helpless innocents, destined to open their eyes in life only to sink, welter, and agonize in unnatural death, to appease the unholy vengeance and brutal ferocity of the unsympathizing and heartless assassin-made his bosom swell with emotions "too big for utterance," and which have but imperfectly found vent in the details of his subsequent adventures. At this important crisis Hues occupied a position perhaps of all others least to be envied. The period was fast approaching when he would be called upon to meet his engagement with Murrell to retreat might excite a most unfortunate suspicion, and possibly defeat his purposes; to comply might induce the fearful reality of the very apprehensions that had occasioned him so much indecision. Could he have been perfectly satisfied of the truth of all he had heard, he might here have ended his journey, and consummated his plan; captured the rogue, and exposed his villany. But another difficulty presented itself--the world might be incredulous, and he had, as yet, no evidence sufficiently positive to remove their doubts; he could speak to them of nothing that he had seen; nothing, to the truth of which he could pledge his own oath ; all so far was hearsay, which he knew at best was allowed but little weight. Besides, an account of transactions so unusual-so much above the common order of human crime, would meet with skeptics, though supported by the strongest testimony. The struggle at length over which had been warring in the mind of Hues, he resolved to accompany Murrell to Arkansas, where he might behold with his own eyes if true, and be convinced of their falsehood if not, all the representations that had been made to him

respecting the dark and sanguinary operations of the morass, the ruffian band engaged in them, and learn something of the extent and tendency of their future plans since it was his object to make known to his fellow-citizens the result of his inquiries, as he felt unwilling to require of them to believe statements of the truth of which he had not himself, as yet, been fully convinced.

During all this time Murrell had not omitted to make inquiries respecting such of his clan as lived along the river; mentioning among the rest the names of the Lloyds, Barneys, and others. Murrell asked Mr. C. what standing they occupied as honourable and honest men, representing himself as an utter stranger to them, and the part of the country in which they resided; and urged as a reason for his curiosity, that he was going over among them with a view of collecting some money that was due him. He also called himself a negro-trader, and spoke of a lot of negroes that he wished to dispose of; in all which his motive will be apparent as the reader progresses in the following pages.

It was now a late hour of the night, and Hues and his companion desired to be shown to their chamber; for they had determined to renew their journey at a very early hour on the following morning, and were already much in want of rest. Soon after they had been ushered to their lodging-room, as they found themselves alone, and all about them still and quiet, Murrell broke in upon the silence in the following manner:

Murrell. "Well, Hues, how do you like the way in which I managed our landlord?”

Hues, "None could have managed him better, sir."

M. “We shall be compelled, Hues, to leave our horses here with Mr. Champion, and work our passage through the swamp on foot, until we can meet with a skiff to convey us to my friends on the other side of the river. We shall be dependant on Mr. Champion, and I can see he is no friend to the speculators. For this reason I have pretended to know nothing about the people on the other side of the river. An acquaintance with them, you know, would afford just grounds for suspecting us of being after no good."

CHAPTER IV.

AFTER an early breakfast on the morning of the 29th, Murrell and Hues prepared to leave Mr. Champion's, and seek, lower down on the river, a skiff to convey them across; but, before leaving, they inquired of Mr. C. what the prospect was? He informed them that there was a probability of being accommodated at Mr. Erwin's, who lived a little below him; but that, in the event of a disappointment there, there was but little doubt of their obtaining a conveyance of Parson Hargus, who lived still lower down. With these assurances, and leaving their horses with Mr. Champion, they set forward on their journey on foot. They had proceeded but a few hundred yards when Hues paused, and remarked to his companion that he had left his gloves at the house of their late landlord, and that the weather was so very cold he could not conve

niently dispense with their use. He requested Murrell to wait till he could return for them, promising to be absent but a short time. The truth was, Hues had intentionally left his gloves with a view to obtain, through their means, an interview with Mr. Champion (which he had not deemed prudent to seek while with Murrell), to disclose to him the character of Murrell, his business and plans, and to claim his friendship and assistance. Murrell seated himself on a log, and Hues made all possible haste to the house of Mr. Champion, for delay might awaken suspicion. No sooner had he reached the house than he sought an opportunity to unfold to Mr. C. the story of his situation and adventure, and make known his real name. He desired him to hold himself in readiness to afford him the aid of a guard should he return to claim it ; which he should do if he found things as they had been represented. Mr. C. furnished him with an additional pistol, assured him of his friendship, and remarked that he could command a guard of fifty men at any time when he might need them. He, moreover, spoke in high terms of Messrs. Erwin and Hargus, to whose houses Hues and his companion were going in search of a skiff, and recommended to him also the advantage of their friendship in his perilous undertaking. All this was done in much less time, perhaps, than is here employed in relating it; for Hues had foreseen the great danger of any thing that might savour of unnecessary delay.

While Hues was engaged in disclosing the above to Mr. Champion, he exhibited evident signs of alarm and has himself since declared, that he felt more sen

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sibly the effects of fear at that time than he had in all his life before. The idea of trusting his life in the hands of an individual whom he had never seen till the night before, made a more fearful appeal to his moral firmness and courage than any thing that had transpired during the whole history of his adventure. It called up feelings and emotions wellnigh beyond his ability to endure. He might be disclosing himself to an associate bandit. At least, he might prove dishonest and betray him, and thus make sure that destruction which he had already sufficient reason to dread. The occasion was surely one to try the nerves of the firmest, and strike terror to the heart of the boldest. Hues requested Mr. Champion to detain Murrell's horse till he should hear from him. He instructed him further, that if Murrell should return for his horse without him, to have him arrested immediately, as that would be sufficient evidence that he (Stewart) had been assassinated, or confined by the clan. Mr. Champion promised most cheerfully to attend to all his requisitions.

Hues had now grown impatient to arrest the desolating and destructive progress of this incorrigible enemy of his country. He had listened to his tales of outrage, robbery, and assassination, till his sickened and disgusted heart, almost maddened to vengeance, could only be satisfied by the most speedy visitation of that justice which had so long been cheated of its victim. Hence his determination to peril all that was sacred and valuable to him-nay, life itself, for the accomplishment of so important an object; and upon