88 MYSTERIOUS VISITOR. 



several troopers, under command of a Serjeant, who 

 halted and dismounted at my door. 



'The non-commissioned officer at once entered 

 and informed me that he had come to arrest my 

 friend Boyle, that the house was surrounded, and 

 that it would be prudent on my part not to offer any 

 impediment to him in the execution of his duty a 

 course which would certainly expose me to the dis- 

 pleasure of the authorities. 



' I stated, of course, that Boyle was gone ; but 

 my assertion was not credited, and my domicile was 

 searched unsuccessfully from cellar to roof-tree, much 

 "to the apparent disgust of Uncle Sam's myrmidons : 

 for when they were satisfied that their expected 

 prisoner had really taken his departure, they took 

 their leave, not even deigning to say good-night or 

 to return thanks for the brimming tods of my whisky 

 to which they had helped themselves. 



'A. month passed, and Boyle was almost for- 

 gotten. One dark and gloomy night I was snoozing 

 over the fire, painting in its glowing embers all kinds 

 of memories of the past ; fitful skuds of rain every 

 now and then dashed against the windows, and I 

 felt, as most men would feel in such circumstances, 

 thankful for having a roof over my head, and that in 

 such weather I was not knocking about at sea. 



' A few minutes more and I should have been 

 between the blankets, when I heard a gentle knock 

 on the door. Answering it myself, I had no sooner 

 opened it than out of the dark gloom of night 



