that a prolongation of their visit would cause the family at Riverside
manor much inconvenience and anxiety, straightway announced their
intention of proceeding northward on the following morning.

But it was no part of Seth Rawbon's purpose to allow his rival, Hare, to
depart in peace. The chastisement which he had received at Harold's
hands added a most deadly hate to the jealousy which his knowledge of
Oriana's preference had caused. He had considerable influence with
several of the dissolute and lawless characters of the vicinity, and a
liberal allowance of Monongahela, together with sundry pecuniary favors,
enabled him to depend upon their assistance in any adventure that did
not promise particularly serious results. Now the capture and mock trial
of a couple of Yankee strangers did not seem much out of the way to
these not over-scrupulous worthies; and Rawbon's cunning
representations as to the extent of their abolition proclivities were
scarcely necessary, in view of the liberality of his bribes, to secure
their cooperation in his scheme.

Rawbon had been prowling about the manor house during the day, in the
hope of obtaining some clue to the intentions of the inmates, and
observing a mulatto boy engaged in arranging the boat for present use,
he walked carelessly along the bank to the old boat-house, and, by a few
adroit questions, ascertained that "Missis and the two gen'lmen gwine to
take a sail this arternoon."

The evening was drawing on apace when Oriana, accompanied by Arthur and
Harold, set forth on the last of the many excursions they had enjoyed on
James River; but they had purposely selected a late hour, that on their
return they might realize the tranquil pleasures of a sail by moonlight.
Beverly was busy finishing some correspondence for the North, which he