Apologizing for their detention, he answered the questions put to him respecting the boys, by positively denying that any such prisoners had been entrusted to his charge, but offered to conduct him to every cell in the building to prove the truth of his assertion.

He then barred and double-locked the door, took out the key, (a precautionary measure which, with a grim smile, he said he never omitted,) thrust it into his vest, and motioning the couple to follow him, led the way to the inner room.

As Wood obeyed, his foot slipped; and, casting his eyes upon the floor, he perceived it splashed in several places with blood.

From the freshness of the stains, which grew more frequent as they approached the adjoining chamber, it was evident some violence had been recently perpetrated, and the carpenter's own blood froze within his veins as he thought, with a thrill of horror, that, perhaps on this very spot, not many minutes before his arrival, his adopted son might have been inhumanly butchered.
Nor was this impression removed as he stole a glance at Mrs.Sheppard, and saw from her terrified look that she had made the same alarming discovery as himself.

But it was now too late to turn back, and, nerving himself for the shock he expected to encounter, he ventured after his conductor.