“What shall we do with the body? we can not leave it here.”

“Why not?—­What should we do with it, I pray?  The wolves may want a dinner to-morrow, and I would be charitable.  Yet stay—­where is the dirk which you found at the stable?  Give it me.”

“What would you do?”

“You shall see.  Forrester’s horse is off—­fairly frightened, and will take the route back to the old range.  He will doubtless go to old Allen’s clearing, and carry the first news.  There will be a search, and when they find the body, they will not overlook the weapon, which I shall place beside it.  There will then be other pursuers than me; and if it bring the boy to the gallows, I shall not regret our mistake to night.”

As he spoke, he took the dagger, the sheath of which he threw at some distance in advance upon the road, then smeared the blade with the blood of the murdered man, and thrust the weapon into his garments, near the wound.

“You are well taught in the profession, Guy, and, if you would let me, I would leave it off, if for no other reason than the very shame of being so much outdone in it.  But we may as well strip him.  If his gold is in his pouch, it will be a spoil worth the taking, for he has been melting and running for several days past at Murkey’s furnace.”

Rivers turned away, and the feeling which his countenance exhibited might have been that of disdainful contempt as he replied,

“Take it, if you please—­I am in no want of his money. My object was not his robbery.”

The scorn was seemingly understood; for, without proceeding to do as he proposed, Munro retained his position for a few moments, appearing to busy himself with the bridle of his horse, having adjusted which he returned to his companion.

“Well, are you ready for a start?  We have a good piece to ride, and should be in motion.  We have both of us much to do in the next three days, or rather nights; and need not hesitate what to take hold of first.  The court will sit on Monday, and if you are determined to stand and see it out—­a plan which I don’t altogether like—­why, we must prepare to get rid of such witnesses as we may think likely to become troublesome.”

“That matter will be seen to.  I have ordered Dillon to have ten men in readiness, if need be for so many, to carry off Pippin, and a few others, till the adjournment.  It will be a dear jest to the lawyer, and one not less novel than terrifying to him, to miss a court under such circumstances.  I take it, he has never been absent from a session for twenty years; for, if sick before, he is certain to get well in time for business, spite of his physician.”