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46 The Cedarcliffe estate is two or three miles in circumference, and the surface is a good deal diversified,—rocks, woods, ravines, cliffs, cultivated lands, and gardens. The force available to guard this frontier consisted of four persons,—John, Henry, Tom the groom, and myself; but my own involuntary defection reduces it to three. Still, with proper arrangement, three ought to be enough. Sinfire wants to come in; but that is hardly practicable. She would unquestionably do her part, however, should any chance bring her in contact with the enemy: she not only has no fear, but she is very clever in suggestions; and, in fact, it was she who first proposed the scheme which will probably be put in operation.

The theory upon which we are proceeding is that our robbers are members of the community, and probably among the most zealous of those who are clamoring to have the villains caught. They have shown such competent knowledge of the locality, of the obstacles to be encountered and the facilities to be depended on, they have made so few mistakes, and their success has been so uniform, that it is difficult to suppose them strangers, unfamiliar with the ground. This hypothesis being granted, it follows that although our task is made harder in one way it is simplified in another. On the one hand, they will be able to arrange their attack with more certainty and confidence; but, on the other, we shall be able to play off upon them a bit of strategy that might else fail of its effect. Let me explain.

We are in the habit, every summer, of making a party to go to Pebble Lake and camp out there a night or two. The lake lies some ten miles to the southward, and is surrounded by woods which have stood beyond the memory of living man. In former years we built a small log hut there for the ladies of the party, or for refuge in case of storm; and we carry tents, cooking-apparatus, and all other paraphernalia with us.

Father bought the lake, with the surrounding woodland, at the time of our first settlement here: perhaps he intended it for a fish-preserve; or possibly his motive was merely aesthetic. At any rate, there it is; and there is not a prettier sheet of water within a hundred miles. It is about two hundred acres in extent, and remarkably deep at one end, where Mount Sachem descends, rocky and precipitous, sheer into the water. At the other end it is comparatively shallow and the shore slopes gradually: Pebble Brook enters it at this point, and on its banks the log cabin stands, commanding a view of the whole stretch of the lake and of Mount Sachem reflected in it. The fishing is very good, for the place is so secluded that few people find their way there: I have caught pickerel there three feet long; of perch