thou enriched and blessed?’ Come, Kenrick, come; if only
for auld lang syne, come and chat with me; for the day of
action draws near, when there shall be no more chatting!”
Sick at heart, Kenrick handed the card to Vance, who read it, and said: “The sooner a disagreeable duty is discharged, the better. Go, cousin, and let him know the character of that fell Power which he would serve. Let him know what reason he, of all men, has to love it!”
“I’d rather face a battery than do it; but it must be done.”
At the same moment Winslow and the negro entered.
“I’ve arranged everything with Peek,” said the old man. “I’ve placed in his hands funds which I think will be sufficient.”
“That reminds me that I must do the same,” said Vance; and, taking a large sum in bank-bills from his pocket-book, he gave it to Peek to use as he might see fit, first for the common cause, and secondly for prosecuting inquiries in regard to the kidnapped child of the Pontiac, and his own family.
Peek carefully noted down dates and amounts in a memorandum-book, and then remarked, “Now I must see Captain Onslow.”
“Give me that letter from his father, and I will myself deliver it,” said Kenrick.