except the two children. Whatever he had instilled into them by
precept and example, whatever took place that night in their lonely
watch by his bier on the black marshes, it was certain that those
who confidently looked for any change in the administration of the
Dedlow Marsh were cruelly mistaken. The old Kingfisher was dead,
but he had left in the nest two young birds, more beautiful and
graceful, it was true, yet as fierce and tenacious of beak and
talon.


II.


Arriving at the house, the young people ascended the outer flight
of wooden steps, which bore an odd likeness to the companion-way of
a vessel, and the gallery, or 'deck,' as it was called--where a
number of nets, floats, and buoys thrown over the railing completed
the nautical resemblance. This part of the building was evidently
devoted to kitchen, dining-room, and domestic offices; the
principal room in the centre serving as hall or living-room, and
communicating on the other side with two sleeping apartments. It
was of considerable size, with heavy lateral beams across the
ceiling--built, like the rest of the house, with a certain maritime
strength--and looked not unlike a saloon cabin. An enormous open
Franklin stove between the windows, as large as a chimney, blazing
with drift-wood, gave light and heat to the apartment, and brought
into flickering relief the boarded walls hung with the spoils of
sea and shore, and glittering with gun-barrels. Fowling-pieces of
all sizes, from the long ducking-gun mounted on a swivel for boat
use to the light single-barrel or carbine, stood in racks against