" If anything lies heavy on your mind, now is the best
time to get rid of it — if you have done any wrong to any
one, I promise you, on the word of an honest dragoon, to
lend you a helping hand to see them righted."

" There are few who have not done so," said the peddler,
turning his vacant gaze once more on his companion.
IS



226 THE SPY.
"True — 'tis natural to sin — but it sometimes happens
that a man does what at other times he may be sorry for.
One would not wish to die with any very heavy sin on his
conscience, after all."

Harvey had by this time thoroughly examined the place
in which he was to pass the night, and saw no means of
escape. But as hope is ever the last feeling to desert the
human breast, the peddler gave the dragoon more of his at-
tention, fixing on his sunburnt features such searching looks,
that Sergeant HoUister lowered his eyes before the wild
expression which he met in the gaze of his prisoner.
" I have been taught to lay the burden of my sins at the
feet of my Saviour," replied the peddler.
"Why, yes — all that is well enough," returned the other;
"but justice should be done while there is opportunity.
