there should be no more spilling of blood, else his courage and
dexterity might have enabled him to cope even with this daring
captor. He was astonished to see but one person present, and looked
around him for the others. But as his searching gaze could reveal
nothing but the sturdy figure at his side, and the gloom-wrapped
trees at the roadside, he began to reproach himself bitterly for not
having been more alert. It was bitter to think that after all the
excitement, strain and strategy of the morning, it should fall to his
lot to be trapped in this way in the darkness of the night.

He began to wonder that his companion gave no whistle or other call
for help, but remained silently standing upon the road, one hand upon
the horse's bridle, the other holding the menacing pistol. At last
the captor spoke.

'Know you who I am?'

'A Queen's officer.'

'Ha, ha, ha!' And the man's strong, cruel voice resounded far
through the solitudes of the wood.

'No! I am not a Queen's officer; but I am captain of the sturdy men
who have made yonder bush a terror to the Province of Upper Canada. I
have heard about the duel and the fall of Ham. You have rid the world
of at least one worthless cur, and this is why I waited for your
coming, to offer you, for the present, the security of our dense bush
and treacherous bogs.'

Roland hesitated. The fellow seemed to speak the truth; therefore