consciousness, and gazed around him--a look of ferocious joy animated
his eyes, as he saw that Hunter was taken, and drinking the brandy he
had reserved unmixed in the cup, he professed his readiness to help
them.

Leaving him to guard the prisoner, first, however, removing Hunter's
remaining pistol, and even securing the discharged one, the sturdy
official took the wounded agent on his back, and crept out of the
cavern. He soon returned, and with Tom's assistance removed Hunter also,
who now from the combined effects of exhaustion, liquor and the opiate,
was fast becoming insensible. Leaving one of his pistols with the agent,
in case of treachery on the part of Tom, he once more returned, and
taking off the outer clothing of the dead man, fastened a cord to his
feet, and tied it firmly round a piece of rock near by. He was too used
to scenes of blood to shed a tear, but he shook the dead man's hand and
said, 'Poor Bill,' as he quitted the cave. His precautions with regard
to Tom were unneeded. The ruffian's hatred had been aroused by Hunter's
suspicion, and confirmed by the blow. Nor did he refuse to start to
Erith for assistance to convey the prisoner and the wounded man there.
He had been assured by the agent that no harm should come to him,
protected by the powerful influence of the nobleman; and to allow
himself to be captured had been part of the plan from the first. He had
not sense enough to know that the heavier crime of murder, now laying
upon the soul of the unfortunate man, did away with the necessity of his
appearing as a witness, as it had been done in the presence of Mr.
Lambert and the officer, and they were both too wise to undeceive him.
Indeed the wily agent had determined, now that the service was rendered,
to sacrifice his ruffianly tool, as his presence might be troublesome.
Tom soon returned with a posse of police officers and a cart, to convey
the prisoner and the wounded. A surgeon was with them, who dressed Mr.