At first I thought that these burdens were poles with something rolled round them, the end of each pole resting on a man's shoulder.

But on a nearer approach I saw that they were human beings, tied hand and foot, and so lashed to the poles that they could not move.

I counted twenty of them as they passed.
"More murder!" said Bill, in a voice that sounded between a hoarse laugh and a groan.
"Surely they are not going to murder them ?" said I, looking anxiously into Bill's face.
"I don't know, Ralph," replied Bill, "what they're goin' to do with them; but I fear they mean no good when they tie fellows up in that way." As we continued our way towards the wood-cutters, I observed that Bill looked anxiously over his shoulder, in the direction where the procession had disappeared.

At last he stopped, and turning abruptly on his heel, said,-- "I tell ye what it is, Ralph, I must be at the bottom o' that affair.

Let us follow these black scoundrels and see what they're goin' to do." I must say I had no wish to pry further into their bloody practices; but Bill seemed bent on it, so I turned and went.