one thought in my head that connected itself with the murders. Other affairs had turned up, in which I was personally interested, and my mind, though not dwelling upon them at the moment, felt, if it felt anything at all, the reverberations of mental discussions upon the topics I have just spoken of as of personal interest. I think now, remembering everything, that if I had any peculiar sensation, it was not superior to that of the two dogs who kept close to my heels,—for I was there to enjoy the sensuous and physical boon of air; they, indeed, governed by a higher motive, the society of man. I was, consequently, if I may say so with perfect self-respect, in a complete condition of animal existence, and not prepared for or expecting anything beyond the ordinary condition of animal and vegetable life. I was, in fine, nearly upon a level with the inanimate existences around and about me. I am unwillingly compelled to remind the reader that it was the habit of my host, who did business in the city, of leaving the train at Laurel Hill Station, at nine o’clock, as a general thing, and keeping the main road until he got to the bottom of the hill near to where the brook, so often mentioned, crosses the road, entered the lowlands at the outskirts of Bussey’s wood, and thence following the path which led by the boy’s murder-place, and up the hill-side covered by the Motley wood, keeping close to the wall until he reached that point of the wall near which I was standing, passed over it, and was home. It must also be borne in mind that the two dogs loved their master with a steadfast affection; in the case of the serene Jack it was a very jump-about, capering, stump-tail, demonstrative love. Whenever they saw him in the distance nearing home, or knew by instinct that he was approaching, though for the moment hidden by the intervening trees or rocks, they would break away from my minor and only temporary bonds, and rush to meet him exultingly, and then ensued a scene of wild confusion and barbaric dog-taming. These two facts remembered, I will advance with my narrative. [Illustration: MAP OF THE LOCALITIES. 1. Steam-Car Line. G. Horse-Car Line. 2. Motley-House. 3. Gate leading into Pasture and Bussey Wood. 4, 4, 4, 4. Returning route of my host. 5. Bridge over public road. 6. Spot where the Boy’s body was found. 7. Arch Bridge. 8. Flat Bridge. 9. Where I stood. 10. Where the Apparition stood. 11. Where the Girl’s body was discovered. 12. The Gate on Dedham Wood. 13, 13. Public road to Dedham. 14, 14, 14, 14, 14. Bussey’s Wood. 15. Motley’s Wood. 16. The Wall. 17. Fence between Bussey’s Wood and the Howard property. Arrow. The Creek. - - - - - - My route at night to the Murder-Rock.]