Black Arrow, the Avenger — page 62: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

66 BLACK ARROW, THE AVENGER. There were private caucuses among the other members, and whisperings. between them, in which those two were not in- vited to participate. Satterlee was nervous and uneasy, and it was plain that he did not like the appearance of affairs ; but Whetstone was cool, calm, and quiet as usual. These two may bave noticed that nothing was said aloud that might not have been made known to the world, and al- most nothing was done in the way of business, until Captain Ferguson arose, called the meeting to order, and began to speak in low and deliberate tones. “Tt has been known,” he said, “ since the formation of this body, that information of its deliberations, its plans, the names of the gentlemen who compose it, has been regularly conveyed to a set.of lawless men whom I feel justified in mentioning as the enemy, While such a state of things lasts, it is impossible for us to act ‘effectively. We will only expose ourselves to danger and humiliation if we do not plan and deliberate with entire secrecy. It has been proposed, in view of these things, that all the members present take a solemn oath of secrecy, which will be hereafter administered to those who are not here present. We will now adjourn. to the place that. has been selected as the proper spot for administering the oath.” “There was no gainsaying this determination, which came in the form of an order, rather than a suggestion. As they walked out of the house, a close observer might have noticed that Sat- terlee looked anxious and troubled. It would not have re- quired a close observer to "perceive that Satterlee and Whet- stone were pluced in the middle in the order of marching, so that there was no chance for.them to lag behind or to drop out. It was evident, in fact, that the proceedings of this meet- ing had been “ cut anddried,” that the -whole affair was con- ucted act pre-arranged plan. . a They wa ked ee + ag 2 distance of half a mile from the house, to the center of a grove of close timber, where tuey halted, and ominous preparations were at once made for administering the oath. A rope, with a noose at one end, was thrown over a branch of a large oak. .The other end was made fast to the tree, and an empty barrel was placed on end » "Yon seo that rope,” said Captain Ferguson, pointing at the comlicloolks.conn