tongueless and earless solitude of a dense swamp, where none could hear
their words or learn the purport of their schemes and give warning.

"You understand about the horses, do you?" queried Duffel, after he had
been explaining some intended operation, in which horses were to be stolen.

"Yes, fully," was the reply.

"Well, the horses will be missed, and, of course, it will be known that
_somebody_ has taken them. I have a measure to propose which will throw
suspicion on the wrong track and relieve us from any fear of being charged
with the theft or even suspected of guilt."

"That's the sort! do the killing and get the halter around some other
rascal's neck. Let us hear your proposition, lieutenant."

"You have not forgotten that I mentioned to you in the cave the other
evening, that I might need your services in getting rid of a troublesome
fellow who was in my way. I did not then expect to need your services so
soon, if at all, in this branch of our agreement; but, as the horse
business is agreed upon, and as the fellow may possibly be something of a
hindrance to my plans of operation in the future, I think this will be a
first-rate occasion on which to dispose of him. As I said, somebody will be
accused of stealing the horses, and as it is known that you, gentlemen,
have recently been in these parts, and as suspicion has long since pointed
to you as having had a hand in several transactions held to be unlawful,
you will, as a matter of certainty, be designated as the thieves in this
instance, unless, by some master-stroke of policy, you can fairly show that
you are not guilty. Do you see this?"