LIFE OF WILSON. 
CXXXl 
arrival I found two persons in conversation under the piazza, 
one of whom informed me that he was the landlord. He was 
a dark mulatto, rather above the common size, inclining to cor- 
pulency, with legs small in proportion to his size, and walked 
lame. His countenance bespoke a soul capable of deeds of 
darkness. I had not been three minutes in company when he 
invited the other man, (who I understood was a traveller) and 
myself, to walk back and see his cave, to which I immediately 
consented. The entrance is in the perpendicular front of a 
rock, behind the house; has a door with a lock and key to it, 
and was crowded with pots of milk, placed near the running 
kream. The roof and sides of solid rock, were wet and drop- 
ping with water. Desiring to walk before with the 
lights, I followed with my hand on my pistol, reconnoitering 
on every side, and listening to his description of its length and 
extent. After examining this horrible vault for forty or fifty 
yards, he declined going any farther, complaining of a rheu- 
matism; and I now first perceived that the other person had 
staid behind, and that we two were alone together. Confident 
in my means of self-defence, whatever mischief the devil might 
suggest to him, I fixed my eye steadily on his, and observed 
to him, that he could not be ignorant of the reports circulated 
about the country relative to this cave. “ I suppose,” said I, 
you know what I mean?” “ Yes, I understand you,” return- 
ed he, without appearing the least embarrassed, “ that I killed 
somebody and threw them into this cave — I can tell you the 
whole beginning of that damned lie,” said he; and, without 
moving from the spot, he detailed to me a long story, which 
would fill half my letter, to little purpose, and which, with 
other particulars, I shall reserve for your amusement when we 
meet. I asked him why he did not get the cave examined by 
three or four reputable neighbours, whose report might rescue 
his character from the suspicion of having committed so horrid 
a crime. He acknowledged it would be well enough to do so; 
but did not seem to think it worth the trouble; and we return- 
ed as we advanced, walking before with the lights. 
