One of the first to perceive this was Joe; and a hideous light
gleamed in his dull and sunken eye.

As for Silent Poll; not one word could be said in her favour. What
she once might have been God alone can tell; but she seemed well
content with the vile lot to which she had fallen. Indeed, when
Roland saw her flaming eyes, and heard her speech, he doubted if
companionship different from this had ever been vouchsafed her.

Preparations for supper had been progressing for some time before the
captain's arrival. In front of the bluff of rock blazed a fire made of
birch and maple, and on a spit before this a huge piece of venison was
roasting. A hideous old woman, with eyes like a rattlesnake, and
draggled hair coloured like the moss upon an aged fir, stood by the
spit, which every few moments she turned. Silent Poll had some lard in
a cup, and a small quantity of this she put upon the meat each time
that the hag turned the spit. Nancy extended a sort of camp-table and
upon it placed the drinking vessels; and Roland perceived that these
lawless persons lived in a very sumptuous manner.

Nor can it be said that the white bread, the butter, the large mealy
potatoes, and other vegetables, together with the juicy haunch before
the fire were indifferent to his stomach after his long ride.

'I'll get the grog,' growled Murfrey; and turning he disappeared,
seeming to sink directly into the earth. In a few seconds he returned
with a small keg which he placed beside the table.

The rays of the fire enabled our hero to get an indistinct view
around; and he observed that they were surrounded by dense tangled