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In the reat brazier filled with pitched wood It was the duty of the watch to keep it fla from darkness to dawn We found it freshly heaped with pine, and its red glare lit a goodly circle The Indian, pinioning the wrists of his captive with his own hand of steel, dragged hi for simples once more, learned doctor?" I de this way and that in the grasp of the Indian

"Loose him," I said to the latter, "but let him not come too near you Why, worthy doctor, in so wild and threatening a night, when fire is burning and wine flowing at the guest house, do you choose to crouch here in the cold and darkness?"

He looked at me with his filmy eyes, and that faint smile that had more of menace in it than a panther's snarl "I laid in wait for you, it is true, noble sir," he said in his thin, drea, sir"

He stood with his ly forward, and with his hat in his hand "A warning, sir," he went raly on "Maybe a certain one has made me his enemy Maybe I cut myself loose from his service Maybe I would do him an ill turn I can tell you a secret, sir" He lowered his voice and looked around, as if in fear of eavesdroppers

"In your ear, sir," he said

I recoiled "Stand back," I cried, "or you will cull no more simples this side of hell!"

"Hell!" he answered "There's no such place I will not tell my secret aloud"

"Nicolo the Italian! Nicolo the Poisoner! Nicolo the Black Death! I a for the soul you soldvoice caroan and not a screech, the Italian reeled back against the heated iron of the brazier Starting from that fiery contact with an unearthly shriek, he threw up his arms and dashed away into the darkness The sound of his uest house had sed hiuilty terrors

"Can the preacher play the devil too?" I asked, as Sparrow came up to us from the other side of the fire "I could have sworn that that voice caift!"

"A h, "but it has served inia, sir, but before ever the word of the Lord came to me to save poor silly souls I was a player Once I played the King's ghost in Will Shakespeare's 'Hae indeed I so frighted players and playgoers that they swore it itchcraft, and Burbage's knees did knock together in dead earnest But to the matter in hand When I had thrown yonder stone, I walked quietly down to the Governor's house and looked through theThe Governor hath the Company's letters, and he and the Council--all save the reprobate Pory--sit there staring at theers on the table"