"No; you can say that you entered into the plan in order to entrap my uncle." "Will you swear to do that?" "I will." "Then it's a bargain. Now, what shall we do first?" "I want you to go with me to St. Louis, but my uncle must not know that I have escaped. How can we manage that?" "We can go up north afterward and take the boat from there. When we pass this place on the river, we'll stay down below." "That is a good plan. When we get to St. Louis I will see a lawyer at once, and put the matter in his hands." "I don't like to come before the court," said Hugh, reluctantly, "but I will if you say so." "I don't think it will be necessary. When my uncle learns that his conspiracy is likely to be made known, he will be glad to compromise without a contest." "You know best. If you'll come round with me to my hut, I'll tell the old woman what's up, and then we'll strike for the river. You won't go back on me?" "No--that isn't my way; besides, your testimony is too valuable for me. I'll stand by you if you'll stand by me. Give me your hand." "I'll trust you, young one," he said. Before the sun set they were passengers on a river steamer, bound for St. Louis. CHAPTER XXXVII. A FINAL SURRENDER. James Grey waited at home in anxious suspense to hear from Hugh Trimble. He felt that it would not be prudent to seek him out, lest suspicion attach to himself, in case his nephew had been murdered. From time to time he realized the risk he had run, and wished he had never entered into a conspiracy against Gilbert's life. Twenty-four hours passed, and still Hugh Trimble did not appear to claim the thousand dollars promised him for the crime he had consented to perpetrate. James Grey began to grow nervous. His nervousness increased when another day passed and still no tidings. On the third day he was about to set out for the woods, in defiance of prudence, bent on terminating his suspense, when he received a letter post-marked St. Louis. It was addressed in a strange hand. He opened it curiously, but, as he read it, he turned pallid, and, when he had mastered its contents, he sank into a chair, overcome. This was the letter: "ST. LOUIS, October --, 185--. "MR. JAMES GREY: I write you as the attorney of Gilbert Grey, claiming to be the son of your deceased elder brother, and as such entitled to the large property of which you took possession at your brother's death, and which you still hold, to his prejudice. He is prepared to prove his identity by the written death-bed confession of the clerk whom you employed to abduct him, the genuineness of which document he is also in a condition to prove. It will not be necessary to go into further particulars, since he tells me that he has already conferred with you freely on the subject, and put you in possession of all that he is able to prove.