WYLDER'S HAJVD. 453 and Thomas, already on their -way in the fly, undertook to have open for their reception, and furnished with some serious politicians from the vicinity. From the windows, the Captain, thus supported, was to make his maiden speech, one point in which Tom Wealdon insisted upon, and that was an injunction to the " men of Gylingden" on no account to break the peace. "Take care to say it and we'll have it well reported in the " Chronicle," and our lads won't mind it, nor hear it neither, for that matter." So. there was mounting in hot haste in the courtyard of old Brandon, and a rather ponderous selection of walking-sticks by the politicians — of whom I was one — intended for the windows of the assembly room. Lake rode; Tom Wealdon, myself, and two scriveners, squeezed into the dog-cart, which was driven by Jekyl, and away we went. A few minutes brought us into the Blackberry hollow, which debouches into Redman's Dell. Here, the road being both steep and rugged, our speed abated. The precipitous banks shut out the sunlight, except at noon, and the road through this defile, overhung by towering trees and rocks, was even now in solemn shadow. The cart-road leading down to Redman's Dell, and passing the mills near Redman's Farm, diverges from the footpath with which we are so well acquainted, near that perpendicular block of stone which stands a little above the steps which the footpath here descends. CHAPTER LXXI. MARK WYLDER'S HAND. Just at the darkest point of the road, a little above the rude column which I have mentioned, Lake's horse, a