An
hour later the new Mr. Jonas returned; but he made no allusion to the
real minister. We afterwards learnt that he had drowned him in the
pond.'
'Great God, how horrible!'
'There now, you must not say anything against the habits and customs
of the place. I will bid you good morneen.' Taking his rod and line
the sleek desperado made his way up the stream; and our hero was left
to horrible recollections. There was a noise among the parched
leaves, and a moving of boughs. Then Nancy stood before him. She did
not expect to find him here at the first turn, and she blushed deeply.
'I thought The Lifter was with you still. But I am glad that he has
left you. We shall fish arid talk here. Has The Lifter told you
anything about the history of the highwaymen?'
'Yes; I have heard enough to make me sick at heart.'
'Did he tell you about the Captain?'
'No.'
'Well the Captain is his own father; and the old woman is his
grandmother. The robber chief's father was known as "Nick, the
Highwayman," a terrible person whose name made everybody's heart beat
fast fifty years ago.'
'But how came you here, Nancy? You look different from the people
about you; your language is elegant and you appear as if you had been
born well.
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