74 
T II E DEVELOPMENT. 
breakfast. Meantime I watched him. At first he 
appeared troubled, and had several stealthily-whispered 
interviews with John: finally his manner became more 
easy, and he cooked and served our breakfast-meal. I 
now felt convinced that he would meet John outside as 
soon as he could leave the room, and that one or both 
would then desert. I therefore threw on my furs and 
armed myself, made Bonsall and Morton acquainted 
with my plans, and then, crawling out of our dark 
passage, concealed myself near its entrance. I had 
hardly waited half an hour,—pretty cold work too,— 
when John crawled out, limping and grunting. Once 
fairly out, he looked furtively round, and then with a 
sigh of satisfaction mounted our ricketty steps entirely 
cured of his lameness. Within ten minutes after he 
had gained the deck the door opened again, and 
William made his appearance, booted for travel and 
clad in buffalo. As he emerged into the hold, I con¬ 
fronted him. He was ordered at once to the cabin; 
and Morton was despatched on deck to compel the 
presence of the third party; while Mr. Bonsall took 
his station at the door, allowing no one to pass out. 
“In a very few minutes John crawled back again, as 
lame and exhausted as when he was last below, yet 
growing lamer rapidly as, recovering from the glare of 
the light, he saw the tableau. I then explained the 
state of things to the little company, and detailed step 
by step to the principals in the scene every one of their 
plans. 
“Bill was the first to confess. I had prepared my- 
