Year: 1874

know more of the red mans mission than
becomes honest men,"


Berkeley ~ uttered Chiron, with start
of surprise. "Has he been here ?"


eyes, and he threatened me, too, be-
cause would not tell him what Lolowah
said to me. Are you acquainted with this
Berkley?" v


81 have seen him often, and l know
somewhat of his history" replied Chiron,
in sort of thoughtful mood.


"And who is he P' asked Orlando.


"He became rich by the death of a
brother, and his riches have made him
proud. Sir Wallace BerlIley and Roswell
Berkley came to Virginia many years ago,
and the former amassed large fortune, but
his health seemed to be on the decline, and
he resolved to return to England, partly on
business, and partly for his health but
before he went he made his will, bequeath-
ing all his property to his brother, and
then he went to England and died. Thus
Roswell came into possession of one of the
most valuable estates in tho colony, to-
gether with vast amount of money but
with all his wealth he has been of but little
service to the colony, for he is avaIicious
and niggardly in the extreme, revengeful
in his disposition, and capable of STOPPING
TO the lowest means to accomplish his
ends"


"And is it he, then, who is prosecuting
meP" asked Orlando, in an earnest tone.


81 think it is"


"And what, can he have against me !?
How have l ever come in conflict with his
interests, or how offended him?'!


For several moments Chiron remained
in silent, thoughtful mood, but at length
he said:


"That Roswell Berkeley is your enemy is
surely true, and have reason to believe
that he is at the bottom of this attempt
upon your life; but why he is thus-why
he seeks your removal from this world of
care-I may not now tell you. But while
you are here you have nothing to fear from
him and when you go out from here, we
will take measures to secure you against
danger"


"And think you have nothing to fear
while here in prison?"


"Most assuredly not; for you shall not
be convicted of this crime"


Chiron," said the young man, while a
peculiar shade passed over his countenance,
"last night the jailer brought to me small
loaf of bread and mug of water. The
bread | could not eat for ] had no appe-
tite so l laid it carelessly upon the floor,
and shortly afterwards laid down on my
couch. Presently l was startled by the
sound of something near me, and or look
ing over upon the floor saw two rats
gnawing my bread. watched them till
the gathering darkness hid them from my
sight, and then went to Sleep This
morning they had eaten my bread most all
up"


"Well," uttered Chiron, :" and what of
that? There is enough more bread"


Perhaps there is. But look" said Or
lando, "as he pointed to the two dead rats,
there lie the poor fellows, as l found them
IllS morning, bJlH ana ucaQ J!


"Dead 70 iterated Chiron, starting from
his position, and gazing first upon the
rats, and then upon his companion, ''Deadl
a rat, even, could not have died without a
cause. Is the bread all gomez"


"No, here is a portion of it," returned
Orlando, as he picked up what remained of
the loaf.


"ls there any water in your mug P''
asked Chiron, after he had gazed for some
time upon the bread.


"There is little" answered the youth,
and as he spoke he took the mug from his
stool and brought it forward


Chiron took the mug, and carefully
crumbled the bread into it as finely as he
could between his thumb and finger, and
having accomplished this he stirred the
whole quite briskly for a moment or two,
then ne let IL stand till the bread had
mostly settled. He spoke not word
while he was engaged in this work, but the
eager look that dwelt upon his countenance
told that he was deeply interested in his
experiment. AS soon as the mug had
stood long enough for the saturated bread
to settle, Chiron took his knife and began
slowly to stir the mess up again, and this
no carefully continued until the bread and
water had become mixed into sort Of
pulp, and then he cautiously turned it off
ON to the fioor."


As soon as the bread and water was all
out of the mug, Chiron took the vessel to
the window and carefully examined its in
side