“I don’t know for certain, but I heard it was no less a man than Colonel Blood himself.”
“Colonel Blood! impossible,” said Jack, snapping his fingers.
“Are you sure it was the colonel, young man?” said old Bates.
“No, gentlemen, I am not quite certain; but old Harmer has seen the body of the murdered man, and he swears it is just like the gentleman who used to come prowling about the mill after Ellen.”
“Then what makes you think it was Colonel Blood?”
“From cards and notes found in his pockets.”
Jack and Bates looked at each other in a very knowing manner.
“How did it all happen?” asked Captain Jack. “Here, sit down, my lad, and let’s hear all about it.”
“Yes, yes, landlord, give us another bottle; you needn’t mind telling us the whole truth, you know,” said Bates, with an air of much importance, “for we are Crown officers, and no harm can befal you.”
“Well, you see, gentlemen,” the post-boy began, “since Ellen Harmer has been stolen away from her father’s house, Andrew, her lover, recovered from his wounds, but is thought to be raving mad at times, and goes raving about in all sorts of holes and corners.