened our village, I was happy: but now, alas! Ellen Harmer’s heart is another’s.” Colonel Blood approached, and had reached the centre of the bridge, when the youth suddenly confronted him with boldness and flashing eyes. “What, Andrew Gamble!” said Blood, starting back a step or two in surprise. “Aye!” said Andrew, with a quivering lip. “Does that name startle your wicked heart?” “Startle _me_, knave!” said Blood, with an air of great contempt. “Make way, there! why do you cross my path again?” “Because you’ve crossed mine, and shall die,” said Andrew, advancing. “Make way, there, I say!” said Blood, drawing his sword. “Let me pass, I like not your looks—there is murder in your eyes. Make way, I tell ye, before I cleave ye to the ground.” NOTICE TO OUR READERS. REMEMBER!—A most valuable present is in preparation, and will be presented to all our regular Subscribers with an early Number. Full particulars will be announced in No. 6. [Illustration: THE FIGHT BETWEEN WILDFIRE NED AND THE SKELETON CREW.] “Ha! ha!” laughed Andrew, “you can flourish your toasting-fork, I see, just as cleverly as I can my father’s flail; but you don’t frighten me, for all that, fine gentleman as you are.” “Once, for all, make, way fellow! or I’ll cleave your skull,” said Blood. “I cannot afford to waste valuable time in parleying with a country clown.” He had scarcely spoken the word, when Andrew Gamble rushed suddenly upon his enemy and disarmed him in an instant. Colonel Blood was thunderstruck. The action had been so sudden, and the weapon so cleverly wrenched from his grasp, that he stood gaping in surprise. “Make way there,” said Andrew, flourishing the sword in a malicious manner, much as a rustic would a stout oak cudgel. Colonel Blood retired a pace or two in evident fear of his brawny antagonist.