We will leave Fitzgerald engaged in this fruitless enterprise, and follow the trace of the boat which bore Eldred away from all he loved on earth. He lay still in the bottom of it, with a gag in his mouth and his tender frame enveloped in a seaman’s cloak. He heard but the splash of the oars and the shrill cries of the night-hawk scared from its solitary resting place. The hardened wretches, whose victim he had become, heeded not his stifled sobs, but leaving the wide Susquehanna, rowed up Conistoga creek until they came to a little inlet, which formed a very secluded cove, overhung by precipitous banks and surrounded by unbroken wood. There they lifted out the now senseless boy, and making fast their boat to the rocks, bore him through rugged paths to an old tenantless habitation, which had once been a mill-house, but all its works having been destroyed by a recent flood it had been left a wreck in the midst of desolation. Not until they had deposited their burden in the remotest corner of the building, did these murderers break the profound silence in which they had travelled. Having descended the ladder by which they had entered the upper story, and carefully concealed it from view, they began to consult upon the best means to adopt. “Did he say,” asked McMurdough, “that he would be here before day light? I am against delaying the thing. A bird in the hand may flutter.” “He said we might depend on him,” replied Hawkins. “I would rather obey orders in these things. It is enough for my conscience to do the deed; let them bear the responsibility that get the money.” “Hush!” whispered the other; “didn’t you hear the leaves stir?” “Nothing,” said his comrade, “but that cursed whippoorwill going to set up its screech. I’ll tell you, Hawkins, I had just as lief tap the boy on the head as to crack an egg, but this Antonio is a cunning fellow. He always leaves some hole to creep out at himself, but his poor followers must take care of themselves. He likes to get others to do his dangerous deeds too, but I know I must hear the clink of the Spanish dollars or he never sets foot on the deck of the Scudder again, and so I’ve told him.” “McMurdough,” said Hawkins, “did I tell you what I heard them Yankee lubbers say, as we cruised off Newport?” “Who cares for their guesses? As soon set a parcel of clams to privateering as such as them.” “Not so fast. They showed some cuteness in their talk. One tapped the other as our vessel was gliding by and said, ‘Jonathan, as ever I hope to eat pumpkin pie thanksgiving day, that’s no English trader, though she does spread their colors. Notice how clear she keeps of “old Ironsides.” I bet you don’t find her shaking hands, if she can help it. I’ll stake a Jews-harp she hoists other colors before she gets much farther.’ ‘And strikes them too,’ replied the other. ‘That's all talk,’ said the first: ‘I’ve heard all about the Buccaneers, as they call ’em, and what nice traps are laid for ’em, but where’s one they