There were suspicious circumstances. It
might have been a _ruse_ to cover a personal loss of the money, or
to deceive us in the pretended loan. Who could tell?
A few days later a stranger called at the Hive door. He had an
announcement to make; he had seen a mystery--doubtless it had something
to do with the robbery. He had been travelling that morning through
Muddy Pond woods, in a thick part of which he had seen--what? Why, a
shirt hanging on the bushes to dry; and had heard voices in the woods
near. He had no doubt marauders were encamped there. We might find
there the man who committed the assault and robbery. His manner was
excited, but he seemed to believe his own story.
It was Sunday. Work would not prevent us. We would hunt for the
robbers. We would go to Muddy Pond woods and investigate. We were not
over sanguine, but there was mystery in it, and we were bound to solve
it. I don't think anyone of us thought there was any danger in the
affair. A party of volunteers, consisting of some six or eight, was
formed, and the valuable Glover placed himself at our head. "By the
by," said he, as we were about to start, "I'll go and borrow Mr. Shaw's
pistols." What insane idea entered his head at that moment who can
tell.
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