the gate by which he had entered—­and then disappear altogether.  During this movement the old man had kept himself perfectly still, so that there could be no suspicion that he had, in any way, observed them.  Nay, he even spoke once or twice coaxingly to Silvertail, as if conscious only of the presence of that animal, and in short conducted himself in a manner well worthy of the cunning of a drunken man.  The reflections to which this incident gave rise, had the effect of calling up a desperate fit of loyalty, which he only awaited the termination of Silvertail’s hasty meal to put into immediate activity.  Another shout to the ostler, a second glass swallowed, the reckoning paid, Silvertail bitted, and away went Sampson once more at his speed, through the now deserted town, the road out of which to his own place, skirted partly the banks of the river, and partly those of the lake.

After galloping about a mile, the old man found the feet of Silvertail burying themselves momentarily deeper in the sands which form the road near Elliott’s Point.  Unwilling to distress him more than was necessary, he pulled him up to a walk, and, throwing the reins upon his neck, folded his arms as usual, rolling from side to side at every moment, and audibly musing, in the thick husky voice that was common to him in inebriety.

“Yes, by Jove, I am as true and loyal a subject as any in the service of King George, God bless him, (here he bowed his head involuntarily and with respect) and though, as that poor dear old Grantham used to say, I do drink a little, (hiccup) still there’s no great harm in that.  It keeps a man alive.  I am the boy, at all events, to scent a rogue.  That was Desborough and his son I saw just now, and the rascals, he! he! he! the rascals thought, I suppose, I was too drunk, (hiccup) too drunk to twig them.  We shall tell them another tale before the night is over.  D—­n such skulking scoundrels, I say.  Whoa!  Silvertail, whoa! what do yea see there, my boy, eh?”

Silvertail only replied by the sharp pricking of his ears, and a side movement, which seemed to indicate a desire to keep as much aloof as possible from a cluster of walnut trees which, interspersed with wild grape-vines, may be seen to this hour, resting in gloomy relief on the white deep sands that extend considerably in that direction.

“Never mind, my boy, we shall be at home presently,” pursued Sampson, patting the neck of his unquiet companion.  “But no, I had forgotten; we must give chase to these (hiccup) to these rascals.  Now there’s that son Bill of mine fast asleep, I suppose, in the arms of his little wife.  They do nothing but lie in bed, while their poor old father is obliged to be up at all hours, devising plans for the good of the King’s service, God bless him!  But I shall soon (hiccup)!—­Whoa Silvertail! whoa I say.  D—­n you, you brute, do you mean to throw me?”