By this time the troopers, accustomed to sudden rousings, were awake and in possession of the intelligence. It was greedily listened to by all but Arthur Holt. John Houstonwas particularly odious in his own neighbourhood. Several of the inhabitants had fallen victims to his brutality and hate. To take him, living or dead,--to feed the vengeance for which they thirsted,--was at once the passion of the party. It was with some surprise that they found their leader apathetic and disposed to fling doubt upon the information.