his tread. The stately trees grew far enough apart to allow him to
move with considerable speed, and after he had satisfied himself that
he was beyond the sight of his pursuers, he changed his course and
proceeded in a direction almost opposite to that by which he had come.

He believed that such a move could not fail to delude the sleuth
hounds, who would suppose that he continued his flight directly away
from the scene of his offence. In a little while he sobered his pace
down to a walk; and shortly afterwards he sat down in the sombre
solitude to ponder his situation.

Full well he knew that before the set of sun nearly every inhabitant
of the county of York would hear of the deed; and that a hue-and-cry
would be speedily raised by the officers of the law.

It is true that duelling was at this period as much in vogue in
genteel circles as it was in England; yet the victor in an affair
beyond the water, had no difficulty in slipping away from the scene
of his offence, and in passing across the Channel. Here he remained
for a decent season; and when he returned, the law in deference to
its toleration of the code of honour, shut its eyes. Friends of the
vanquished never, or hardly ever, instituted proceedings.

But in the colonies it was different. Godliness had taken a deeper
hold in the soil; the Puritans of New England, who, in their zeal,
had burned old women because they were guilty of sorcery, had much to
say in correcting morals, and removing evil. The duel they considered
one of the most odious sins of society; and no doubt it seemed all
the more odious to them because it was the sin of an exclusive class
who put an estimate upon honour that passed the understanding of men