guineas a guinea for each man/ ' They'll be off immediately/ 

 said the old gentleman ; ' they know assistance is at hand : 

 would that we could amuse them fora little longer !' But the 

 ruffians were already moving, and Miss Morden presently 

 announced that they were embarking, twelve in number, in a 

 boat. * Now for a parting shot or two/ said Henry Morden. 

 We picked up a dozen cartridges, and sallied from the house 

 as the banditti were pulling hard across the lake. We opened 

 a quick and well-directed fire, which they feebly and without 

 effect replied to. While a musket-ball would reach them, we 

 plied them liberally with shot ; and, as we learned afterwards, 

 mortally wounded one man, and slightly injured two others. 

 As we returned to the house, we met some fifty countrymen, 

 armed with all sorts of rustic weapons coming to our relief. 

 Without a moment's delay, we launched boats, and set off to 

 scour the country, and at noon, so prompt and vigorous had 

 been the pursuit, that six of the gang, including the wounded 

 robbers, were secured. 



" We reached ' the Wilderness' completely exhausted by the 

 exertions of the morning, and the fatigue of the preceding 

 night. We refreshed ourselves, and went to bed but previous 

 to returning to my room, I visited the scene of action. 

 Another blow, even a very slight one, must have driven in the 

 door; and in the rush of twelve desperate ruffians, the chances 

 would have been fearfully against us. Murphy lay upon his 

 back he was a disgusting object. The ground was saturated 

 with blood, for the charge of heavy shot made as large a 

 wound as a cannon-bullet would occasion. He was the 

 strongest brute I ever saw ; not more than five feet eight 

 inches in height, but his limbs, body, and arms were a giant's ; 

 he was a blacksmith, a man of infamous character, and most 

 sanguinary disposition. 



"Our escape from robbery was fortunate indeed; Mr. 

 Morden had seven thousand pounds that night in the lodge, 

 for he had just received the rents of two estates. It was 

 almost entirely paid in specie and this was of course known, 

 and induced two desperate bands, who had kept the adjoining 

 counties in alarm since the rebellion was suppressed, to unite 

 for the purpose of robbing * the Wilderness/ and securing this 

 immense booty. 



" The body of the smith was sent away, and buried in the 

 jail-yard of the neighbouring town ; and having brought the 



