and battery against their assailant's purse, whilst the
others, pot-valiant, declared their anxiety to meet
him in bodily conflict on another field; and thus dis-
coursing in the deepening gloom, the party arrived
opposite the mansion at Stillyside. For a few mo-
ments they halted, undetermined whether to ap-
proach, and demand the delivery of the captured
weapon; but at last agreed to waive the requisition,
chiefly at the instance of Narcisse, who authorita-
tively ruled, that to demand and accept of the felo-
niously acquired gun, would be to compound a felony.
Hereupon, being somewhat more at ease in their
minds, they proceeded, and now less noisily, continu-
ing on their way with only occasional bursts of abuse,
and the firing off of fag ends of French songs, accom-
panied with a fitful fusilade of low, horselaughter;
and thus, mollified and maudlin, unsteadily con-
tinued their straggling march, until they halted at a
gate on the roadside, and some distance behind which,
loomed a large, dingy and deserted-looking dwelling,
half concealed by tall trees. No light was to be
seen, but, after a brief consultation, the party swung
open the gate, entered, and having reached the
house, one of the number gave a peculiar tapping at
a window, followed by a low whistle or call, that
was immediately answered by a corresponding sound
from within, and this again by a counter signal,
which was repeated like the faintly returning tone
of an echo; and, after some delay, the door slowly
opened, the voices of men and women, mingling
in boisterous mirth, burst forth like the roar of a
suddenly opened furnace, the party entered, and the
door was closed again.

[[25]]

p024 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p025w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p026

v?