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EVELINE MANDEVILLE. 

Or, The Horse Thief Rival

by

ALVIN ADDISON

Author of "The Rival Hunters. "

Cincinnati:Published by U. P. James, 167 Walnut Street. 

1837

CHAPTER I. 

"Why do you persist in refusing to receive the addresses of Willard Duffel, when you know my preference for him?"

"Because I do not like him. "

"'Do not like him, ' forsooth! And pray, are you going to reject the bestoffer in the county because of a simple whim? the mere fancy of avain-headed, foolish and inexperienced girl? I did not before suppose thata daughter of mine would manifest such a want of common sense. "

"Whether my opinions of men are made up of that rare article soinappropriately called 'common sense' or not, is a question I shall notattempt to decide; it is sufficient for me to know that I have my 'likesand my dislikes, ' as well as other folks, and that it is my _right_ to havethem. "

"Oh, yes! _you_ have rights, but a _parent_ has not, I suppose!"

"You know very well, father, that I do not deserve an insinuation of thatkind from you: I have always regarded your wishes, when expressed, save inthis one instance, and I have too much at stake, in so serious a matter, tolightly throw aside my own opinions. "

"Yes, yes, you have been the most obliging of daughters, to hear your ownstory; but no sooner does a point of any moment come up, upon which wehappen to disagree, than my wishes are as nothing--a mere school-girl whimis set up in opposition to them, and that, too, without even a shadow ofreason! A _very_ dutiful child, truly. "

"Father, how _can_ you talk so? You surely are but trying me; for you_know_ I do not merit the rebuke conveyed by your words and manner. "

"Why not?"

"Why do I?"

"Because you are willfully disobedient. "

"No, not _willfully_ but _sorrowfully_ disobedient to your wishes. Glad, indeed, would I be if I could comply with them, but I cannot. Nor shouldyou expect me to, until you show some good grounds why you entertain them. "

"Have I not already done so repeatedly? Have I not told you that Duffel'sprospects are fairer than those of any other young man of youracquaintance? Is he not wealthy? Has he not one of the best farms in thecountry? What more do you want?"

"A man of principle, not of property. "

"And is not Duffel a man of principle? Is he not strictly honorable in allhis dealings?"

"He may or may not be honest in his dealings; I do not allude to business, but _moral_ principle, and in this I think he is decidedly wanting. "

"Why do you think so?"

"His actions and manners impress me with such a belief; I _feel_ it morethan _see_ it, yet I am as fully satisfied on that point as if he had toldme in so many words that he had no regard for the restraints of moralityand religion, save such as a decent respect for the customs and opinion ofsociety enjoins. "

"Mere fancy again! I'd like to know if you expect to live in any of theair-castles you are building?"

"I think there is not quite as much probability of my inhabiting one ofthem as there is of Duffel's incarceration in the penitentiary. "

"What do you mean, girl?"

"To be plain, I do not believe Duffel's wealth was honestly obtained, or ishonestly held. You have heard of the Secret Gang of Horse Thieves, Isuppose. Well, I overheard this immaculate Duffel of yours, without anyintention on my part, conversing with a 'hale fellow well met, '--no otherthan the stranger you yourself suspected of being a villain--and from thetenor of their remarks, they belong to some clique of rascals. I could notgather a very distinct idea as to what the organization was formed toaccomplish, for I could not hear all that was said; but I learned enough tosatisfy myself that all was not right. I had not mentioned the circumstancebefore, for the simple reason that I wished to obtain stronger evidenceagainst the parties, but you have my secret--act upon it as you thinkbest. "

This conversation will sufficiently explain itself. A father desires hisdaughter to marry against her will, because a wealthy suitor proposes forher hand, but she cannot accede to his wishes, because, we presume, she hasa romantic notion that _love_ ought to have something to do, in makingmatrimonial connections. 

The father was somewhat taken aback by the revelations of the daughter atthe close of their interview, and left her to ponder on the subject, and, if possible, to ascertain the truth as to the guilt or innocence of theparties suspected. 

Duffel, from some source, obtained an inkling of how matters stood, andseeing the father, had a long interview with him in private. What was thepurport of his part of the conference, and the object he had in view, maybe gathered from the following passage between father and daughter. 

"So, ho, my girl, you thought to deceive me concerning young Duffel, didyou?"

"What do you mean?"

"You would have me believe him a horse-thief and a bird for thepenitentiary?" he went on, without seeming to notice her interposition. "Well, your well-devised scheme has failed of its object, and I have atonce revealed to me its purpose and end, and its originator. "

"I do not understand you, sir!"

"Oh, no! very ignorant all of a sudden! You forgot one of the most materialportions of your revelation to me the other day, and that was _the name ofyour confederate_ in concocting that story of the guilty associations ofWillard Duffel. "

"I had no associate, and I have never mentioned the circumstance to aliving soul except yourself. Now, please be equally frank, and tell whoyour confederate is in this plot to make your daughter out a hypocrite anda liar?"

The father was startled by this bold demand, which, indeed, opened his eyesto the enormity of his child's wickedness, if his charges against her weretrue; but he had set his face to one point, and not being easily turnedaside from a purpose, proceeded:

"I am not to be deceived by a show of indignation and virtue, when it isassumed for effect. You need not put yourself to the trouble of a denial orconfession; I know who is associated with you to traduce Duffel; it is noother than the one who stands between you and the man of my choice--a poorbeggarly fellow, to whom you have taken a fancy because of hisworthlessness, I suppose. You understand who I mean. Well, he shall standbetween me and my wishes--or rather between you and good fortune--nolonger. "

Indignation, surprise, wonder, fear, resentment, and a hundred otheremotions filled the mind of the daughter during the delivery of thisaddress; but amid them all, there was a purpose as fixed as that of hersire's to have a voice in the matter of her own disposal. But beforeanything further transpired, the father cast his eyes out of the openwindow, and seeing a gentleman approaching, said:

"There comes that beggarly dog now! I must go and meet him. "

And without further ceremony or explanation, he immediately left the house. 

It would be a difficult task to portray the feelings of the daughter atthis moment. She saw that her father was incensed, but the sorrow that thiscircumstance would otherwise have engendered in her bosom, was lost in thefeeling that an outrage had been perpetrated upon her rights andsensibilities, and she felt the blood of indignation coursing through herveins, and mounting her temples and brow. How could she help theseemotions, when she _knew_ that injustice had been done--that she had beeninsulted by an implication of falsehood, when she was conscious of a free, full and honorable rectitude of purpose, and that, too, by her own father!These thoughts rushed through her mind with lightning speed, and the tearsforced themselves to her eyes--tears half of sorrow, half of anger. 

But now a new source of anxiety, mixed with alarming apprehensions, tookpossession of her distracted mind. Her father had left the house abruptly, and looking in the direction he had taken, she beheld him in violentconversation with Charles Hadley, the only man for whom she had everentertained sentiments of tender regard, the only one to whose "tale oflove" she had listened with quickened pulses and beating heart, the onlyone to whom she had plighted her faith, with whom exchanged vows of loveand constancy. And her parent had just termed him beggarly! What could bethe cause of his dislike? and for what purpose had he sought the young manin so strange and unaccountable a mood? and what was the nature of theinterview between them?

Such were the thoughts that hurried across the mind of the young girl; and, hardly knowing what she did, she stole up to her chamber-window, which wasin full view of the gentlemen, and placing her ear in a listening attitude, bent all her energies to gain a knowledge of what was said; and, having somuch at stake, we must excuse the exceptionable act. 

"It is not worth while for you to deny it, Hadley, as I have the mostpositive proof of your designs. "

These were the first words that greeted the daughter's ears, and they senta chill to her heart. She knew that her lover was impetuous, and feared thecharge made against him, which she could not but perceive was a grave one, would cause him to commit some rash or unguarded act, the results of which, in the existing state of affairs, would be unfortunate. His reply, however, was calm, and his manner cool and self-possessed, and she listened to theremainder of the conversation with breathless attention and intenselyabsorbed interest. 

"Pray, sir, will you be so kind as to give me the name of the individualwho has dared to accuse me of a base plot? You certainly cannot refuse sosmall a request, and yet of such great importance to me, as it gives me theonly possible chance of clearing myself from the groundless chargespreferred against me so invidiously. "

"I do not feel disposed to reveal the name of my informant, as it wouldlead to an unpleasant rencounter, and result in no good. Suffice it to say, he enjoys my entire confidence, and that I give to his words the fullestcredit. "

"Sir, I must consider this a very strange course for a gentleman to pursue. You are evidently laboring under a serious mistake, and it would give methe greatest pleasure to convince you of the fact, would you allow me to doso; but as I cannot do that, will you permit me to hold a moment'sconversation with your daughter?"

"Why, sir, it was to prevent that very thing that I met you here. No, Icannot grant your request; and hereafter you will please consider mydaughter as a stranger, and my door as closed against you! Not a word, sir;not a word--my resolution is taken unchangeably. I can not and will notpermit my child to associate with those whom I know to be unworthy. Sir, Iwill hear no word of explanation! Go!"

Hadley felt the unkindness and injustice of Mandeville's remarks, and hadhe merely consulted his own feelings, he would have retired at once, andnever again intruded himself upon the society of one who could show himselfso destitute of the characteristics of a gentleman. But there was anotherthan himself that must suffer should he go, as his feelings prompted, fromthe premises of her father forever. Love was all-powerful in his breast atthat hour, and choking down the rising emotions of anger and excitement, heattempted to reason with the stern man before him. 

"But you surely, " he commenced, "do not mean to drive me from your doorwithout a hearing? You certainly are too much of a gentleman for that. "

"I mean, sir, that I will allow no base, thieving miscreant to enter myhouse; nor will I permit a daughter of mine to hold intercourse with suchvillains! And more than that, I will tell you, sir, that I am not to bedictated to, as to whose company I shall keep, or whom admit to my house, by any such worthless, gallows-deserving scamp as yourself!"

This was more than Hadley could bear. He had resolved not to becomeexcited, but anger rose in his bosom in spite of his will, and he answeredin deep, excited tones:

"Sir, no man can apply such epithets to me and go unchastised. I demand arecantation of your unfounded charges, and an apology for their utterance. "

And as he spoke he assumed a menacing attitude. Rage at once filled thebreast of Mandeville, and instantly rendered him altogether ungovernable. He raised his clenched fist, as if to strike the young man, and hissedsavagely between his set teeth:

"Insolent villain! do you dare to insult me thus at my own door! Away in amoment, or I'll smite you to the earth without another word!"

Hadley stood still. 

"Go, vile dog! I say; go!" and he drew back his arm to strike. 

At this moment, a piercing shriek arrested the attention of both gentlemen. It was a deep wail of agony, as though it came from a crushed heart. Itemanated from the house, and the first motion of the two in conversationwas to start forward in that direction; but recalling the words of theproprietor, that he was never to enter his dwelling again, Hadley pausedand turned away, but loitered about the premises till he saw the fatherride off in great haste toward the nearest village, and speedily return, quickly followed by a physician; then he left, with a vague feeling ofdread laboring at his heart. 

CHAPTER II. 

THE EAVESDROPPER. 

As Eveline Mandeville had mentioned the circumstance of having overheardthe conversation between the two worthies, related, in the first chapter, to no one but her father, it becomes a matter of curiosity to know howDuffel had come in possession of the secret. A very few words will explainthe matter. Like most persons who feel a consciousness of want of rectitudeof purpose, he felt desirous to learn what other people thought of him, fearing his evil intentions might possibly manifest themselves in somemanner unnoticed by himself; and as he had most at stake with theMandevilles, he was proportionally more interested in the opinions theymight entertain respecting his life and character, than in those of anyothers. He accordingly resorted to the mean and cowardly expedient ofeavesdropping, in order to gain a knowledge of the standing he occupied inthe estimation of this family, particularly with regard to the father anddaughter. He would approach the house unobserved and listen at some point, to overhear the conversations that took place in the family circle!

He was thus occupied during the conference of parent and child, abovereferred to, and learned, to his great joy, that in the father he had awarm advocate, but with equal chagrin that the daughter had no good-willtoward him; a fact, however, that he had more than suspected before; but, having taken a fancy to her, and the prospect of obtaining with her hand agood property being a still stronger motive, he had set his heart uponmaking her his bride, even though she might detest him as a companion. 

But when he heard the revelation made by the daughter to her father, at theclose of their interview, concerning his association with the suspiciousstranger and probable connection with some secret body of villains, andperceived the marked effect it had upon the latter, he became alarmed forthe success of his schemes, and seeing the conversation was ended, hastenedaway, ere he should be discovered, to invent some plan whereby tocounteract the effects likely to produce a permanent feeling against him. 

After long and deep thought, during which scheme after scheme was suggestedto his mind, turned over, examined, and abandoned, he finally hit upon anexpedient that suited his purpose exactly, and at once resolved to act uponit. For this purpose he sought and obtained a private interview with Mr. Mandeville, as already intimated, in which he began the development of hisplot as follows:

"I have sought this interview with no idle purpose, Mr. Mandeville, " hebegan. "You are already aware of the deep interest I feel in your daughter, and how intimately my future happiness is interwoven with her goodopinion. That good opinion, I have the best of evidence to believe, isbeing undermined by one to whom you have ever been kind, but who, I amsure, you would not wish to become your son-in-law, though he has theaudacity--if I may be allowed so strong an expression--to aspire after yourdaughter's hand! Having nothing of his own to recommend him, and knowingthat I am in his way, he does not cease to traduce me to your daughter onevery occasion, and I fear the insidious poison of his oily tongue hasalready had a serious effect on her mind, which, if not put an end to, willturn her good opinion of me into dislike or even aversion. Why it was but afew days ago that he and another fellow, a stranger in these parts, and avery suspicious-looking chap, had a conference in private, of, to say thebest of it, a very sinister character; and, would you believe it, thisfellow disguised himself so as to appear the very personation of myself?

"I was struck dumb, sir, when these facts were put in my possession by oneof my workmen, who happened to see the villains and overhear a part oftheir talk. But the worst of the story remains to be told. Either by chanceor design--and with the facts in the case I leave you to determinewhich--these confederates placed themselves near a bower to which yourdaughter had resorted but a few minutes previously, so that she, howeverunwillingly, must have heard a good portion of what passed between them!Only think of it! She for whom I would sacrifice all else, beholding me, asshe must suppose, under such criminal aspects!"

This most artfully told tale was not without its effect upon the father. Hebelieved it: how could he help it when so strongly corroborated by what hisdaughter had previously told him? At the conclusion of it, he demanded, with something of vehemence in his manner:

"Who was the despicable villain that thus dared to plot against theinterest of my family?"

"Ah, there is the difficulty, " said Duffel, craftily. "I fear to divulgenames for several reasons. In the first place, I know you cannot but feelhighly indignant, and will desire to punish the criminal as he deserves;but I have no proof that will stand in law, and--!"

"Will not the testimony of my daughter added to yours be sufficient toconvict the rascal, I'd like to know?"

"You forget that your daughter's testimony would criminate me--that shemust fully believe it was I, and no other, that was in conversation withthe stranger; for I am told that the disguise was perfect, so much so thatit is impossible your daughter should not be deceived. "

"I see the difficulty. "

"Well, as I was going to say, being unable to substantiate my charges, Iwould lay myself liable to prosecution for slander, which must be far frompleasant, beside giving my adversary a decided advantage over me. In thenext place, my name would be coupled with those of blacklegs and secretvillains, a circumstance far more to be dreaded than the other. But I havea still higher motive for wishing this affair to be kept quiet--yourdaughter's welfare and fair name. Pardon me for being compelled to speak ofher in this connection; it is, I assure you, sorely afflicting to me; but Ishall strive to do my duty, even with the fear of offending before my eyes. As already shown, your daughter's evidence, either publicly or privatelygiven, must lay upon me the weight of crime; in addition to this, I mustnow undertake the formidable task of informing you that my enemy, who Ihave already told you has an eye to your daughter's hand, is regarded byher with favor. Do not be startled; I am but telling you the plain truth, which, unless a stop can be put to the plotting now on foot, you will buttoo soon find out to your sorrow. This fellow, who desires to rival me inthe affections of your daughter, has been pouring into her ear tales ofevery sort to prejudice her against me--and I fear with but too muchsuccess. Lately, she avoids me whenever it is convenient to do so, whileshe often walks out with my--no, he is too contemptible to be called arival. 

"You now see the state of the case; you see on what a slippery place Istand, and how much need there is of being wary and cautious where and howI step. My fair name is in danger of being tarnished; my prospects for lifeblighted; my hopes destroyed and myself suspected of being the associateof villains. And all this has been so artfully contrived, I find myself inthe meshes of the net woven to entrap me, ere I had become aware of anydesigns being formed against me, or that I had enemies who were endeavoringto compass my ruin; and, worse than all, when these overwhelming truths aremade manifest to me, and my very soul burns to extricate myself from thedifficulties that surround me, and fasten the crime where it belongs, andcrush the miscreant with his own guilt, I am tied. So encircled am I, thatevery attempt I might make to escape the toils of the cowardly foe who haslaid his plans so deep and darkly, will only add to the horrors of mysituation. Pardon me, then, for withholding the name of him who is strivingto rum me; but oh, if possible, save your daughter from his grasp!"

"How can I without knowing his name? Eveline has much company and manyadmirers; but of all the number, I can fix upon no one to suspect. "

"There it is again! My God! what am I to do?"--and with these words, Duffelpaced up and down in the greatest apparent distress. 

"You surely can trust _me_ with his name?" suggested Mr. Mandeville. 

"True, I can trust you with anything, only that I fear your indignationwill betray me. "

"Never fear; for once I will keep cool at all hazards. "

"I make one solemn condition: you must never, under any circumstances, reveal the name of your informant to either your daughter or my enemy. "

"Why this restriction?"

"I have already explained why as far as _he_ is concerned. "

"But Eveline?"

"Oh, I have a different reason for desiring her to be kept ignorant of myconnection with her friend's exposure, "--and as he said this, the fellowactually blushed and seemed much embarrassed. 

"I do not understand you. "

"Well, you see this friend of hers--I must again ask pardon for associatingher name with his so frequently, be reassured I do it with pain--as I havealready remarked, has ingratiated himself into her good opinion, andknowing me to be in the way of the accomplishment of his wishes, he hasprejudiced her against me, and done so in such a manner as to induce thebelief in her mind that I am his bitterest enemy, and would use any meansto do him an injury or blacken his character. Hence, if she were to knowthat anything came through me, she would at once set it down as false andslanderous, which would drive her farther from me and nearer to the other, thereby hastening the very calamity we would avert. "

"I see you are right, having given more attention to the subject than Ihave. I will never mention your name in connection with this matter, toeither my daughter or any other, without your permission. "

"Thank you. Leaving all after action on your part to be as your judgmentshall dictate, I have nothing more left me to do in this trying interview, than to reveal the name of the intriguer--it is Charles Hadley. "

"_Charles Hadley!_" exclaimed the father in astonishment. 

"It is none other than he. "

"I could hardly have believed it of him. "

"Nor I. Such depth of depravity is truly inconceivable to an honorablemind. "

"I remember now, he has been somewhat familiar with Eveline; but I had noidea the beggarly dog would dare think of marrying her. I must see to thisimmediately. "

"Remember to be cautious for my sake. "

"Don't fear on that ground. "

Thus the interview ended, Duffel having accomplished more by it than he hadexpected. The more Mr. Mandeville thought on the subject, the morethoroughly he became convinced of Hadley's guilt. Did not Duffel'sstatement correspond precisely with that of his daughter? and how could itbe so without being true? It was an impossibility. The more he reflected, the deeper became his conviction of the guilt of Hadley and of theexistence of a plot to defame Duffel. Another idea suggested itself: "Washis daughter an intentional or an unintentional party to thesetransactions? Might not her dislike of Duffel and her preference for Hadleyinduce her to seek for some means to accomplish the disgrace of theformer?" While he was weighing this supposition in the balance of his mind, he chanced to see his daughter walking with Hadley, and their manner ofconversation and the evident good-will existing between them, led him, inhis bewildered state, to conclude that Eveline was not as free fromimplication as she might be. After harboring this thought for a day or twolonger, he charged her with the crime of confederating to injure Duffel, asalready related. Had he known that Duffel's story was made so fitly apt, simply because he had basely eavesdropped and sacrilegiously listened tothe sanctitude of a conversation at the domestic hearth, how differentwould have been the result!

CHAPTER III. 

THE INVALID. 

When Mr. Mandeville entered the house, as related at the close of the firstchapter, he found Eveline lying on the floor of her room, in a state ofinsensibility. All his efforts to arouse her were unavailing, and leavingher in the care of the distracted housemaid, he hastened off for thedoctor. When the stunning influence was removed, Eveline was stillunconscious. A burning fever was in her veins, and delirium in her brain. All night long the doctor remained by her bedside, and when morning atlength compelled him to visit other patients, he left with an expression onhis countenance, which caused anything but a hopeful sensation in thefather's breast. 

Days of anxiety and nights of sleepless watching passed away, and yet thefather, with pale cheeks and heavy heart, sat by the bedside of theafflicted. No mother had she, that kind parent having several years beforebeen laid in the cold grave; and the father strove to make up for the lossas far as he could understand the necessities of a sick-room; and, indeed, he became wonderfully gentle in his attentions. His touch was trained to belight and soft as a woman's, his step quiet, and his manner subdued. Hewould leave the room only for a few minutes at a time, and then return withan air of impatience, but it often happened that for hours together hewould allow no one to share the duties of nurse with him, though the bestof aid was always at hand. And he had a reason for this singular course ofconduct. Eveline frequently raved in her delirium, and words would thenfall from her lips which he would not have others to hear for the wealth ofIndia. Why? Listen for a few moments:

"Oh, how dark! all dark! Nothing but clouds! No sun, no moon, no stars!When _will_ morning come? Who made it dark? Oh, God! that my father, my ownfather, should do this!"

Thus would the unconscious child talk into the very ear of her parent, often wringing her hands and manifesting the utmost distress. Then herthoughts would take another direction, on this wise:

"What a load is on my heart; oh, so heavy! It weighs me down to the earth. Who will take it away? Alas, there is no one to pity me! No one will cometo me and lift this great burden from my bosom; and it is crushing thelife-blood from my heart! Hark! don't you hear the drops fall as they arepressed out? Patter, patter, patter! Well, it will soon be over; they willsee the blood; yes, and _he_, my once good, dear, kind father; oh, may henever know that _his_ hand wrung it out and wrenched my heart in twain!Poor father! he knew not that he was killing me--me his only daughter. Mayhe never be wiser! Ah, I am going. "

She would sink down exhausted, and lay sometimes for hours in a stupor, after these paroxysms of excitement, and the heavy-hearted father oftenfeared she would never rouse again. But a higher stage of fever wouldawaken her from the state of lethargy, and then the ears of the agonizedparent would be greeted and his heart pierced by words like these:

"Oh, hear him, father, hear him! I know he can explain it to yoursatisfaction. How can Charles bear such charges? I wonder at his patienceand self-command. Father, father! How unjust! How cruel! Do let him speak!Convinced! Yes, on what grounds? Whose word is entitled to more credit thanthat of Charles? That's it! The name--the name of the base slanderer. Iknow it is some villain. Father! how _can_ you deny him the only means ofdefense? 'Unpleasant rencounter!' yes, to the vile miscreants, no doubt. 'Confidence!' My life! isn't Charles worthy of confidence, too? His wordalone is worth a thousand oaths of such heartless slanderers as those thatstab in the dark! Don't get angry, Charles, he's my father. Nobly done!How respectfully he acts when so abused and insulted! All will yet beright. Ah! I'll tell him how I spurn the accusation! How my soul burns withindignation that his fair name should be assailed! I am so glad he iscoming; I know he feels deeply the wrong--What!"

At this point the startled look of the poor girl alarmed the father. Shebent her head, in a listening attitude, as if eager to catch every wordthat was spoken by some one in the distance. Ah, too well the wretchedparent knew on what her thoughts were running. Too well he knew where andwhen the blow had fallen that smote his child to the dust--perhaps hadopened to her the gate of death. A deep, stifled, half sigh, half groanescaped from her lips, and she murmured in a hoarse whisper:

"Father, father! you will kill your child. Oh, God! this is too much!Turned from our door! without a word of comfort! How deadly pale he is! Myown parent to call him 'unworthy!' and then forbid him to speak!"

At this point a shriek from her lips would lift the father to his feet, thecold drops of agony on his brow. That soul-rending cry he had heard before, but it lost none of its horrors by being repeated. Alas, it told but tooplainly of the wreck his cruel words had made, and he trembled lest onlythe beginning of sorrows was upon him. How he blamed himself for being sorash and precipitate; and, as Eveline sunk back in exhaustion, the awfulthought kept forcing itself into his mind:

"If she dies, I am her murderer!" What a reflection for a parent over analmost dying child! Who can measure the anguish it created in his breast?

There lay his precious child before him, prostrated by his own act, hovering on the very brink of the grave, life trembling on a breath--andhe, oh, he might never whisper a word of comfort in her ear! Poor man! Forall this there was no repentance in his soul; it was only regret andremorse--but oh, remorse how bitter! Not that his belief was changed as tothe guilt and innocence of the parties, for he still had confidence inDuffel, and was fully persuaded of Hadley's evil intentions. He was gladthat the designs of the latter had been frustrated, but blamed himself forthe manner in which it had been done. 

But the reflections of the unhappy man, whether of reproach, sorrow, orregret, were ended for the time by another phase in the ever-changingcondition of the invalid. In tones expressive of the deepest wretchedness, the daughter, once more arousing from the stupor of exhaustion, wouldpiteously exclaim, in low, sad accents, whose inexpressible woe pierced theafflicted watcher's heart as with scorpion daggers:

"Gone! gone!--gone without a parting word or look! Gone, and my aching eyesshall behold him no more! Gone, and the darkness comes over me! Oh, thishorrid gloom!--this load on my heart! Father! Charles! why do you bothleave me in this dreadful place?"

"Eveline, Eveline, my dear; your father is here; he has not left you; see, I am by you; give me your hand. "

"Did somebody call me? Who is there?"

"It is I, my child, your father. Come with me; let me lead you from thisplace. "

"Ah, it's a strange voice! I hoped it was dear father or Charles; but, no, no, Charles was driven away; he is gone forever! Oh, my poor heart!--andfather, he has left me too: they are gone, and I shall die here. Oh, whatwill father say when he finds me dead? Well, it is best that he is away, for now he will not know that he has killed me. Poor, dear, kind father! Iwould so much like to say farewell before I go. It might be someconsolation for him to know when I am gone that I love him still!"

Every word of these last sentences went to the father's heart. How strongmust be that affection which could still cling to him so tenderly, thoughhe had committed such an outrage upon her feelings with regard to another!The distressed sire bowed his head and smote his breast. Then he knelt downby the bedside and prayed. It was the first prayer he had offered up foryears; but, oh! how earnestly he suplicated that his child might be sparedto him. In his agonized pleading, so great was the commotion in his spiritand the emotions of his heart, that tears, the first that had bedewed hiseyes since the death of his wife, streamed down his face. May we not hopethat his prayer was heard? But the horrors of the sick room were not yetover. Eveline kept sleeping and waking, or rather, she lay in a state ofstupor or raved in a delirium of fever, with occasional intervals of quiet, which sometimes lasted for hours, and excited delusive hopes in the heartof the father, that she was better, only to plunge him again into doubt andfear when the fever fit returned. He arose from his knees, and bending overhis child, imprinted kiss after kiss, "with all a mother's tenderness, "upon her brow and lips. O, how rejoiced would he have been could thosekisses have conveyed to her an understanding of his feelings at thatmoment! How a knowledge of his affection would have gladdened her heart!But, no; for all the return manifested, he might as well have pressed hislips to cold marble. After a time, the fever returned in violence, and sheresumed her distempered and broken discourse:

"Never! never! I will stay with you, if you wish me to; but marry Duffel, Inever will! Force me to? No, father, you cannot! You may drive me from yourhouse; you may turn me off and disown me, but you cannot make me perjuremyself before God at the altar. No, father, I will obey you in all else; inthis I cannot, and will not. If I were to go and forswear my soul in thesolemn rites of marriage, my adored mother would weep over me in sorrow, ifangels _can_ weep in heaven. No, never, never!"

"My child, my dear Eveline, " said the father, tenderly endeavoring to quiether, "you need not fear that your father will be so cruel"--and he laid hishand gently upon her, to assure her of his presence; but it had a contraryeffect from that he intended; she seemed to apprehend violence, and criedout:

"Help! help! They are dragging me away to marry a villain! Will no one helpme? Where is Charles? Leave me! help!" She began to scream very loudly, andMr. Mandeville knew not what to do. The doctor, however, opportunely cameat this moment, and administered a soothing potion, and she became quiet. 

This was the recurring succession of events in the sick chamber for thefirst ten days of Eveline's illness; then there was a change; the violentsymptoms of disease were reduced, and a state of dreamy languor succeeded, with rare intervals of excitement, and those of the mildest type; butconsciousness did not return, and the father had the satisfaction ofknowing that the secrets of the place were his own. He had now but littlefear that others would learn them, but this gleam of comfort wasovershadowed by the increased apprehensions that his child's sickness mustprove fatal. Indeed, hope had almost fled from his bosom, but he clung witha death-grasp to the desire for her recovery, if for nothing else, that agood understanding might exist between them. He could not endure thethought of her leaving the world under a wrong impression of the _motives_by which he had been actuated in the course he had pursued. As his long andcontinued watching had worn him down, he now left the bedside frequently tosnatch a little rest, and recuperate his exhausted powers. 

And where was Hadley all this time? No fond mother ever hovered about thecradle of her sick darling with deeper solicitude, than did he about theresidence of his beloved. He made friends of the nurse and maid, and fromthem and the doctor kept himself advised of her condition. Oh, how hisheart ached to be by the bedside of the sufferer! How, at times, his spiritrebelled at the injustice of the father! But when he was told of hisdevoted attention, tireless care, and deep distress, he forgave him in hisheart and blessed him for his devoted kindness to the invalid. 

But where was Duffel? Let the sequel tell. 

CHAPTER IV. 

DUFFEL--THE SECRET CAVE AND CLAN. 

For the first few days of her illness, Duffel came to inquire afterEveline. Finding that she was likely to remain sick for a length of time, if she ever recovered, he excused himself from further attentions bypleading the necessity of a previous engagement, which would probablyrequire his absence for a week or possibly a fortnight. With apparently thedeepest solicitude for the recovery of Eveline and of sympathy for Mr. Mandeville, he took his leave. 

When a little way from the house, he muttered to himself:

"Well, I am free from the necessity of keeping up appearances here anylonger. Now for the _cave_!"

In a short time, he was threading his way through the forest, mounted on afine animal. A narrow path lay before him, which he followed for somemiles, and then turned into the untrodden wilderness and wound his waythrough its trackless wastes. There were no signs indicating that the footof man or domesticated beast had ever pressed the earth in those solitarywilds; yet Duffel seemed familiar with the place, as was evident from hisunhesitating choice of ways and careless ease. He knew by marks, to othersunseen, or, if seen, their significance unknown, that he was moving in theright direction. Having traveled several miles in this way, he at lengthcame to a beaten path, at right-angles with the course he had been going, into which he guided his noble beast. After pursuing this latter course ata rapid rate for more than an hour, he again turned off into the woods, and, guided by the same mystic signs as before, shaped his course withunerring precision, notwithstanding the forest was so dense and overgrownwith underbrush as to render it almost impervious to sight, and to an utterstranger a bewildering labyrinth, from whose mazes he might labor in vainto extricate himself, unless, indeed, he possessed the almost instinctivetact of the Indian, or the thorough knowledge of the most experiencedbackwoodsman. 

Why Duffel was so obscurely careful in selecting his way, will presently beseen. In the direction last taken, he traveled on until the sun was bendingto the western horizon, when he came to a thicket of bushes and vines, socompact in growth it seemed an impossibility to enter it, even in acrawling position, without the aid of an ax and pruning-knife. Glancingthis way and that, as if to assure himself that no one was near, aprecaution that might almost be set down as a useless exhibition oftimidity in that wild out-of-the-way place, so far from the habitation ofcivilised man. Duffel, when satisfied that no human eye was upon him, dismounted, and leading his steed by the bridle a short distance to theleft, paused, looked around him again, and then lifting a pendant prong ofa bush, with a very slight exertion of strength, he moved back a large massof vines and branches, which had been with great care and ingenuity, and atthe expense of much labor, wrought into a door or gate of livingdurability. 

Through this gate-way he first sent his horse, then entered and passedthrough himself, carefully shutting the verdure-hidden door behind him, andno eye could discover the place where he had disappeared. 

From this entrance, a road, some five or six feet wide had been cut outinto the middle of the thicket, which was a large open area covered withgrass and shaded by bushy trees, of small altitude, with wide-extendedbranches. Arrived at this spot, Duffel unsaddled his horse and turned himloose to crop the luxuriant grass. A dozen others were there before him, and as it was impossible that they should get there unaided, their riderswere no doubt somewhere near. But this was something expected by thenew-comer, as he manifested no surprise thereat, but appeared well pleasedat the discovery. 

After looking about to see that all was well, Duffel bent his steps towarda certain point in the environing thicket, and lifting a small bough, opened another verdant door, but this time of such small dimensions as tobarely admit a single person. A narrow path led away from thisartfully-contrived entrance into the dark and tangled recesses beyond. Itwas now growing late; twilight was over the world, but it was quite darkwhere the intertwined foliage of vines and branches wove their impenetrablenet above and at the sides of the lonely path, and Duffel was obliged tofeel his way with care. A few minutes' walk, however, brought him to theborder of a stream of some considerable size, the banks of which formed theboundary of the thicket. Precisely at the spot where he reached the stream, was a projecting rock, covered with a luxuriant growth of underwood, vinesand flowers, which overhung its outer edge and draped down, like a thickcurtain, to the depth of eight or ten feet. This rock extended some fiftyyards up the stream from the place where Duffel stood, and outwardly aboutan average of four feet. Its peculiar formation, however, was hid from viewby carefully trained bushes at its lower extremity. This care had beentaken to hide a secret passage, which led along the bank, under thetable-leaf rock just described. 

Duffel again took the precaution to cast wary looks about him, in alldirections; then parting the bushes at its opening, he entered the secretpassage under the rock and groped his way along. About midway, he came to apillar-like rock, which entirely blocked up the path. Turning sharply tothe left, he felt his way a short distance, and came to an aperture in thewall-like stone. Here he paused a moment, and bent his ear in a listeningattitude; then gave three distinct raps upon some substance that filled upthe gap. 

"Who is there?" was demanded in a stern voice from within. 

"A friend, " was the reply. 

"The pass-word. "

"_Death to traitors!_"

"Enter!"

And a massive door was thrown back, through which Duffel passed and foundhimself in a dimly-lighted and damp entrance-way, which pursuing for ashort distance led him to a spacious cave, which was now brilliantlyilluminated by many lights that were reflected from a thousand polishedsurfaces of crystalline rock. So soon as he entered, a sentinel-watchman, whose duty it was to proclaim the names of all new-comers, announced himthus:

"Lieutenant Duffel!"

"Welcome to the Secret Cave!

"Welcome is a brother brave!" was the greeting he received from a score ofvoices whose owners came forward and took him cordially by the hand. 

Most of the band there assembled were rather good looking men; but therewere a few dare-devil marked fellows, whose sinister countenances bore theimprint of crime and an expression of anything but honesty or goodness;hard-featured and hard-hearted, they had doubtless committed deedsentitling them to a familiar acquaintance with the halter. 

Duffel had been in the cave but a short time, when the attention of all wasarrested by the announcement:

"The captain! Let the brethren of the _Secret League_ do him honor. "

Every one present immediately uncovered his head and stood up, observingthe most profound silence. 

The captain did not enter at the place that had given ingress to Duffel, but made his appearance from an inner chamber, which communicated with theouter or large cave by a narrow passage between two pillars of rock. A doorwas nicely adjusted to work upon one and fasten upon the other of thesepillars. When shut, the most experienced eye, unless by the closestscrutiny, could not detect its existence, so perfect was the workmanship, and so exactly perfect in match of color with the surrounding walls of thecavern. This inner room was set apart for the captain's special use, and noone dared to enter it, except by his permission or invitation. More of ithereafter. 

The captain wore the same dress as the other genteel portion of the band, and there was nothing to distinguish him from the rest, except the militaryhat and epaulets which he wore, or omitted to wear, as circumstances orinclination dictated. As he advanced from the door of his chamber, he wasrespectfully saluted by all his followers, and then, by two officials, escorted to a carved seat, on a raised platform, at one end of the cave. There was very little form or ceremony used on ordinary occasions, as itwas an established custom among the members of the Secret Clan to conductall their affairs on the most republican plan. In certain cases, thecaptain's word was law, and the penalty of disobedience to it, death; butall the laws, rules, and regulations of the order were passed by a vote ofthe clan. 

The captain himself was a full-sized and rather good looking man, with theexception of a sinister expression of countenance, which instantly conveyedthe impression:--beware of him! Had Eveline been present, she wouldinstantly have recognized him as the stranger whom she had seen and heardin conversation with Duffel. 

After he had taken his seat, Duffel was placed in one at his right, andanother of the staff in one at his left hand. 

"Is there any unfinished business before the order to-night?" demanded thecaptain. 

"None, " replied an individual who acted as secretary. 

"Any reports from committees?"

"I have one from the committee appointed to investigate the chargepreferred against Mayhew, of treason to the order. It is brief, as follows:The committee, on whom was imposed the duty of investigating the chargesentered against Philip Mayhew, beg leave to report, that they have had hiscase under strict advisement, and after a careful examination of all theevidence, and a patient hearing of his own allegations, found him guilty ascharged. He will give the order no more trouble--his tongue is silenced!

"B. HUBBEL, _Ch'n. _"

The report was accepted, and the committee discharged. No other writtenreport was made, and the captain said:

"The secretary will burn the parchment containing the report just read, inthe presence of all the brethren, that they may know nothing remains onrecord, which, under any possible contingency that might arise, could beused against them. "

The paper was burned, as directed, in accordance with the usages of theorder. 

"What success have the brethren had in the way of _business_ since our lastmeeting?"

"I have taken two horses, " said one; "they are both in the stable of theorder. "

"I have taken one horse and fifty dollars, " said another; and as he spoke, he walked up and laid down a pile of money on a salver, prepared for thepurpose, in front of the captain. All moneys were placed there fordistribution. 

"Well done, Simon! How did you get the money? No foul play, I hope?"

"No, your honor; I was at Louisville, and saw the money paid to a'subject. ' I kept an eye on him, followed him into a crowd, and--put themoney in my pocket. "

This brief history of rascality brought smiles to the faces of all present. 

"Here are five hundred dollars, " said a third, bringing forward the cash;"it was won at the 'table. '"

Twenty others made similar reports, and when all the funds were handedover, there was more than seven thousand dollars for distribution andtwenty horses in the "stable" of the clan. 

"An unusually profitable month's work, " said the captain, when this branchof the night's proceedings was finished. "I hope the brethren will notweary in their efforts. What other business have we to transact? Are thereany cases of delinquency to report?"

"If your honor please, " said one of the hard-featured fellows beforementioned, "I perceive Amos Duval is not with us to-night. Can any of thebrethren give an excuse for his absence?"

In response to this inquiry, another of these ill-looking customers arose, and made known his belief, that the said Amos was not to be reliedon--that, in his opinion, he was a traitor at heart, and would betray theorder at the first opportunity. 

"Are you aware, " said the captain, "of the grave nature of the accusationyou have made? Permit me to remind you, gentlemen, one and all, that it ismade a crime by our laws, punishable by death, for one brother to accuseanother falsely. "

"I am well aware of our wholesome laws on this subject, " said theinsinuating accuser; "I do not charge Duval with being certainlydisaffected, but I have my suspicions that all is not right, and suggest, that your honor and the brethren will do well to watch his movements. If inmy over-zeal for the good of the order I go too far in this matter, I cravethe forgiveness of the brethren. "

"We appreciate your motives, but advise great care and the possession ofvery strong evidence of guilt, by the accuser, ere charges are preferredagainst a member of our order. The rule on this subject must and shall beenforced. Our worthy lieutenant, who often meets with our brother Duval, will see him and ascertain the cause of his absence, as, also, his feelingstoward the order. "

The captain was evidently not well pleased with the course pursued by thesemen in regard to Duval; most likely, he suspected there was a conspiracybetween them, having its foundation on some ill will these desperadoes hadconceived against the absentee. This was really the case, whatever were theleader's thoughts. The two had sworn to stand by each other, in all timesof need and in all matters of rascality. Duval had unintentionally insultedone of them, hence the insinuation against him in the order. Perhaps theircase will come up again in the course of our story. So soon as this matterwas disposed of, the captain inquired:

"Are there any applications for admission into our order?"

"One, if you please, " replied the secretary. "Abram Hurd wishes to become amember with us. "

"Has he been adequately examined, as to his qualifications to be numberedwith us?"

"He has, your honor, and the result is eminently satisfactory. "

"Will the order pass upon the application of Abram Hurd?"

Voted affirmatively. 

"The tellers will attend to their duty. " Two men came forward; eachreceived a box from the captain. One was empty; the other contained whiteand black balls. These boxes were passed to every member; that containingthe balls first. 

"White balls elect; black ones reject, " said the captain. 

When the voting was over, the result was announced: "All white. "

"Abram Hurd is then elected to become a member of our order, and will beinitiated at our next regular meeting. Let the brethren bear this in mind. Is there any other business to be transacted?"

"None. "

"The order then stands adjourned until the first Friday night of nextmonth. "

CHAPTER V. 

CONSPIRACIES. 

After the adjournment of the clan, the members collected together invarious little squads about the cave, and engaged in conversation, some ina loud, braggadocio, swaggering tone, others in low, murmuring voices, audible only to themselves, and still others in confidential whispers. Ofthose who have figured heretofore in the incidents of this story, we maymention the hard-featured, desperado-looking fellows who had conceived adislike to Duval, as being very earnestly engaged in some matter amongthemselves, doubtless of a vile character; it would seem, too, from theirmanner, that others than themselves were not to be admitted into theircounsels, or to know the nature of their scheme, be it what it might, forthey kept casting wary glances about on all sides, as if with the intentionof guarding their circle from intrusion, and their words from being heardby ears for which they were not intended. All the clan, however, were toobusily engaged in concerns of their own, to notice others. This fact wasobserved by the ruffians, and they became less reserved and cautious intheir movements. Had one been near them at the closing of their confab, hewould have heard this fragment of a conversation among them:

"League or no League he's got to die!"

"Better be careful, or you'll have the cap'n down on you. "

"---- the cap'n!"

"Beware what you say! that is treason!"

"Treason be it then! When Bill Mitchel says he'll do a thing he does it, and all the Leagues and captains in or out of h----l can't stop him!"

"Come, come! be cool and don't make a fool of yourself; it can all be donewithout so much bluster. "

But, as we are not so deeply interested in the proceedings of these fellowsas in some other of our characters, we will pass from them and theirvillainous plot, whatever it may be, and look after Duffel and the captain. 

These two worthies had drawn aside, and were deeply absorbed inconfidential intercourse. As their conversation is of considerableinterest, we give a part of it:

"Well, Duffel, how is that affair with Miss Mandeville prospering?"

"Not so well as I could wish. The truth is I shall have a pretty hard time, if my suit wins at all. "

"Indeed! I am sorry for that; for I was strongly in hopes of receiving alittle assistance from you in the way of cash. I have been at great expensethe past few months, and need a little aid just now, to finish thenecessary fixtures for our south-western branch. You know it takes a mineto fit up a cave such as that was and is to be. "

"I am really sorry that things have turned out as they have. I expected, when I mentioned this matter before, that ere this time I should haveconsummated the affair; but I am far less sanguine of success now than atany previous time. Mr. Mandeville favors my suit, but the daughter hastaken a dislike to me and--"

"Ho, ho! I thought you were always victorious with the women. "

"So I have been until now, and I am by no means vanquished yet, in thisinstance; but I have a rival in the way, one, too, that had possession ofthe citadel of her heart, ere I became a candidate for her hand; that makesa great difference, you know; then, to make the matter worse, I knewnothing about the state of the case until I had spent a length of time inwooing, all to no purpose, because of my ignorance. But enough of this. Ifworst comes to worst, rivals must be got out of the way. "

"Be guarded there, Duffel; a resort to foul means must never be had untilevery other method has been 'tried and found wanting. ' Remember that. Onemurder will do more against us than fifty thefts or robberies. "

"I know all that, captain, and shall not peril the existence of ourorganization, or even the safety of one of its members, except necessitycompels to the act; but I think there will be no need of adopting extrememeasures in the present case. I have a different plan of operations markedout, which, with your assistance and approval, I will first act upon, andif _it_ fails, then something else afterward. "

"Well, proceed; I am all attention, and will not fail to render suchassistance as shall be in my power, though you know my time is limited. "

"I shall not draw upon you for much aid; an hour is all the time it willrequire for your part of the performance. But before you can appreciate themerits of my scheme, it is necessary that I should make some explanations. You remember the conversation we held in old Marshall's garden?"

"Yes. "

"Well, it turned out that Miss Mandeville was in the arbor and overheard apart of what passed between us. "

"The devil she did!"

"Yes, but only enough to excite her suspicions that there was something inthe wind--nothing definite or satisfactory, so that we may considerourselves safe on that score. "

"But, between you and me, Duffel, I don't like these suspicions; they areapt to lead to something worse. "

"True; but in this instance I think such will not be the result. However, Imust be frank with you, and I hope, if I have gone too far in any point, you will pardon me, for I did the very best that could be done under thecircumstances, I think. As I said, Miss Mandeville heard a few words thatpassed between us at the time referred to, and when, a short timeafterward, her father urged upon her the propriety of accepting me as asuitor for her hand, she must needs tell him of this little incident!"

"Worse and worse!"

"Not so fast. I know it is bad, and I knew then that something of adecisive kind must be done in order to relieve myself from the dilemma intowhich this little untoward circumstance had placed me. I remembered that onthat occasion you were somewhat disguised, so that in your natural state, or in any other disguise you might wish to assume, it would be impossibleto identify you as the same individual. Well, after long deliberation, andthe formation and abandonment of many projects, I finally had to settleupon one, which, in your then appearance, compromised your character tosome degree; but I hope the course I pursued, notwithstanding thisunpleasant part connected with it, will meet your entire and cordialapprobation. Indeed, had I not felt certain of this, I should not haveadopted the measures I did. "

Here Duffel gave the captain a history of the events narrated in chaptersecond. When he finished his recital, the captain said:

"Why, Duffel, you are the very devil at a plot! I had no idea you could actthe part so well--I shall certainly use you hereafter. But now for the restof your scheme; if it is half as well matured as the first part, I shallcertainly join you in it with all my heart. "

"Well, you see, I have already deceived the old gentleman, but he must bekept deceived; it will not do to let first impressions wear off, or allwill be lost. From all that I can learn, he is very tender toward hisdaughter since her illness, and it is not unlikely will yield to herwishes, if she recovers, more than he has done heretofore; but in order tokeep his suspicions of Hadley excited, while he still retains his goodopinion of your humble servant, his mind must be plied and his prejudiceskept alive, so as to counteract the effect likely to be produced by afather's feelings for a suffering child. In other words, the growingsympathy for his daughter, must be met by a countervailing distrust andaversion toward Hadley. To accomplish this I have hit upon the followingplan. "

Here he drew the captain still further from the others, and, in low andsmothered tones, imparted to him his scheme, which was no doubt avillainous one, as it drew from his auditor and confidant an exclamation tothis effect:

"By my soul, Duffel, you are an adept in these matters! I never dreamed ofyour being so deep a plotter! The world and your friends, also, have doneyou injustice by not giving you credit for so ample a development of suchrare ability to deceive. Success to your plans. I will gladly second them, as far as the part allotted to me is concerned, with a hearty good will. But what think you I had best do?"

"Taking everything into consideration, I think the best thing you can dofor us all is to go down south, or to St. Louis, and remain for a length oftime, perhaps till I send you word of what is transpiring in this part ofthe world. "

"What will be done about our next meeting? You know we have an applicationon hand. "

"Let the meeting be postponed; or, if you see fit, I will attend to theinitiation in your absence. Choose yourself between the two measures. "

"I will let you preside at the meeting, then; we have need of a fewadditions to our number, when we can find the right kind of fellows; andfrom all I can learn, this Hurd is made of the right stuff. See thateverything is done strictly in order. "

"I will attend to that. But had you not better announce this arrangement tothe members present? They are all here yet, I believe. "

In accordance with this suggestion, those of the clan present were notifiedof the captain's probable absence at their next meeting, and thatLieutenant Duffel would act in his place in the interim, to whom allreports must be made, and from whom all orders must emanate and be obeyed. After this was arranged, Duffel, who was highly pleased at the working ofthings, again drew his superior aside, and said:

"I have now a request to make of you, captain, which, if compatible withyour wishes and convenience, I hope you will see fit to grant. "

"I shall be most happy to grant anything in my power, be assured of thatfact. "

"I know your good will and generosity are great, or I should not ask thefavor I am about to crave, which is, that you will allow me the use of yourprivate room here during your absence. I have a particular reason fordesiring this favor. "

"I perceive so by your earnestness. I hardly know how to grant yourrequest, without delaying my departure. "

"Oh, never mind, then, I can manage to get along without it. "

"No, you shall have it. I mind now of a method by which all necessaryarrangements can be made to-night; and you may find it a very convenientplace to tame some obstinate fair one. Oh, not a word; I understand thesematters. Excuse me for a couple of hours, and I will bring you the key. "

With these words, the captain went to his room, into which he had no soonerentered, than Duffel sought the presence of the desperadoes, two ofwhom--the ones that had taken a dislike to Duval--he engaged inconversation. When assured that no one was sufficiently near or attentiveto hear what passed between them, he said:

"My good fellows, I see we are alone, and I should be pleased to have alittle private and confidential conversation with you. "

"We shall be happy to hear anything Lieutenant Duffel may be pleased tocommunicate, and feel highly flattered by his confidence, " replied one ofthem, speaking for both. 

"Thank you. I presume it is not necessary for me to pledge you to secrecyin regard to any transactions that may take place, either in word or deed, as you will feel bound by honor to look upon all confidentialcommunications and proceedings as sacredly and faithfully to be kept inyour own bosoms. "

"You but do us justice in entertaining such opinions, and, without theasking on your part, we most solemnly pledge our word, even unto death, that what your honor may please to say to us shall be kept a mostinviolable secret, which nothing shall extort from us. "

"I have always found you faithful, and have no hesitation in trusting youagain; but this time I have a peculiar request to make of you, one that maylead to business out of the ordinary line of operations to which you havebeen accustomed. Can I rely on you in any emergency?"

"Yes, to the very death. "

"Are you easily moved by the tears and prayers of persons in distress?"

"Do we _look_ tender-hearted, your honor?"

"Well, no; I can't say that you do; but then the looks are not always atrue criterion by which to judge of the heart. A smooth face and a hardheart may go together, so may a rough visage and warm sympathies. "

"You may rely on us in that particular. "

"Even if the suppliant be a helpless and beautiful woman?"

"Well, I must confess, I don't fancy meddling with feminines much. What doyou say to it, Dick; shall we pledge?"

"Dang the women! It allers looked kinder cowardly to me to see men turnagin' the weak things and abuse 'em; it don't seem nateral, but 'pears likea feller didn't remember his mother, or his sisters, if he had any. But ifthe lieutenant has any work to do, we'll do it, women or no women. Them'smy sentiments, Bill, exactly. "

"Give us your hand on it, then, " said Bill. "And now, give us yours, lieutenant, and the thing's settled. "

With this, they all shook hands in token of agreement, and thus their faithwas pledged. But what a rebuke Dick inadvertently administered to Duffel inhis quaint remarks! How his vicious heart, bad as it was, must have feltthe blow, and all the more severely that it came from such a source!However, the villain was not to be turned from his purpose, and so, pocketing the unintentional affront, he proceeded:

"As you have already heard, our most worthy captain will be absent onimportant business for some time to come, and during the period of hisabsence the duties of command will devolve on me. I have long beencontemplating a measure, which, if carried out, will be of great andlasting benefit to our order. In order to conduct the affair to asuccessful termination, it may become necessary to imprison a female, ayoung lady of great beauty and accomplishments, in this cave. I do not knowthat it will require such extreme measures as this, I hope it will not, butshould it become needful to go to this extreme, I shall desire your aid incarrying her off. "

"We'll be with you, as we have already pledged ourselves; but we must ask, as a favor in return, that you allow us to settle a personal affair withAmos Duval. "

"Of what nature? You know he is a member of the _League_, and that it is acrime to lift a hand against him. "

"We know all about that; but Duval is a traitor at heart, and we can provehim such. "

"Then proceed against him in the order, and I will stand by you. "

"That's just what we want; first to prove him worthy of death by our laws, and secondly, to be allowed to execute the sentence pronounced againsthim. "

Duffel could not but see that there was a discrepancy between the first andlast request of these fellows, though they tried to make them appear asone, and he knew there was personal enmity at the bottom of the wholeaffair. His duty, as a member of the order, made it obligatory for him todiscourage any ill feeling among the members; but he needed the services ofthese two rascals, and so forbore to reprove them. 

"I will aid you as far as my duty to the League will permit, provided youwill do me still another service. "

"Name it. "

"There is a fellow standing in my way in the prosecution of a scheme forthe benefit of our order, and I would like to have him removed. Iunderstand you with regard to Duval; you wish to be revenged upon him forsome injury or insult, and that revenge looks to his death. You need notsay, yea or nay; well, we will stand by each other all around. I will giveyou further instructions at another time. Hold yourselves in readiness atany moment to aid me. Meet me in the forest by the old oak, on the path tothe 'Swamp, ' every day, and be always prepared for either of the services Imay require at your hands. "

"You may rely on us. "

Thus these worthies parted. What a series of villainous conspiracies hadbeen developed in this one night, in that secret den of iniquity! Willthese murderers succeed in all their plans? Alas! the wicked often triumph. 

The captain soon returned, and placed the key of his room in Duffel'spossession--and then the clan dispersed. 

CHAPTER VI. 

PLOTS DEVELOPING. 

"Charles, Charles! Where is Charles?"

This name and inquiry were often repeated by Miss Mandeville as she stilllay "between life and death, " on her couch of fever, pain andunconsciousness, and the tones of her voice were so full of sorrow, thefather's heart melted at last, and he began to relent. And when, after apause, his daughter would continue:

"He is gone! gone!--gone forever!--ah, my poor heart!"--in accents moresadly plaintive than any words that had over fallen upon the parent's ear, he said to himself:

"It must not be! Hadley shall be, sent for; she loves him, and his voicemay call her back to consciousness. I cannot bear to think of her leavingthe world in ignorance of her father's good will; better a thousand timesthat Hadley should be with her for a few hours. He may not be guilty afterall. Why ought I to believe Duffel's word before his? Yes, and before thatof my own daughter, too? and that without a word of explanation! No, it isunnatural. I wonder I have been blinded so long! Yes, Hadley shall beheard, and if he can show a clean hand, Eveline shall no longer mourn overhis absence and my rashness. "

This was going a step farther than Mr. Mandeville had ever gone before: forhe had never been known to recede from a position once taken or to changean opinion once formed, unless the most positive evidence compelled him todo so, and then it was a silent acquiescence to the right rather than awilling change of opinion. 

But a long continuance in the sick room, and the great distress of hischild, had had an effect upon his mind, which no amount of reasoning couldhave produced--he was constrained to acknowledge himself in error, andbrought his mind up to that point where he was willing to confess the wronghe had perpetrated, by "undoing what he had done amiss. " This was a greatachievement for one of his temperament--a conquest over self in a veryselfish and stubborn nature--which gave evidence that there was yet anunder strata of good, a foundation to the character of the man, which, though covered up by the rubbish and rank growth of pride and otherunamiable dispositions, still existed, and was capable of exciting to goodand noble deeds. 

Having once gained the consent of his mind and formed a resolution toretract, he was not long in taking the initiatory step toward amendment. 

He inquired of the maid and nurse if Hadley had been seen, and learned fromthem that he had been in the daily practice of asking after the conditionof Eveline, and that for this purpose he came to a certain designated spot, where one of the two met him to impart such information as he desired. Nosooner was Mr. Mandeville put in possession of this piece of news, than heresolved to meet Hadley at the place of conference himself, and then andthere recall his words and invite him to the house, from which he had beenexcluded so unjustly. Verily this was a change!

Acting upon this resolve, he walked out in the direction of the place whereHadley was expected to make his appearance. As he leisurely sauntered downthe path and neared the spot, his eye fell upon a piece of paper folded upin the shape of a letter. He picked the document up and examined it. It wasdirected in a bold hand to

 "_Charles Hadley_, ---- ----, ----. "

On the back of the letter and above the seal were the words: "_Private andstrictly confidential_, " placed in such a manner as to catch the eye at afirst glance on either side of the letter. The seal was broken and theletter bore ample evidences of having been carefully and repeatedly read. 

An irresistable desire to examine the contents of this paper tookpossession of Mr. Mandeville, and in spite of the breach of good manners, and the violation of every principle of honor, he retired to an obscurecorner of his garden, opened and read so much of the epistle as wasintelligible to him, which ran as follows:

"_Dear Hadley_:--According to agreement, as entered into by us at ourconference in old Marshall's garden, I now impart to you the followinginformation, which you will receive at the hands of one of our mosttrustworthy associates. You will please note the contents of thiscommunication, so as not to fail in the execution of that part of thetransaction assigned to you, and then burn the letter immediately, that youmay prevent the possibility of its falling into other hands, which wouldlead to the most disastrous consequences--perhaps to the destruction of ourorganization. When taken, bring the horses at once to the rendezvous, withsuch other valuables as may come in your possession; and be sure thateverything is done secretly, and in such a manner as to avoid detection. Bebold and determined in resolution, but cautious and guarded in action. Yours, ---- ----, Capt. "

The captain's name was written in characters, as well as all the body ofthe letter, which Mr. Mandeville did not understand, and which wereevidently to be intelligible only to the members of some band of villains, by whom the signs had been adopted as mediums of communication. At thebottom of all was a line to this effect:

"P. S. What will the old man say when he is gone? It will be using him rightfor the scaly trick he served you so recently; eh!"

What a change the perusal of this document brought about in the mind of Mr. Mandeville! The softened expression of benevolence, which had lit up hiscountenance with a glow, left it in a moment. A dark frown settled upon hisbrow and clouds of blackness over his face. 

All his former prejudice against Hadley returned in ten-fold strength; forhad he not the most positive proof of his villainy? Not a moment longerwaited he for an interview, but with the letter carefully stowed away in aside pocket for future reference and use, he bent his steps back to hishouse, revolving in his mind how to proceed in the present emergency. Thatsome great scheme of theft and robbery had been planned, with a design tobe speedily executed, was evident from the contents of the letter; butwhere and when the act or acts were to be committed, it was impossible totell, and consequently, a very difficult matter to decide upon a course ofpolicy likely to thwart the designs of the rogues. After much reflection, Mr. Mandeville concluded it was best to lay the case before the magistrateand take legal advice how to proceed He did so. In a private conferencewith that functionary, they talked over the matter. The justice was aworthy man and a friend to Hadley, and though the evidence was overwhelmingand nearly positive of his guilt, yet he could not find it in his heart tocondemn the young man without a hearing, and was equally unable to get theconsent of his mind to make the matter public, thereby injuring thereputation of his friend, until he could see and converse with him on thesubject. He advised Mr. Mandeville thus:

"I think the best thing we can do is to keep an eye on the movements ofthis young man, Hadley, as well as upon others who may be associated withhim, if he is the villain he is here made to appear. If we instituteproceedings against him, we have only this letter to rely upon, which isnot sufficient to convict him, as there is no legible name at the bottom ofit, and no witness to corroborate the statements. If he is guilty, premature action will give him all advantages, and enable him to clearhimself; whereas, by instituting a strict surveillance over his acts, wemay be able to get at the truth of the matter, and can then actunderstandingly in the case. "

Mr. Mandeville coincided with the magistrate, and then they agreed to keepthe matter strictly to themselves for the present. 

"Shall I retain the letter?" inquired the justice. 

"No, I wish to use it, first, and will then leave it with you, " was thereply--and thus the matter was settled between them. 

While the events just related were transpiring, and at the very hour whenMr. Mandeville was consulting the man of law, Duffel was engaged with histwo ruffian associates in a plot of villainy, which, for deep cunning andcalculation, was superior to anything he had yet conceived and carried out, though it was but a link in the chain of criminal acts he had forged outand was about to follow up. The two held their consultation in thetongueless and earless solitude of a dense swamp, where none could heartheir words or learn the purport of their schemes and give warning. 

"You understand about the horses, do you?" queried Duffel, after he hadbeen explaining some intended operation, in which horses were to be stolen. 

"Yes, fully, " was the reply. 

"Well, the horses will be missed, and, of course, it will be known that_somebody_ has taken them. I have a measure to propose which will throwsuspicion on the wrong track and relieve us from any fear of being chargedwith the theft or even suspected of guilt. "

"That's the sort! do the killing and get the halter around some otherrascal's neck. Let us hear your proposition, lieutenant. "

"You have not forgotten that I mentioned to you in the cave the otherevening, that I might need your services in getting rid of a troublesomefellow who was in my way. I did not then expect to need your services sosoon, if at all, in this branch of our agreement; but, as the horsebusiness is agreed upon, and as the fellow may possibly be something of ahindrance to my plans of operation in the future, I think this will be afirst-rate occasion on which to dispose of him. As I said, somebody will beaccused of stealing the horses, and as it is known that you, gentlemen, have recently been in these parts, and as suspicion has long since pointedto you as having had a hand in several transactions held to be unlawful, you will, as a matter of certainty, be designated as the thieves in thisinstance, unless, by some master-stroke of policy, you can fairly show thatyou are not guilty. Do you see this?"

"It all looks mighty likely, certain. "

"Don't it look more than likely? Don't it look just as if it could not beotherwise?"

"Why, yes; it does look so, that's a fact. "

"Of course you would like to cast the blame somewhere else?"

"We would, that's certain. "

Well, you can do it. I have already prepared the way, and if you willfollow my instructions to the letter, the thing is done?"

"Give us our parts and we will act them to the life, " said Bill, who hadbeen spokesman for both, as was usual at such times. 

"Ay, " said Dick, "and to the death, too, I guess. "

"Quite likely, quite likely!" rejoined Duffel. "Do you think you will havethe nerve to perform this extreme act Should it become necessary?"

"Does Lieutenant Duffel take us to be cowards, that he makes such awhite-livered insinuation?"

"By no means; I only wished to know if you were _now_ prepared for anyemergency that might come up?"

"Yes, any time and always. Go on. "

"My plan is this: So soon as the horses are in our possession, we mustconvey them to the middle of the 'Swamp, ' and be back by morning, or noonat furthest, _and show ourselves_. If we are about early, say as soon aspossible after the animals are missed, and _take part in the search_, few, if any, will think of us as being the thieves, as they are pleased to termsuch operators, while we can, at the same time, turn the hunt after thehorses in the direction in which they are not to be found, if we can do sowithout exciting suspicions of our aims. Mark that! we must be cautious andnot overdo the thing, or it will be worse for us than to do nothing. "

"We understand. "

"Well, that is all on that point; but there is something more to be done;we must direct suspicion to some one else; some one must be accused, and_he must not be about_. You comprehend?"

"Perfectly. "

"Well, I have the sheep already prepared for the sacrifice. "

"Who is he, and where will we find him?"

"_Charles Hadley_ is the man, and you will find him just in the rightplace--the dark passage in the road to C----; he passes that point everynight about nine or ten o'clock. You know what to do with him. "

"Would it not be as well to carry him to the save and imprison him? Youknow, it would not be murder, then. "

"I had thought of that; but if we take him there, it will not do to let himout again, for, if we did, it would be the end of us all; so we shouldhave to both imprison and murder him in the end, which would be much worsethan to put him out of the way at once, let alone the risk attending theplan you suggest. "

"Right. "

"You see, then, we will have some one on whom to lay the theft?"

"Exactly! Huzza for Lieutenant Duffel!"

"Silence!"

"I beg pardon. "

"Remember the time, next Thursday night, and don't fail to be at the 'darkpassage' in time. "

"We'll be there, don't fear; and the thing shall be done up handsomely. "

"But what's to be done with the feller's body when he's dead, I'd like toknow?" interposed Dick. 

"Sure enough, " replied Duffel; "I had forgotten to instruct you on thatpoint. Take him to the sink in that black swamp, and be sure to make him_stay under_. We want no tell-tale carcasses showing themselves. "

"You need have no fears on that point; once there and he'll never see thelight again, nor the light him. "

"I will now leave you to make such arrangements between yourselves as maybe necessary for the work before you. Leave nothing incomplete, and bepunctual to the very minute in every instance. "

With this parting injunction, Duffel left his villainous companions, whobegan at once to prepare themselves for the dastardly business theirsuperior had allotted to them in his schemes of rascality and black-heartedcrime. This was Monday, in the afternoon, and consequently, but three daysuntil Hadley was to be waylaid and slain, and immediately afterwardsomebody's horses stolen and run off, the crime of stealing which was to belaid upon the murdered man. This was a plot worthy of the wretch whoconceived it, and, with the aid of villains as unscrupulous as himself, wasabout to be put in execution. 

From the moment the command of the "_Order of the League of Independents_"(it ought have been named the Order of the League of Murderers andHorse-Thieves) was vested in him, during the captain's absence, he hadresolved to make the most of his time and authority to bring all his plansto a crisis and an issue. Hadley was to be disposed of; Mandeville was tobe blinded, his daughter, through him, forced to wed the rascal, or, failing in this, _she_ was to be forced into measures, by fair means orfoul, of which hereafter. 

 * * * * *

Friday morning was ushered in amid clouds and storm. The heavens wereshrouded in a pall of darkness and the rain came down in torrents. Mr. Mandeville had spent most of the night with his daughter, and did notretire until some hours past midnight. Having been deprived of so muchrest, during the previous two weeks and more, his slumbers were unusuallyheavy, and it was a late hour in the morning when he awoke, and the dismalweather adding to his drowsiness, he continued to lay and rest afterconsciousness had returned. His half-waking, half-dreaming meditations werebroken in upon by a gentle tap at his bed-room door. In a moment he waswide awake, care for his child having quickened his senses, and demanded ifEveline was any worse. 

"No, sir, " was the reply, "it is only Mr. Duffel, who has called andinquired for you. "

"Tell him I will be down in a few minutes. "

Wondering what could bring his visitor at such an early hour, Mr. Mandeville hastily dressed and went into the parlor, where he met and wassaluted by Duffel in the most cordial manner. 

"I reached home at a late hour last night, " said the hypocrite, "and feltso great an anxiety to hear from you and your daughter, I could not waitfor the storm to abate, but hastened at this unseasonable hour to inquireafter her welfare and yours. I hope I have not intruded so far but that youwill pardon my unfashionable call and seeming impatience. How is Eveline?"

"You are always welcome, come at what hour you may. I can hardly answeryour last question; I think Eveline is better in some respects, but she isgreatly reduced, and when the fever leaves, will, doubtless, be veryweak. --I both hope and fear for her. The fever will run its course, and ifshe has constitution enough to outlive it and recuperate, she willrecover; otherwise the result will be fatal. "

"It is impossible, then, for the most skillful and far-seeing to foretellthe issue?"

"Quite impossible. Will you now excuse me for a short time? I have notlooked after my stock this morning. "

"With pleasure. "

Mr. Mandeville left his guest around whose mouth a peculiar smile wasplaying as he passed out at the door. That smile had a meaning. 

After a brief absence the host returned, and in some consternationannounced that his best horse had been stolen during the night. 

"Is it possible!" said Duffel, feigning the utmost surprise. "What villaincould take advantage of the sickness of your daughter, to plan and executesuch a cowardly act?"

"I am persuaded there are more than one connected with these thefts;indeed, I may say, I know there are numbers of thieves infesting thecountry. They are regularly banded together; and, would you believe it, that Hadley, of whom we were once speaking, is an officer in the band, as Ihave every reason to believe. "

"That will exactly correspond with what I told you in the interview towhich you allude. "

"True. "

"Have you seen him lately?"

"I have not. "

"Can he be found this morning?"

"Ah, I perceive your thoughts are running in the same direction as my own. We will inquire after him. "

The inquiries were instituted, but no Hadley was to be found; he had leftthe day previous, but no one could tell whither he had gone, or what hadcalled him away. When these facts were ascertained, Mandeville and Duffelexchanged a significant glance, as much as to say: "Just as we expected!"

The horse stolen was one of great value, and Mr. Mandeville was resolved tomake a desperate effort to recover him; and he was the more fixed in thisdetermination, because the horse was intended as a gift to Eveline on herrecovery, in case she _did_ recover, and, also, because, as he believed, the detection of the culprit would expose the baseness of her lover to hisdaughter, and cause her to discard him at once from her thoughts. --Full ofthese thoughts, he offered a handsome reward for the horse, and a verylarge one for the apprehension of the thief. In prospect of obtaining theserewards, as well as to render a service to community, some six individualsbanded themselves together with the avowed intention of ferreting out thematter, and immediately set out for that purpose. 

CHAPTER VII. 

FATHER AND DAUGHTER--DUFFEL. 

A few days after the transactions recorded in the preceding chapter, thefever left Eveline, and consciousness was restored to its empire and reasonto its throne. But alas! what a wreck of her former self she was! Mr. Mandeville could scarcely restrain his tears while gazing upon her pallidcountenance and wasted form. She was helpless as a child, and so weak itwas feared the recuperative powers were exhausted, and she must die fromprostration; but a day or two of careful nursing, aided by cordials andtonics, produced a change for the better, and in the course of ten days, she was able to walk in the open air and happy sunshine, supported by herfather. How lightly his heart beat in his bosom, as the child of his prideand affection leaned upon his arm, as he gently led her whither she desiredto go. 

She had a little arbor in the garden, the vines about which had beencarefully trained by her own hands; it had always been a favorite resort, and of late had become a thousand times more dear, because it was therethat she and Hadley had spent most of their happy hours. So soon as she hadsufficient strength to bear the fatigue, she requested to be taken there, and her wish was granted. What a throng of memories came crowding throughher mind as she once more sat in that verdant bower! Every flower had atongue and a reminiscence, and the entire place and scene spoke of the pastin language mute but eloquent. How her heart beat with excitement, as themany associations of other days rushed over her spirit with the lighteningwings of thought, and awakened emotions of joy and grief. While with thepast she was happy; but when the cheerless present occupied her mind, sadness filled her heart, while shadows gathered upon her brow, and tearsin her eyes. 

The father saw all this, for he watched the changes of her countenance withthe deepest solicitude. When he noted the saddened expression that cameover it, his heart was heavy, for he divined the cause. How his feeling ofbitterness toward Hadley increased, as he saw the wreck of happiness he hadmade; and how he longed to expose the blackness of his character to hisinfatuated daughter! He felt certain that his child would cease to regardhim as she had done, the moment she was put in possession of the factswhich so clearly established his guilt. But it would cost her a severestruggle, and he feared she was yet too weak to sustain the shock. 

At length, however, as he perceived that internal grief was preying uponher spirits, it occurred to him that the evil resulting from this eatingsorrow, which was brooded over in secret, would be greater in the end thanthe quick pang, though it should be sharp and powerful for an hour or aday. Approaching her affectionately, and with great tenderness of manner, he said:

"You are sad, Eveline; you are not happy, I know you are not; and yet youdo not confide your sorrow to me. Is this kind, my dear?"

"Oh, father!" and she burst into tears. He drew her head upon his bosom, and for a short period permitted sorrow to have its way, then inquired:

"May I share my daughter's grief?"

"Father, father, do not wound my heart afresh! I fear me now it will neverheal!"

"Eveline, child, you misunderstand me. God forbid that I should add to yoursorrow; my only desire is to relieve and heal!"

"May I indeed trust in my father? Oh, what a question to ask myself! Yet--"

"Yet what? Speak fully, and let us for once open our hearts to each otherwithout reserve. "

"Yet I fear I have had cause to make the inquiry. "

"I fear so too, my dear; but let us now understand each other. I hope muchfrom such an understanding. "

"What would you draw from me?"

"The secret of your unhappiness. "

"Do you not know it already?"

"I surmise the cause. "

"And you think--"

"I _fear_ it is because you love Charles Hadley. "

"Why do you _fear_ that is the cause?"

"Because he is unworthy of your love. "

"Oh, do not say so! Is poverty a mark of unworthiness?"

"No, it is not; if he was only poor I would give my consent to your unionto-day; but I am sorry to say he is wicked as well as poor. "

"What mean you? You surely can allege nothing against one so noble, andpossessed of such pure principles, as Charles Hadley?"

"Alas, my daughter, he has basely deceived you. "

"Father!"

"I would not say so on slight grounds, but it is too sadly true. "

"I must have proof, strong proof, ere I can believe that he is false. "

"Could you bear such an exposure?"

"Yes. "

"Then you shall have the evidence of his guilt at once. "

Saying this, he produced the letter before spoken of, and placed it in herhands for perusal. 

It would be impossible to describe Eveline's feelings while examining thecontents of the letter. At first, the evidence appeared so conclusive andoverwhelming her strong faith in her lover was shaken; but a second readingand second thoughts restored her confidence, yet she could hardly accountfor the change in her feelings and judgment, the evidence was just asstrong as before, and she could not help acknowledging the fact; she onlyknew that she _felt_ Hadley was innocent; and she would trust thisintuitive conviction in preference to any anonymous communication thatcould be produced against him. But what should she say to her parent? Howcould she impress him with her own feelings, or even fix a doubt ofHadley's guilt in his mind? While she was revolving these things in hermind, Mr. Mandeville kept his eye upon her, and noted every change ofexpression that passed over her face. At length he said:

"What do you think of that?"

The question found her still in doubt as to what she should say in defenseof her lover, but with the query came decision of purpose, and she readilyreplied:

"I think it is a forgery. "

"A forgery?"

"Yes, so far as Hadley is concerned. I do not believe he has ever seen it. "

"You surely do not believe I would be guilty of such baseness as your wordsimply. "

"Oh! no, no; I do not for a moment doubt your good faith and perfectsincerity; but I think you are deceived. How did you get possession of thisdocument?"

"Well, I must confess, not in the most upright manner, or rather, myknowledge of that portion of its contents which is intelligible, wasobtained ignobly; but I cannot blame myself for the act, since it hasplaced such important facts at my disposal. "

Here he related the circumstance of finding and reading the letter, andthen added:

"You see the whole train of circumstances renders it impossible that Hadleyshould not be the one to whom the letter was addressed. I found it just inthe place where he was in the habit of coming, a spot that no one elsefrequented, and so secluded as to forbid the idea of a casual passengerdropping it. Beside, where is there another person of the same name?"

"I frankly own there is a mystery connected with the subject which I cannotexplain, but that mystery does not convince me of Hadley's guilt. "

"What incredulity! What stronger evidence do you want to convict him?"

"I desire positive assurance that the letter was actually written to andfor him; at present I do not believe that it was. "

"Love is truly blind!"

"Love?"

"Yes. "

"What has that to do with the case under consideration?"

"It is not worth while for you to disguise the fact that you have lovedHadley; I know that you do or did, and your own heart knows full well howmuch it has suffered through that love. Alas, that I, your own father, should have caused you so much anguish!"

"Does my father really say that?"

"Yes, Eveline, and much more. If you only knew how deeply I have suffered, what anguish I endured, as your fevered and broken exclamations fell uponmy ear while watching by your bedside, I think you could find it in yourheart to forgive me for the unintentional wrong, it was my misfortune, andnot my wish, to inflict upon you. "

"Father, I have wronged you, " said she, leaning forward and winding herarms about his neck. "Forgive me for accusing you of cruelty and unkindnessin my thoughts. "

"You had cause for such accusation, though it was farthest from my thoughtsto injure you. I did, however, once think of forcing you to wed Duffel, andthis is the only real wrong I meditated against you, and I was persuaded itwas for your good; but I see differently now--you shall never be coercedinto a union with any man against your will. "

"Thank you for that assurance; it relieves me from one source of disquiet. "

"I am entitled to no thanks; it is not a parent's prerogative to useviolence in such cases, though I once held differently. And let me here sayto you, that in all I have done my _motives_ were pure. I desired your goodabove all else, and that I was endeavoring to procure happiness for you inthe wrong way was only an error of judgment, the incorrectness of which Inow see clearly. "

"How much I have misunderstood you, and how much you have misconceived yourown heart. "

"True; the world, and the opinions of worldly men, had almost buried up thegood that was in me; but the light of Heaven has shone into my spirit, thefog is dispelled, and I see where I have departed from the right way. "

"Thank Heaven for that!"

"I hope, now that we understand each other, I may dare to make a request ofyou, which you may or may not feel free to grant. "

"Name it. "

"It is this, that you will hold no communication with Hadley until thismatter is satisfactorily cleared up, or until he can show that he isinnocent of the crimes this letter would fasten upon him. "

"If it is your wish I will do so, though I should be pleased to know whathe could say in his own favor. I feel strongly confident he will be able toprove himself innocent of all and any participation in the many thefts andother villainies which have of late become so common. Where is he now?"

"Ah, there it is again! I have not told you that Tom was stolen some timeago. "

"Tom stolen!"

"Yes; he was taken very soon after this letter came into my possession, andHadley has never been seen or heard of since!"

"How?"

"On the very night that Tom was taken from the stable, Hadley disappeared, and neither he nor the horse have been heard of since! Have I not strongreasons for believing him guilty, as held out in this letter?"

"I must confess, this last piece of intelligence staggers my faith. "

"You will now begin to understand why I took such decided steps toward him, as a visitor here, on that memorable occasion which resulted sodisastrously. I had the strongest assurance of his being associated withbad men for bad purposes, ere I forbid him the house. I only regret that Iacted so precipitately. I hope, however, all will come right in the end. "

"God grant that it may. "

Here their intercourse was interrupted by the announcement that Duffel hadcalled and inquired for Mr. Mandeville. --They returned to the house, andthe two gentlemen had a private interview to the following effect:

"How is Eveline?" inquired Duffel. 

"I am happy to say she is very much better. "

"I am truly glad to hear that she is convalescing. What do you think is thestate of her feelings in certain delicate matters?"

"I am persuaded her good opinion of Hadley has received a shock from whichit will never recover. That letter, in connection with his presentdisappearance, was too much for her faith. "

"And well it might be! I do not see how any one could doubt his guilt inthe face of such evidence. "

"Yet I think Eveline does doubt; but that the doubt will soon give place tofull conviction, I am quite sure. Once you can fix a partially formedbelief of crime in the mind, and if the evidence continues, especially ifit accumulates, there is a moral certainty of its producing the effect wedesire in the present instance. "

"How long do you suppose it will take Eveline to forget any preference shemay have had for Hadley?"

"I do not know. "

"Do you not think the exercise of a little paternal authority wouldaccelerate the accomplishment of your wishes? I hope you will pardon me ifthe suggestion is ill-timed or out of taste; it is made in accordance witha declaration to that effect you will remember to have made to me a shorttime previous to your daughter's illness. "

"I have not forgotten the declaration to which you allude; it was made inthe heat of a moment of excitement; but I am frank to own that it was thenmy determination to use parental authority toward Eveline, in case itbecame necessary to do so, in order to bend her will to my purposes. Thisintention I have entirely abandoned. I have reflected more dispassionatelyon the subject; and I now see clearly that my daughter has rights as wellas myself, and that first in importance among these, is the right to bestowherself in marriage to whom she chooses. I will continue to give you myinfluence, but I have already pledged her my word that she shall be free tomake her own selection of a husband. "

"You are right, sir, right. I see wherein we have both erred in our formerviews; but then we were blinded, at least I was; for you know love hasalways been blind. I must crave your pardon, as I would the forgiveness ofEveline, were she present, for having entertained so unjust a thoughttoward her for a single moment. Be assured, if she cannot be won bygentleness and love, I shall never consent to make her my wife, though sheis dearer to me than life itself. "

"Very well; I still feel that all will come out right, and that a peacefulcalm of sunshine will succeed the season of storm and clouds; but we mustnot hurry matters; time will do more for us than we can for ourselves, whereas haste might defeat all our hopes. At present, I do not think itwould be advisable for you to urge your suit to her; her mind is not yetprepared to receive you with that degree of favor desirable. "

"I shall act in the matter as your better judgment and clearer perceptionshall dictate, and hope for the best. "

And thus the interview ended. How strange that Mr. Mandeville should be soeasily deceived in regard to Duffel! and how debasingly hypocritical wasthe dissembling villain! Will he never be overtaken by his crimes?

CHAPTER VIII. 

THE "DARK PASSAGE"--THE THEFT. 

On the appointed night, the two ruffians, Bill and Dick, repaired to the"dark passage, " according to arrangement, and with daggers and pistols (thelatter only to be used in case of necessity, as the report of firearmsmight lead to detection, ) awaited the arrival of their victim. About nineo'clock, the sound of horses' feet, approaching at a rapid gait, gave themto understand the hour of their deadly work was at hand. Taking theirstand, one on either side of the road, they silently awaited the horseman'scoming. 

It was a dismal place, a low, wet valley, densely shaded and overgrown bytrees, whose thick foliage scarcely admitted a single sunbeam to penetrateto the earth beneath. This gloomy passage was about half a mile in extent, and at its dark center the villains had posted themselves. Their plans wereall fully matured, even down to the minute details. They were both tospring out and seize the horse by the bridle; then, while Bill held theanimal, Dick was to strike the fatal blow to the heart of the rider. Not aword was to be spoken. As the man entered the passage, his pace wasslackened, and he kept his eye about him, as if in fear of an attack. Whenwithin about a hundred yards of the concealed assassins, Bill whispered tohis companion across the road:

"Now, Dick, make sure work of it; let the first blow tell the tale, whileit silences his tongue!"

"Never fear for me; take care of your own part, and I'll do the same bymine, " was Dick's reply. 

In a few seconds, the horseman came abreast of the ambuscaders, both ofwhom sprang out at the same moment, and seizing the bridle-reins, checkedthe horse so suddenly as to throw him back on his haunches, to the imminentperil of the rider, who was nearly thrown from his seat. In a moment, theglittering blade of steel was at his breast. Just then, the moon brokethrough a rift in the clouds, and being directly in a line with the road, shone fully on the group and into the face of the traveler. 

"By Jove! it's the wrong man!" exclaimed Dick, as he lowered his blade andlooked at Bill inquiringly. 

"So it is!" said Bill; and then, addressing the stranger, continued: "Begpardon, sir, for our interruption. We have mistaken you for a notoriousvillain, thief, and robber, who was to pass this way to-night, and who, asthe laws are too weak to protect us, we have determined to punishourselves. The fact is, these, horse-thieves must be dealt with, and thatspeedily, too, or there will be no such thing as safety for our stock. Forour parts, we have resolved to defend our property at all hazards, andothers will have to do the same thing, or keep nothing of their own, forthese thieves are banded together, and they are so numerous, and some ofthem so respectable, it is impossible to convict them before a jury; theyswear each other off. Hope you will not think evil of our plans. "

"To tell the truth, gentlemen, (for I take you to be gentlemen indisguise, ) there is too much reality in what you say. I fear we shall haveto take the law into our own hands, for these depredators are becoming sonumerous and bold, there is no telling to what length their wickedness mayrun. These thieving operations _must_ be stopped, cost what it may; but itseems to me this is a bad place to commence the work; it looks too muchlike secret murder. When I have recourse to the last resort in defense ofmy property it will be upon my own promises, and while the villains are inthe act of crime. "

"That is doubtless the best method in all ordinary cases; but the rascalwhom we were expecting to pass this way to-night is too cunning to becaught at his work. He is well known to be guilty, and has more than oncebeen arrested and tried; but always with the same result; his friends havesworn him clear; and now, we've sworn he shall go free no longer. "

"Well, be careful, and don't kill the wrong man. "

"We'll take care. Excuse the manner in which our introduction was made. "

"Certainly, gentlemen, certainly; but don't miss your man again. "

"We'll not. "

"Good night. "

"Good night, and a pleasant journey for you. "

The man rode on and was soon out of hearing. He was the more easilydeceived as to the character of his assailants, because he knew that thesentiments they expressed were held almost universally by the honestportion of the community, and already several thieves had been shot at, some of whom were known to have been wounded, though not fatally. Themiscreants knew this state of public feeling, and hence their ruse. Whenthe man was beyond hearing, Bill said, exultingly:

"Didn't I wool the fellow's eyes beautifully?"

"It was well done, Bill, well done--the best job you ever bossed. But say, do you know the man?"

"No, not from the devil. "

"Well, sir, it's 'Squire Williams, sure's I'm a living son of my mother!"

"'Squire Williams?"

"Yes, it is. I've known him ever since I had such hard work to get off fromhim; I tell you, when I thought of the trial, I felt mightily like payin'him off for his advice on that occasion, after I was cleared; but, think'sI, it won't do. "

"It's well you come to that conclusion; we don't want over one dead man onour hands at once. But say, what shall we do?"

"Wait a while longer for that Hadley, and if he don't come, then go to meetDuffel. "

This suggestion was accordingly acted upon. After remaining nearly threehours longer for their victim, who came not, they repaired to the place ofrendezvous, to report to their employer and superior, and finish up theother branch of the night's business. 

Arrived at the spot, they found Duffel pacing up and down in a state ofimpatience and disquietude. So soon as he was cognizant of their presence, he inquired:

"How now? What has kept you so late? Is all right?"

"If your honor will take breath a moment between the questions, we willendeavor to answer them, " replied Bill. 

"Well, proceed. Did you do the job?"

"No, not exactly as laid down in the bill, but--"

"What! did you let him go?"

"Why, no, your honor, we didn't let him go, for the very good reason thathe didn't give us a chance to show him so much mercy. "

"How?"

"You see the fellow didn't come himself, but sent a substitute!"

"The deuce, he did! How's that?"

"That's what we can't tell; we only know, that instead of young Hadley, wecame within an ace of killing 'Squire Williams!"

"'Squire Williams!"

"Yes, sir. He came along at the precise hour that should have brought theother, and it being too dark to distinguish one man from another, or fromold Nick for that matter, we fell on to him, and but for the merest chancewould have finished him. "

Here the enactment of the early part of the evening was rehearsed in full. 

"It is well you got off so easily, and I must give you credit for youringenuity; but I am exceedingly sorry the bird we were after has escaped. However, as that cannot be helped or amended just now, we will proceed withthe rest of our work. "

"What hour of the night is it?"

"About one o'clock; and that reminds me of the fact that we will not havetime to take all the stock to-night; we shall, therefore, confine ouroperations to a single item--the taking of Mandeville's horse. "

"Mandeville's?"

"Yes; why not?"

"I thought your honor was playing for another stake in that quarter?"

"And if I am?"

"Why, I just thought it was a queer way of gaining the old gentleman's goodwill--that thing of taking his horse. "

"Not so queer as you might think for. "

"Oh! I remember now; excuse me; this Hadley was to be made the scapegoat;you were to get a horse and have the blame of the theft thrown on a rival, whose non-appearance should condemn him. I see it all now, though I did notperceive this delicate undercurrent in the plan of affairs. LieutenantDuffel against the world, I say!"

"Silence! Dick, you are familiar with Mr. Mandeville's premises, Ibelieve?"

"Yes, tolerably so. "

"Well, I want you to bring Tom here in about half an hour; and do the jobup nicely, too. "

"I'll try, sir. "

"You must _do_ it. Be quick; it is going to rain soon, and we must get himaway before the tracks will show; but don't so much as disturb the sleepinggrasshoppers by your noise. "

"All right. "

"Go now, and be here again in the shortest possible time. Bill and I willarrange matters for future operations while you are gone. "

Dick hastened away to do the bidding of his master, and Duffel communicatedto Bill the following piece of intelligence:

"I was very much in hopes the whole of our plan for to-night would succeed, though I heard that in the evening which caused me to have misgivings onthe subject. I learned that Hadley received intelligence that his motherand uncle were both sick and not expected to recover. --They live inPhiladelphia: the uncle, his mother's brother, a bachelor, by the way, withwhom she is living, is reputed wealthy, and, it is said, has willed hisproperty to young Hadley. The news of these events was brought to himyesterday, and he made immediate preparations to go east, but did notexpect to get off until this morning. I presume, however, he must havestarted yesterday in the after part of the day; but be this as it may, Iwish you and Dick to follow after him, and don't fail to finish him somehowand somewhere. If you could only manage to get ahead of him and waylay himat some point in the mountains, it would be the best place for you to dothe deed and conceal the commission of the act. "

"Yes, if he should be alone. "

"Which will most likely be the case, at least a portion of the time. Butshould no such opportunity occur, or should you fail to get beyond him onthe way, you must watch for him in the city; follow him as closely as hisshadow, and in some dark alley, or at some unseasonable hour, put him outof the way. "

"Exactly. "

"You understand that this _must_ be done, do you?"

"If Lieutenant Duffel says so. "

"Well, I do say so, most emphatically. I am more anxious than ever to havehim settled, since this new phase of affairs has come up. "

"I understand; but when are we to start?"

"Early in the morning. We will find out as soon as possible whether hestarted yesterday; then you must show yourselves for a little while, as wasbefore determined; and as soon afterward as possible be off. Be sure to geton the right track, and don't lose it. "

"Never fear on that head. We will follow him as the lion does his prey. "

"Well, I leave the matter with you; see that you acquit yourself as a goodsoldier. Give Dick such instruction as may be needed. --Here he comes. "

Dick rode up on the horse he had stolen, and they all immediately repairedto the swamp, where the scheme of villainy had been planned, in the middleof which the horse was concealed for the present, as they were unable totake him further then without incurring great risk of detection. 

The next morning after mingling awhile with the indignant crowd ofcitizens, who were collected together on hearing of the theft, and pouringout invectives on the "villain of a thief" in no measured quantity, the tworuffians, Bill and Dick, set out on their errand of death? Learning thatHadley had started the previous afternoon, they followed after him on twoof the fleetest horses in the possession of the clan. 

It might be well enough to remark, that in those early days most of thetraveling was done on foot or on horseback. 

CHAPTER IX. 

On the evening of the second day of their pursuit, Dick and Bill foundthemselves in the immediate presence of their victim, they having reachedthe same inn at which he had already put up for the night. The meeting wasunexpected to them, and at first they feared it might frustrate theirdesigns; but as they had taken the precaution to throw off their usualhabiliments and character, and to assume the dress and address ofgentlemen, Hadley did not recognize them, though the impression fasteneditself on his mind, that he must have seen them and heard their voicesbefore, but where and when he could not remember. 

The villains, from his musing manner, half suspected that he was trying tocall to mind who they were, and one remarked to the other that they hadbetter go out and see after their horses; but it was more for the purposeof consulting about the affair they had in hand than for the good of theirbeasts, that they wished to leave the house. When assured that they werebeyond hearing distance, said Bill to Dick:

"Well, we have treed the game at any rate. "

"Yes, but I don't see as it signifies much if we have, for we can't keephim treed, nor bring him down neither, in this place. "

"But we know where he is, and that is something. "

"I take it, it's but little. What can we do with him?"

"Why, we can get ahead of him and select our place for the next meeting, and then--"

"How do you know that? We can't tell which road he will take. "

"We'll find out, though. "

"How?"

"By asking him. "

"And exciting his suspicions. Yes, a pretty way of doing, certain. "

"Never do you mind; leave that to me; and if we don't know all we want toknow by morning, you may call Bill Mitchel a fool; and the fellow won'tsuspect anything, either. "

"Well, go ahead, but don't make a fool of yourself, nor spoil the job wehave in hand, neither. "

"I'll take care for that; only you be cautious, and don't say too much, andwhen you do speak, throw off your rough manners and talk and act like agentleman. I am afraid you will forget yourself, and instead of being Mr. Richard, will act the part of ruffian Dick. "

"Never do you fear; 'ruffian Dick' knows what he's about, and you'll seehow handsomely he can act 'Mr. Richard' to-night. "

"Very well. "

With this understanding between them, they returned to the inn, which, bythe way, was a very primitive establishment, not only in construction, butalso in the character of the entertainment. 

Bill worked his card so as to draw Hadley into conversation, andincidentally, but designedly, remarked that they (himself and hiscompanion) had passed through C---- two days before. 

"Indeed!" said Hadley; "I am well acquainted in C----. Did you hear anynews there?"

"Well, no, not in C----, but a little way beyond the town a horse had beenstolen the night previous, which caused considerable excitement in theneighborhood. "

"How far beyond was it?"

"About five or six miles, I should think. "

"Did you learn any of the particulars?"

"Why, yes, pretty much all of them, I think. "

"I know pretty much everybody in that region, and it may be that it wassome of my friends from whom the horse was stolen. What was the owner'sname, if you heard it?"

"Mandeville, I think; yes, Mandeville. "

"Mandeville! I know him well. Has he any idea who took the horse?"

"I think he _suspects_ some one for the theft--a young man that had been inthe neighborhood, but disappeared the same night of the theft, and no oneknew where he had gone. "

"In the neighborhood, " repeated Hadley, musingly, as if thinking aloud. "Itmust have been the stranger; and yet I thought he was gone some time ago. "

"I don't think it was a stranger; they told us his name, but I do not knowwhether I can call it to mind or not. Let me see, I think it was Hardy orHartly, or some such name. "

At this juncture, Dick caught Bill's eye, and gave him a look, as much asto say: "What the d----l do you mean?--Are you going to excite hissuspicions and send him back home to clear himself from imputation?" AndBill as plainly replied by looks: "Never do you mind. I'll fix it upright. "

While these magnetic looks were exchanged between the murderous reprobates, Hadley was engaged in trying to think if there was anybody by either of thenames mentioned in the vicinity where Mandeville lived, but he couldremember no one. All at once the thought struck him that he himself mightbe the person accused, and the bare idea that such _might_ be the case sentthe blood to his heart and a cold shudder through his frame. --He was paleas marble, for a moment, and the rascals saw it. Mastering his emotions, heinquired calmly:

"The name you heard wasn't _Hadley_, was it?"

"No, that wasn't it. I heard his name mentioned, but they said he hadstarted for Philadelphia the day before the theft. "

At this announcement, in spite of himself, Hadley drew a sigh of relief, and as he did so Bill gave Dick a knowing look. Hadley replied:

"Perhaps the name was Huntly?"

"That's it!" said Bill; "that's the name; I remember it now. "

"I should hardly have thought him capable of such a crime. "

"Just what the people said, exactly. "

"And to take advantage of the sickness of Mandeville's daughter, at that; Ican hardly believe it of him. "

"You talk precisely as his neighbors talked. "

"I do not believe he is guilty; no, I am sure he is not. There are others Iwould suspect a thousand times of such an act before I would him. "

"Well, I am sure I can't tell as to that. But, to change the subject, may Ibe so bold as to inquire which way you are traveling?"

"Certainly, sir; I am on my way to Philadelphia. "

"I was in hopes you were going the same way as ourselves; perhaps you are;we are bound for Wheeling, Virginia. --Do you go that way?"

"No, I go by way of Pittsburgh. "

"Do you tarry long at Pittsburgh? We may have to go there before wereturn. "

"No sir. My mother is very sick at her brother's house in Philadelphia, andI shall hasten to her with all dispatch. "

"Then, I perceive, we shall have to part company. "

"I am sorry for that, as I should be pleased to have companionship on mylonely journey. "

Having found out all that concerned his purpose, Bill changed theconversation, and all of them being fatigued with hard riding throughoutthe day, the three soon retired for the night. Bill and Dick roomedtogether, and when alone the former said:

"Didn't I do it up about the right way, Dick?"

"Better than I expected; but, ---- me, if I didn't think you'd got on thewrong track once. "

"I knew what I was at all the time; but I saw you were scared. "

"Well, what's to be done next?"

"We must get ahead of him, and do the thing up while he is crossing themountains, as Lieutenant Duffel suggested, and as I told you before. "

"We can do that easy enough; but what do you think; shan't we make Duffelside with us in the Duval affair for putting us to so much trouble?"

"Yes, and that is one reason why I wish to get through with this job assoon as possible. We must get back in time for the League meeting somehow. "

"We'll have to ride like the d----l, then; for the meeting is on Fridaynight week. "

"Well, we must be there if it is next Friday night, and we must finish ourwork before we go. "

"I'm with you. "

"And then, if Duffel don't assist us to fix Duval, or at least, if he don'tlet us have our own way in the matter, we will raise Hadley's ghost beforehis eyes, and threaten to 'blow' on him. "

"He'll do it. "

"He shall do it. "

"Well, as that's settled, let's go to sleep. "

"Yes, for we have a hard day's ride before us to-morrow. "

 * * * * *

The shades of evening were gathering over the rugged steeps and deep dellsof the Alleghanies, as two horsemen, leaving the summit of the mountains, descended to a deep, dark valley, shaded and environed by a dense growthof pine and other wood, on the eastern slope leading to the Atlantic. Asthey entered this dismal looking spot, one of them broke the silence byremarking:

"This is the place. "

"Shall we rob him after he is dead?" inquired the other. 

"Certainly. He has a pile about him; and it was for this I was trying, whenhe accused me of attempting to rob him, and resenting the accusationbrought on the quarrel, and with it the insult. Yes, I must have his lifeand his money, too. "

"I'm with you. But hold! What's that? Horses' feet, as I'm alive. He'scoming; we must be quick to our place of concealment. "

In the briefest possible time their horses led out of sight of the road, and hid away among the bushes, while the two murderers took their stand atthe side of the road in ambush, to await the arrival of their victim. 

They had only a few minutes to wait, when other two horsemen made theirappearance, and took their stations exactly as they had done, but about ahundred yards further up the mountain. 

"What the d----l does this mean?" inquired one of the other. 

"I don't know, unless some others have an eye on the gold, as well asourselves. "

"That's it, I'll warrant. Good! They may do the murdering, and we'll rushup in time to secure the booty, by frightening them away. Then we can takethe body to the next tavern, and tell how we came upon the robbers andmurderers, just as they had finished their work. --Good! Let us get ourhorses nearer at hand, and be ready to dash upon them. "

While the first two villains were preparing for the new phase the affair inwhich they were engaged had taken, as they supposed, the two who hadarrived last busied themselves in making ready for some damnable work whichrequired darkness and that secluded spot to hide it from the sight of man. We will look after them. 

"Well, here we are at last, " said Bill to Dick, for it was these that hadarrived last. "How soon will he be here, think you?". 

"In a few minutes. When I last saw him, I don't think he was to exceed halfa mile behind us. "

"He is coming now. Be sure of your aim. "

"Better take that advice yourself. "

"I intend to, for I don't want any botch work of the job. "

"Think those men have got ahead far enough?"

"Yes, they were more than a mile ahead of us, and they will ride like Satanwas after them through these wild glens. "

"Yonder's Hadley!"

"Prepare! put your pistol close to his heart when you fire!"

"All right; do the same. "

And the other two concealed villains were equally ready for action. 

"There he comes!" said one. "Their attention will be taken up that way now:let us mount, and as soon as they fire, put spurs for the scene. "

"Perhaps they will not use pistols, " suggested the other. 

"Then, as soon as they strike or spring upon him. "

In a few seconds, Hadley came abreast of the villains who were lying inwait for him. 

"Now!" said Bill in a hoarse whisper, and the two at once sprang upon thelone rider, and fired the contents of their pistols into his breast. Hefell from his seat, with a deep groan. The murderers were about to riflehis pockets, when they were arrested in their work of robbery by theapproach of the other two horsemen, and seeing their danger, hastened tomount, and left the scene of their bloody deed, at the top of their horses'speed. The others pursued for a mile or more, and then returned to lookafter the slain man and their booty. 

"By heavens, it's not the man!" they exclaimed in a breath, as they kneltby the side of Hadley. 

"As I live, it is our acquaintance of yesterday! Poor fellow, he deserved abetter fate. "

"He did, indeed. Let us return his kindness by seeing that he is decentlyburied; we owe him this much at least. "

"So we do. If I had known it was him he should not have died in this way. "

"Shall we go back or forward with him?"

"Forward; it is nearest that way to a hamlet. "

"Does he breathe yet?"

"No; he is quite dead. "

Gathering up the body of Hadley, they bore it along in silence toward thenearest habitations of men, some five miles ahead. 

The two had proceeded with their burden but a short distance, when theywere suddenly startled by a groan from the wounded man, who they hadsupposed was dead. They laid him down carefully, and one of them produced aflask, from which he poured a little brandy on his lips, and the stimulantpenetrating his mouth, revived Hadley, and this, with the aid of otherrestoratives, soon brought him to consciousness. Seeing he was not dead, his companions now dressed his wounds as well as they could, under thecircumstances. It was soon perceived that they were not of a very dangerousorder. One bullet had struck a button and glanced off, leaving only abruise on the breast; the other had penetrated the chest, but not in afatal direction. The fall from his horse had stunned Hadley; there was alsoa mark on the side of his head, indicating that the horse had struck himwith his foot, adding materially to the effect of the fall. After hiswounds were properly dressed, he was assisted into his saddle, and, supported by his benefactors, was enabled to ride to the next village, where he received every attention, and was so far recovered in a week as toproceed on his journey. His escape was almost miraculous, and seemed adirect interposition of Providence. On the previous day he had assisted thetwo men out of a difficulty before a magistrate, where they were accused ofthe crime of setting fire to a man's house on the previous night. It sohappened that they were not guilty of the act as charged, but had passedthe night in question at the same inn with Hadley, who, fortunately forthem, heard of the affair, and went before the magistrate and testified tothe facts in the case, and by so doing cleared them. This kindness, volunteered on his part, was repaid by the men, as we have seen, thoughthey were desperate characters, and ought to have been in the penitentiary, and, as we have noticed, went out to kill and rob some man at whom they hadbecome offended. 

Had not this train of circumstances led to the result we have chronicled, there would have been but one fate for Hadley, _death_; for even if theruffians had left life in him, ere the lapse of three hours he would havebeen devoured by wild beasts, a pack of which, howling dismally, andthirsting for blood, crossed the road where he had lain, and licked up thefew drops that had run from his bosom!

Bill and Dick were pursued, but escaped without the slightest clue to theirwhereabouts or identity being ascertained. 

Perhaps we had as well remark, at this point, that Hadley's departure wasknown to but two personal friends and their families, in the Mandevillesettlement, and by them was to be kept a secret, as he did not wish Duffel, or any of his supposed companions, to know of his absence until he had beengone long enough to reach his destination, for he believed Duffel was badenough at heart to stop short of no wickedness to carry his ends, and feltfearful he might send some of his minions to waylay him. How nearly heguessed the truth! He, however, gave another reason for wishing the factkept among his friends and though they thought a little singular of therequest, they acted as desired. 

Duffel overheard a part of the conversation between him and a youngfriend--hence his knowledge of Hadley's movements. Mandeville did not knowanything about the matter until some time afterward, and this ignorance ledhim to suspect Hadley of the theft, as already recorded. 

He and Duffel agreed to keep their suspicions to themselves, until theycould get at some tangible evidence to prove Hadley guilty. This exactlysuited Duffel's purpose, as it gave him just the time and advantage hedesired, in order to perfect his own schemes. 

How easily a few words would have exonerated Hadley in the eyes ofMandeville: and had he made a confidant of the magistrate in this secondinstance, those words would have been spoken, to his enlightenment, and thegreat relief and joy of his daughter. But, by an unfortunate combination ofcircumstances, the reverse was the case. 

CHAPTER X. 

When Duffel learned that Mr. Mandeville would not interpose parentalauthority to compel his daughter to acquiesce in his wishes for her inregard to marriage, he set his scheming wits to work for the purpose ofdevising some means whereby to accomplish his ends. As we have alreadysaid, Duffel had taken a fancy to Miss Mandeville, with whom he was betterpleased than with any other lady of his acquaintance. He called his passion_love_, but it was too sordid and selfish to be worthy of a name so sacred. More than once he called to see Eveline, and though she treated himcivilly, he saw plainly that she had an aversion for his society, and thatit cost her an effort to treat him with politeness, even though it wasformal; so, as we were saying, he endeavored to hit upon some moresuccessful mode of furthering his wishes. 

"If Bill and Dick were only here, " he thought to himself, "the matter couldbe easily come at; but, as it is, I don't see my way exactly. I should notlike to trust every one, even of the League, with my secret, much less withthe execution of such a difficult undertaking as that of placing her there. I wish I had not sent them after Hadley; I might have accomplished allwithout that; and it is not the pleasantest thing in the world to have amurder laying on one's conscience. But then, I thought other means wouldsucceed: I had no idea that old Mandeville was becoming so tender-hearted. The old devil himself must have been playing mischief with my calculations. Well, let him play away; once Bill and Dick return, and I'll try my hand atheading his sulphurous majesty, and all others that oppose me. "

In this mood, Duffel found himself when the duties of his office, in theabsence of the captain, required his presence at the cave, to preside overthe League at the regular meeting, as already known to the reader. Thenight of the meeting came, and found him undecided as to the course ofaction to pursue. Time was short; the captain might return any day andresume command; and what was to be done must be done soon. 

In this state of uncertainty, he repaired to the cave, with the vague andindefinite hope that his associates in crime might be there also. Arrivedthere, he began pacing up and down in a state of uneasy and restlessdisquiet, looking expectantly At every new-comer, but with the sameresult--disappointment. It was but a few minutes until the hour forbusiness, and he retired to the captain's room to make such preparations aswere necessary for the occasion. 

When he returned, the members present were all masked, a rule of the ordermaking this a duty at initiating meetings, and he could not tell whetherBill and Dick were among the number or not. 

The business proceeded until the question was asked:

"Is there any one who, having knocked at the door of our order, is nowwaiting for admission?"

"There is, your honor, Abram Hurd, who has been found worthy of a placeamong us. "

"Is he present?"

"He is in waiting, your honor. "

"Let him be conducted into the presence of the order. "

It is not our intention to enter into all the details attending theceremony of initiation into the order, as we apprehend that a few of theleading features in the process of villain-making will be more entertainingand acceptable to the reader. 

When the candidate for admission entered the cave, he found himself_vis-a-vis_ with fifty masks, of all shapes, forms and appearances; somehorrible, some odd, some commonplace, and some fantastical, and altogether, a medley of strange, undecipherable, yet impressive combination of devices, well calculated to excite a feeling of awe, and, with the timid, of terror, in the mind of the beholder. Into this singular assemblage Hurd wasushered, a wilderness of confused images before him. He was taken through acourse introductory to the more serious parts of the formula of inductioninto the order, which were intended to increase the first bewilderedimpressions on entering the cave, and was then led up in front of thecaptain, who addressed him thus:

"Abram Hurd! by your presence here, I am to understand that you desire tobecome a member of our order?"

"I do. "

"Have you considered well before taking this step? The duties of membersare often laborious, and their performance attended with the most imminentdanger! We want no unwilling hands; are you ready to incur the risks?

"I am. "

"Suppose the requirements exacted at your hands should cause you to lookthe penitentiary in the face, have you the courage to do so?"

"I have. "

"But further yet; should the good of our order require you to take the lifeof a fellow-being, would you, in obedience to the commands of yoursuperior, perform that extreme act?"

"I was not aware that _murder_ was included in the catalogue of dutiesimposed upon members of the order. "

"Nor do I say that it is; I only wish to know if you are willing to go _anylengths_ for the preservation or advantage of the order, in case ofnecessity? You will mark the difference between murder and killing in_self-defense_. With this explanation, are you willing to take the requiredobligation?"

"I am. "

"With the understanding, then, that you may have to face imprisonment ordeath and obligate yourself to do all that shall be required of you for the_good_ of the order, even to the taking of life, including all other actsthat are held criminal among men, are you still willing to proceed?"

"I am!"

"I must furthermore inform you, that if you falter in the discharge of anyduty imposed upon you, or manifest the least disposition to betray theorder, your life will fall an immediate sacrifice for such delinquency. Areyou prepared for this?"

"I am!"

"Will you take upon yourself these obligations in the form of an oath?"

"I will!"

"The oath is a most solemn and binding one; perhaps you may consider ithorrible, and we want no faltering. "

"I will take it. "

"It involves life and death. "

"I am prepared if it does. "

"You cannot release yourself from its binding force; it is for life; andwhether you abide with us or not, it binds you to secrecy. Noafter-thought, no change of feeling, no repentance can unchain its ironlinks from your soul. Are you still resolved?"

"I am!"

"Let me here advise you, that one more step will place you beyond the paleof retreat. Consider well what you are about to do. Until the oath isadministered, you are at liberty to retire, and, blindfolded as you came, will be escorted to a place of safety to yourself and us, where we willleave you as we found you; but once you have taken upon yourself theobligations of the oath, all is fixed and immutable. Are you yet willing totake this last step?"

"I am!"

"Enough! you are worthy to become a member of our order. Lay your righthand upon your heart, your left upon the Book, and receive the oath. "

THE OATH. 

"I, Abram Hurd, calling heaven, earth and hell to witness, do most solemnlyswear, in presence of these, my fellow-beings, and into the ears of thespirits of the invisible world, that I now take upon myself the obligationof a member of the _Order of the League of Independents_, as laid down inthe rules ordained for the government of said Order, and explained to methis night; and I also obligate myself to obey the officers of the Leaguewho shall be appointed over me for the good government of the same, in theperformance of all and singular the duties that shall be required at myhands; and I furthermore obligate myself to advance the interests of theOrder to the utmost of my ability, in all things and in all ways, even tothe taking of property and life, if need be; and in so doing will use allthe means of aid in my reach, including fire, steel and powder. And I mostsolemnly swear, in the presence aforesaid, of the visible and invisibleworlds, that I will faithfully keep the secrets of the Order, and of allthe members of the same that shall be intrusted with me, and no torture ofbody or mind shall extort them from me. And I hereby bind myself, in thesame solemn manner, and in the same presence, that I will defend themembers of the Order in all circumstances and places, us far as in me lies, even to the giving up of my own life, if such a sacrifice shall berequired--that I will stand by them one and all in every emergency, and, ifoccasion require, will not hesitate to give false testimony in courts ofjustice, to clear them in suits at law, or in criminal prosecutions, choosing rather to brave the penalties of perjury than violate this my mostsolemn oath. And as I faithfully perform this my oath to the Order, inwhole and in part, may I prosper; but if I willfully fail in anywise, tofulfill all that I have herein obligated myself to perform, may the heavensbecome black above me, may the earth become thorns and thistles, and acurse to me in body and in soul; may my life be devoid of peace, andharassing care be my portion, with blight and mildew on all my hopes, andall that my hand shall touch; may my friends desert me, and my own bloodrise up and curse me; may I become an outcast, among men, a wanderer and avagabond on the face of the earth, a prey to fear, and to the lashings ofconscience: and, finally, when death comes, may he send me from thetortures of this life, to those of endless perdition hereafter. "

After taking this horrible and blasphemous oath, the initiated was requiredto sign a compact with his own blood, when he was duly pronounced a memberof the Order, which might truly be termed hellish. This done, the captainsaid:

"Brethren of the Order, remove your masks, and welcome your brother!"

In a minute the fifty masks were cast aside, and Hurd looked around him inamazement, for in that company were more than a dozen of his acquaintancesand neighbors, who passed in society--most of them--for honest men; butmost of all was he surprised to see _Duffel_ there, in the character offirst officer. 

All came and shook him by the hand, and to their friendly greeting he couldreply to many:

"Why, A. , B. , C. , D. , are you here? and here's 'Squire F. , and ConstableH. , as I'm alive!" and such like expressions of recognition. 

When the masks were removed, Duffel had the satisfaction of seeing Bill andDick among those present, and so soon as the League adjourned, he drew themone side, and began a confidential conversation with them; but fearing thatthey might be overheard, before entering upon the secrets of their own, heconducted them into the captain's room. 

This room was a curious structure. Its walls were solid rock, naturally ofa brownish-gray color, but had been painted in a tasteful style of art, with graceful nymphs, winged cupids, vases of flowers, and many otherembodiments of fancy, or representations from nature. The effect on thebeholder was pleasant and cheering at first view, but a more criticalobservation would lead to the conclusion that there was too much of thevoluptuous in the design and execution of the penciling. In one corner ofthe room was a door which opened into an inner room of small dimensions, inwhich was a downy couch, and all the paraphernalia of a luxurious andelegant bed-room. It was a place that contrasted very strangely with themisery and crime it had sheltered--with the tears of unavailing agony thathad been wrung from eyes that sparkled above once happy hearts--alas! nolonger the abode of peace, hope or joy. Ah! had those walls the power ofspeech, what tales of horror they could rehearse! what anguish reveal! whateloquent pleadings for mercy disregarded! what silencing of hope indespair! But they reveal not the secrets of the place, which are known tobut One, from whose eye no dark dells or earth-emboweled caves can hide thetransgressor; and the tears, the sighs, the blood--aye, the _blood_--ofthat solitary cavern are all known to Him, are all put down by therecording angel in the archives of heaven. But we digress. 

When the three confederates were securely to themselves, Duffel inquired:

"How did you succeed in that affair. Well, I hope, as you are so soonback. "

"Yes, better than we expected. We passed Hadley and awaited him in themountains. Two pistol balls were sent through his heart, and in less thanan hour his body was devoured by howling and hungry wolves, from a ravenouspack of which we escaped ourselves with difficulty, so fierce had a tasteof blood rendered them!"

It will be noticed that Bill drew largely upon his imagination in thisbrief account of their adventures, and that he never once hinted at thereal truth of the matter, and how they were driven away, and had to fleefor their lives. He knew that his story had the characteristics ofprobability; and he had an object in view in imposing on his superior, though he had no doubt at all of Hadley's fate, believing him to becertainly dead. 

"So far good, " replied Duffel; "but are you sure the act was undiscoveredand undiscoverable?"

"Quite sure, your honor; it was dark at the time, and no one near, andtherefore impossible that any one should know of the transaction. "

"Very well, I am pleased with your promptness and dispatch in the executionof this plot. You shall have your reward for the diligence and faithfulnessof your labors. But just now I have another affair on hand, in which Ishall need your aid. "

"We are your men. "

"I know I can rely upon you, and that is the reason I have chosen you fromamong all the other members of the League to assist me. "

"And you shall never regret the choice. What is the nature of the work youwould have us perform?"

"I have heretofore spoken to you concerning its principal feature. Itrelates to a lady, and you may remember what was formerly said in regard tothe matter. "

"Oh, yes, perfectly well. "

"Well, I wish the young lady to be taken--kidnapped--and brought to thisplace. Can I rely upon you to do the deed?"

"We have already pledged ourselves to that effect. "

"So you did, I had forgotten. I shall soon need your services, if allthings proceed as present appearances indicate that they will. Wheneverything is ripe for action, I will inform you of particulars, and giveyou the necessary instructions. Till, then, meet me every day in the'swamp, ' for I may wish your aid at any moment. "

"All right; we'll be there. "

And thus the conference of the villains ended. 

CHAPTER XI. 

THE INTERVIEW--THE PLOT--THE ABDUCTION. 

Before proceeding to extremities, Duffel resolved to try the effect ofsmooth words and persuasive eloquence on the mind of Eveline. For thispurpose he called upon her with the express intention of urging his claimsto her hand in a personal interview. She received him, as she had beenaccustomed to do of late, with cold politeness. Had he been a real lover, actuated by pure motives, he would have been deterred from prosecuting hissuit, or even mentioning the object of his visit, for he could not butperceive that he was not warmly received. But he had resolved upon a courseof action, and was determined that nothing should influence him to turnaside from the line of conduct he had marked out for himself. After alittle conversation on commonplace matters, he attempted to introduce thesubject uppermost in his thoughts, but finding no encouragement, addressedhis companion thus:

"Why this coldness, Miss Mandeville? would that I dared to call you, Eveline! You have ears for others, for me you have none; you have smilesfor others, but on me you never bestow a gladdening look; and yet, of allthe world, I most long for a smile, for the privilege to talk to you as afriend. "

"I hope I have always treated you with kindness; it has certainly been myintention to do so. "

"No, Miss Mandeville, not with _kindness_, pardon me, but it has only beenwith cold civility. I am sure that if you only knew how my heart yearns fora gentle and hopeful word from your adored lips, how it bleeds and recoilswithin my bosom when your cold words pierce it as with an arrow, you wouldcertainly relent. "

"The heart, Mr. Duffel, is not master of its own emotions; they comeunbidden often, and not unfrequently remain when we would gladly have themdepart. "

"May I trust that in those words there is hope for me--that you wouldreally banish old memories and old prejudices, and receive me as my heartcontinually pleads to be received?"

"I am not aware that any such changes as those of which you speak havetaken place in my mind or memory. I have no old and dear memories that Iwish to banish; and I believe my feelings toward you have not materiallychanged. "

"Oh, what crushing words! Surely your heart cannot be so hard as to driveme away in despair, when my spirit is bleeding at the wounds your cruelwords have made. "

"As I was saying, when you were so impetuous as to interrupt me, a fewmoments ago, we cannot bid our feelings go and come as we would. The heartwill not love this one or that, at the dictates of cold, calculatingintellect, and the more it is urged to do so, the farther it is fromyielding, especially when harsh means or commands are used to bend it. Ifyou have permitted your feelings to rest upon me as you say they do, it isyour misfortune, not my fault; and because I cannot reciprocate yourfeelings and wishes, you have no right to task me with cruelty orhard-heartedness; and I hope you will not forget this in any future remarksyou may have to make on the subject. "

"Pardon me, my dear Miss Mandeville, if, in the bitterness of mydisappointment, I have spoken harsh or unguarded words. When we are in deepdistress and anxiety we are apt to say and do things that we should not. Itwas farthest from my design to wound your gentle heart, or say oneungenerous word to you, the best beloved of my friends. Should you everhave the misfortune to endure the pangs of unrequited love, which mayHeaven forbid, you will know how to feel for me, and to appreciate mysituation. "

"Perhaps it would be well for you to cease conversing on a subject sopainful. "

"Ah, there it is. Great sorrows are uppermost in the mind, and though everyword brings a tear to the eye, and sends a pang to the heart, we _must_talk about them. "

"I was always impressed with the idea that such griefs as lay hold upon thesoul, were too deep for utterance. "

"Yes, when the last ray of hope is gone, and the night of despair settlesupon the soul. But, oh, must I go out into that unillumed darkness, forevershut out from light and hope? Is there no hope that I may some day call youmore than friend? that in time, even though it be years in the future, Imay be able to awaken emotions of tenderness in your heart?"

"I think I have answered that question often enough and plain enough. I donot know why you wish to put me to the unpleasant necessity of repeatingthat answer. But if I have, by any misconception of the use of words, andthe meaning of language, failed to be sufficiently definite in my speech, please now, once for all, understand me distinctly. I cannot bid you hopefor any change in my feelings toward you so far as love is concerned. Inever can look upon you as an accepted suitor for my hand, nor will it everbe in my power to love you. "

"Perhaps you may think differently hereafter. "

"Never!"

"Then my purpose is fixed. You shall not wed another! You, too, shall feelwhat it is to be disappointed. You love Charles Hadley. Ah, I knew you did!but mark me, you shall never wed him--_never_! I would sooner imbrue myhands in his blood, than that you should! But he is a guilty culprit, awandering fugitive from justice, and will never dare return. "

"Mr. Duffel, I have heretofore borne your persecutions with patience; Iwill do so no longer. _You_, sir, are more guilty this day than CharlesHadley. Look at the blood spots on your hand. "

"What! ha! said the villain, taken aback by the bold remark. 

"Yes, you may well flush and turn pale when your crimes stare you in theface!"

"Crimes? Who dares to accuse me of crimes?"

"I do, sir!"

"You will repent it, madam. "

"I do not fear your threats any more than I regard your hypocriticalprotestations of esteem. "

"I will make you fear, then, " and with the words he left the house in arage. 

While together, Eveline and Duffel were both defiant, though they feltinternal fear of each other, she at his threats, and he in alarm lest sheshould know something of his secret villainies; and when alone each gaveway to the feelings uppermost in the mind; she after this manner:

"God grant that no harm come to Charles from this wicked plotter! And yet Ifear he has already contrived to do him mischief. How he was agitated whenI threw out the accusation. Oh, my God! if his hands really are stainedwith innocent blood! Charles is no where to be found; what if he has fallenby the hands of his enemy? What a terrible suspicion! Would to Heaven Iknew the truth!"

But the more she thought the more she feared, until the subject became sopainful she tried to banish it from her mind. 

Infuriated and alarmed, Duffel raged on this wise when alone:

"It's all over now! this palaver about love and money! I shall never win myway to the old man's purse in that manner; but I'll try my skill at tamingthat proud, free spirit! Blast the girl! I wonder if she knows anything?But pshaw! what a thought! How could she?--What a fool I was to be sostartled!--Well she is shrewd, and I give her credit for her penetration;but she must not be left to surmise and publish her suspicions: I've toomuch on hand just now to be set upon by spies; and so the sooner I get herout of the way the better. Once in my power I'll see that she tells nothingto my hurt. --Oh, but won't I have a glorious time!--But enough ofanticipation; I must be up and doing lest the captain return and spoil allmy calculations; so now for my precious rascals, Bill and Dick--andthen!--" And with this he started for the "swamp. "

When Duffel reached the place of meeting, his accomplices were not there, and he sat himself down on the trunk of a fallen tree to ruminate untilthey should come. As was customary with him under such circumstances, histhoughts commenced running on schemes of villainy; and he became so deeplyabsorbed in fitting out the details of his present all-absorbing operation, as to be scarcely conscious of anything else, either as regarded time orplace. At length his corrugated brow relaxed, a kind of sardonic smile ofjoy spread over his countenance, and he exclaimed in gleeful elation ofspirit:

"I have it! By Jove! it's the crowning cap on the climax! I have beenafraid of the consequences until now, for I know old Mandeville will raiseearth and hell when he finds his daughter is missing. But now I have him!What a glorious idea! But it is a wonder I had not thought of it before. Well, it will not be the first time a dead man has served a good purpose!"

At this moment Bill and Dick made their appearance, and he immediatelyopened business with them. 

"Well, you are here at last! I have been waiting on you this half-hour!"

"If it please your honor we are here at the appointed time. You must havesome urgent business to be done that you are in such haste?"

"I have. The time has come that I shall need your service in the matter onhand. Miss Mandeville is in the habit of visiting the spot I pointed out toyou, daily. To-morrow her father is going to C---- and there will be no oneat home but the daughter and the house girl. You must be in waiting asagreed upon. You, Bill, must cautiously approach her and represent yourselfas the friend of Hadley, for whom you must be the bearer of a message. Ifthat does not succeed, then you must have recourse to the other means, asalready arranged. So soon as you get her fairly in your possession andsecured, bear her to the cave, with all dispatch, by the secret route. Iwill meet you on the way. "

"All right. We understand the plan, and will take good care that it beproperly carried out; but afterward we shall expect your aid, or at leastyour non-interference in a little affair of our own. "

"Oh, certainly. Go ahead; but don't make a fuss about it. Who is she?"

"Oh, dang the women, we don't meddle with them; it is with Duval that wehave an account to settle. "

"Be careful there! Remember your oath to the order!"

"We do; but he is a traitor, and if you expect us to work for you in suchlife-taking business as we have lately been engaged in, you must let ushave our way in this instance. "

"Very well; if you will be cautious and commit no others but yourselves Ishall not oppose you. "

"We'll take care on that point. "

"Remember to-morrow. "

"Never fear. She shall be yours before the setting of the sun. "

Again the villains parted; but Duffel was not well pleased with the demandthe ruffians had made of him, until a new thought struck him, and he saidto himself:

"That will do. I will get all I want out of them; and then to save troubleand _to be sure of my own secret_, I will have them arraigned before theOrder for killing a member, and they shall suffer the penalty, _death_. Iwill then be free from fear. Capital! Everything is working to suit mypurposes!"

Exulting wretch! would to heaven the vengeance of an angry God couldovertake you, ere your schemes of fiendish crimes and dark murders arecompleted. But, alas for the innocent, crime is yet in the ascendant!

 * * * * *

In a pleasant grove, a part of the old forest yet standing near to thedwelling of the Mandevilles, sat Eveline, beneath the shade of a friendlytree, in a spot rendered sacred to her by endearing associations and holymemories, musing on the past with heart cheering pleasure, on the presentwith sadness, and the future with hope. So absorbed had she become in herown meditations, time fled unheeded, and the world was forgotten--forgottenall, save only two beings, the loved and absent Charles--with whosewell-being or misfortunes her own fate was strangely blended--and herself;but of herself in the single light in which the mysterious ties of loveunited her to him. 

How long she had thus remained absorbed in her own reflections she knewnot, when her attention was drawn from her own thoughts to outward thingsby the approach of a very neatly dressed gentleman, who, addressing her inthe most respectful manner, inquired:

"Does Mr. Mandeville live in this vicinity?"

"Yes, sir, " she replied, at the same time rising to her feet. "That is hisresidence yonder, which you can just distinguish through the surroundingtrees. "

"A beautiful place!--May I be so bold as to inquire if you know whether Iwill find him at home to-day?"

"No, sir, he is not at home. "

"Perhaps I might still presume on your kindness, and inquire if he has nota daughter that is or has been afflicted, and if she is alreadyconvalescent, or is likely so to be soon. "

"His daughter has been very sick, but has recovered. "

"Would she--? But perhaps you do not know her history? Has she any friendnow absent, from whom she would be pleased to hear, do you know?"

"What is the object of the question, sir?"

"I hope you will excuse me, if I should presume too far; but I am thebearer of a message from one who esteems her above all the world beside, and--"

"How! do you know Charles Hadley?" she inquired, with deepened interest. 

"Ah, I perceive you are not unacquainted with the history of the younglady. Perhaps I am addressing Miss Mandeville in person?"

"Your supposition is true, my name is Mandeville. But you have not answeredmy question yet. "

"Pardon me, fair lady, for my seeming rude neglect. Yes, I know Mr. Hadleywell, and a better man does not live. He is my near and dear friend. "

"Do you say so much? Then it is from him you have a message?"

"It is. "

"Oh! tell me, is he well?"

"He is, but is longing to hear from you, to see you, to know that you arestill spared by the hand of death. "

"You speak as though he were near. Is it indeed so?"

"It is, fair lady; he awaits your presence, or such word as you may bepleased to send him, a short way from here, in the denser portion of theforest, not wishing to transgress your father's commands contrary to yourwishes, or to expose himself to the displeasure of your parent, lest itbring trouble and disquiet to your own heart. But please read the note hecommissioned me to bear to you; it probably explains the matter better thanI can, as he only confided to me such facts as were essentially necessaryfor me to know, in order to an intelligent performance of the part he hasallotted to me as his friend. "

Saying this he presented a letter, which Eveline received with ajoy-beaming countenance, and read with a wildly-throbbing heart. It ran asfollows:

"DEAREST EVELINE: For some weeks past, I have been in a distantcity, at the urgent call of duty, to attend the bedside of a sick mother. Ileft while you were yet very ill, and bore with me the heavy fear that youmight never recover to bless me with a kind word or gentle look. Soterrible has been the suspense, and so deep the anxiety of mind under whichmy spirit has labored, I could only perform my duties to a beloved motherby resolutely bending my energies to the task, and with the first hour ofassured convalescence hastened to learn your fate. Oh, best beloved, may Inot hope to see you again? I have learned that you are better, and thefirst great burden is removed, but I so long to behold you once more, --tohear you speak--to know that I am not forgotten. But you know I dare notcome to you without incurring your father's deep displeasure; and I havebeen in doubt and perplexity how to act. This note will be borne to you bymy most confidential friend, who will not betray us. If you can come to me, even if it be but for a few brief moments, I beseech you to do so; but doin this matter as your own better judgment shall determine. If you cannotcome, send me a note, even though it be but a line, that I may have someprecious token of remembrance to gaze upon. I am but a short distance fromyour home, and a few steps will bring you to me; if you come, placeyourself under the guidance of my friend. Leaving you to act as prudenceand your own heart shall dictate, I remain, impatiently, "Yours, most faithfully, "CHARLES. "

"P. S. Do permit me to entreat you to come if you can. I have a thousandthings to tell you, and some of them are cheering. I have not time to writemore now. "

As we have said, Eveline read this letter with the wildest emotionsthrilling through her heart. A tumult of joy was in her bosom--joy moreexquisite than had gladdened her spirit since the hour when her young heartknew that its deep love was reciprocated. Hadley was near her--he had beenfalsely accused, and instead of the vile criminal he was represented, hewas a loving and dutiful son, fleeing to the bedside of a sick mother! Whata consolation to her heart! Without a moment's hesitation, she resolved tosee him, and turning to the gentleman, from whom she averted her face, while reading, to conceal her feelings, she said, deeply blushing as shedid so:

"Mr. Hadley wishes me to see him, and directs me to place myself under yourguidance. Will you be so kind as to show me the way to him?"

"With the greatest pleasure; for I know he will be but too happy to beholdyou. Pardon me, if, in my zeal for my friend, I should say aught that maybe out of place. "

He led the way into the deeper recesses of the forest, and she followedhim. All this had been done in a moment, as it were, and without time forthe slightest consideration. Under other circumstances, or with a littlereflection, Eveline might have acted differently. 

The two had proceeded a quarter of a mile or more, when Eveline, in passinga large tree, was suddenly seized by rude hands, and ere she had time toscream, a covering was placed over her mouth, and her hands secured. Inthese operations her recent guide took an active part, and when they werecompleted, he said:

"You shall not be injured by us, fair lady, and we only regret that we arecompelled, by the force of circumstances, to put you to the inconvenienceof a journey on so short a notice. You must go with us; but we will dealtenderly with you so long as you are peaceable and quiet; but you mustbeware how you attempt to make any noise; for we will not suffer ourselvesto be betrayed by such means. "

With these remarks the two kidnappers, one on each side of their captive, started off through the wilderness at as rapid a rate as their fairprisoner could move. 

To attempt a description of Eveline's feelings at this hour would be a vaintask. In a moment, she was brought down from the pinnacle of hope to thedepths of despair; for she saw in all this that had passed the hand ofDuffel, her avowed enemy; and, indeed, as the reader has doubtless alreadyconcluded, she was in the hands of none others than Bill and Dick, who werebearing her off to the cave. 

CHAPTER XII. 

When Mr. Mandeville returned home in the evening, he found the maid ingreat trouble on account of Eveline's long continued absence, and hehimself became alarmed on learning that she had not been seen since earlyin the forenoon. He knew that she often recreated in the grove, and, afterfinding her in no more likely place, he proceeded thither. No Eveline wasthere, and no voice answered to his repeated calls; but in his search hefound two billets of paper, and hastening to the house, for it was too darkto read them in the woods, he eagerly perused them. 

One of the two was the letter to Eveline, purporting to be from her lover, which she had accidentally lost in her agitation, at the moment of settingout on her at first hopeful but sadly terminated errand; its contents arealready known to the reader; and the other read as follows:

"MR. MANDEVILLE:--Being aware of your dislike to me, and havinglearned that you charge me with a crime of great magnitude--no less thanthat of stealing your horse, (of which, permit me to say, I am as innocentas yourself, ) and feeling assured, from these circumstances, that there wasno hope for me ever to gain your consent to wed Eveline, I have taken theonly alternative left me in the premises--that of persuading your daughterto elope with me. She has consented; and ere you read this note, will be mywife. I hope you may find it in your heart to pardon us for taking thisstep, as it appears to us the only way in which our ardent wishes can beaccomplished; but if you cannot pardon me, at least forgive Eveline, whohas had a hard struggle between filial affection, duty and regard, and thestrong pleadings of her heart; though her deep love at last conquered. 

"But as we feel certain you will be highly exasperated at the first onreceiving this intelligence, we have deemed it best to absent ourselves fora time. You will not be able to find us, if you choose to institute asearch, until such time as we please to show ourselves; hence you need notput yourself to the trouble of looking after us. So soon, however, as youfeel a willingness to receive us as your children, we will gladly return toyou. To ascertain your feelings on this subject, we will voluntarily open acorrespondence with you at some period in the future, perhaps in a month, when you can communicate to us your wishes and commands. 

"With sentiments of high esteem, and deeply pained feelings that I amcompelled to take this step, I am, my very dear sir, "Your obedient servant, "CHARLES HADLEY. "

Mandeville read this letter a second time to assure himself that itscontents were what they seemed, and when satisfied on this point, he stoodmute for a brief space of time, as if to fully take in the astonishingtruth that Eveline, his only, his beloved child, had so far forgotten herduly and her promise, yes, her solemn promise, as to leave her home and_his_ care, for the love of a stranger! At last the great reality seemed toenter his soul in all its crushing force, tearing from his heart theaffections that had clustered around his only child for years, from hisbosom the hopes of a lifetime, and leaving him a desolate, smitten, soul-chilled being, with all the beauty and brightness of life departed!

Oh, ye children of affectionate parents! beware how you crush the heartsthat have "nourished and cherished" you as only parents' hearts can do! Godwill smite the undutiful child with a curse! Bear and forbear, even if thecommands of those appointed over you should seem to be unjust. Remembertheir labor, and toil and suffering in your behalf, and spare, oh! sparethem in their old age, when their bodies are ripening for the grave, andtheir spirits for the skies. Let not their gray hairs go down to thechambers of the dead in sorrow, nor their failing strength be suddenlybrought low by the anguish _you_ have inflicted upon their spirits; butspare them as you would be spared!

Several minutes elapsed before Mr. Mandeville could collect his scatteredand stunned thoughts together. The blow was so sudden, the shock soterrible, they almost prostrated him. He walked up and down the room, withpaleness on his cheeks, and a load in his bosom. The only evidence hemanifested of the great grief that was consuming him was an occasionalgroan, which came up from the great deep of his heart, as though they wereforced out by some unseen or over-mastering power. He was like the tall oakof the forest when blasted by the fiery thunderbolt! What a sad picture!

At length the exclamation burst forth from his lips, as though theovercharged heart would relieve itself in words:

"Oh, my God, pity me!" and he clasped his hands, and pressed them upon hislaboring breast, as if to still its tumult. Then came another groan, accompanied by a deep, soul-desponding "Oh!"

And the strong man was calm. But such a calmness! It seemed as if years ofsuffering had stamped their impress upon his brow, and in his face, inthose brief moments of agony! Ah, how true it is, that the soul may growold in a day!

After a time he again took up the letters and perused them. 

"How artful!" he mused to himself, as he read the one to Eveline. "Everyword is written with studied care, and every sentence conceals atemptation. Then the last, the postscript, so much to tell her, to exciteher curiosity, as well as operate upon her affections!--The villain! Butshe ought not to have yielded to his solicitations; even in her great loveI can find no adequate excuse for her. She knew he was accused of a crime, and pledged me her solemn word that she would never see him until theaccusation was proved false. But she is gone--_gone_! Oh, what desolationin the thought! And I am left alone and forsaken in my woe! Ungratefulchild! may heaven reward you as you have dealt by me! No, no, God forbid!Heaven be merciful to her! But on _him_, on the miscreant who is at thebottom of all this undutiful conduct, of all the pain it inflicts, may thefierce lightning of God's vengeance descend in burning wrath, and as aconsuming fire! God of heaven! thou who beholdest the anguish of a strickenparent's heart, smite him with a curse; aye, pour out upon his forsakenhead the vials of thy hot anger! Give him no rest to his soul, day ornight, until the hour of reckoning shall come!"

Amen! Let that prayer enter the ear of Him who sitteth upon the Throne; andmay He commission the angels of wrath to bear the curse, and heap it uponthe head of the guilty author of all this wretchedness, and of theunutterable pain inflicted upon _another_ heart!

 * * * * *

Bill and Dick proceeded with their prisoner through the denser portions ofthe wilderness for two or three miles on foot, when they met Duffel, whohad prepared horses for their flight, as it was a good long way to thecave. The villain approached Eveline, and said:

"I hope you will pardon the seeming rudeness which necessity compels me tomanifest toward you in the present emergency. I hope soon to find you apleasant resting-place, where I shall have leisure and opportunity to makeexplanations and amplify on this brief apology. "

To this insulting speech Eveline made no reply, but she cast a defiant andpiercing look upon the miscreant, which made him quail with cowardly fear, and took from his manner much of its bold assurance. He saw in that oneglance of her eye an unconquerable resolve to meet him as a foe, and _neverto be vanquished_; the victory he had flattered himself as being nearlywon, he now saw afar off, unless the most beastly violence should beresorted to. But without a moment's delay, she was placed upon a horse, himself and accomplices mounted on others, and, he by her side, with Billand Dick in the rear, the whole party pushed forward for the cave, wherethey arrived a little past the middle of the afternoon without any seriousadventure. 

Duffel placed his captive in the Captain's room, with the bed-room toretire to at her pleasure. 

"I trust, " said he, "you will find this a comfortable place; and be assuredI shall strive to do all in my power to make your stay here as agreeable aspossible. Books you shall have whenever you desire them; there are a numberin the case yonder, and any others you may wish for shall be procured. Thelength of time you will remain my guest depends upon your own choice, withone condition annexed, of which I will speak to you more fully to-morrow. At present I have urgent business to attend to elsewhere, which cannot bedelayed; I regret to leave you so soon; I hope you will pardon me, and Iwill endeavor to make amends in the future for any apparent neglect at thepresent. You will find the key to the bed-room in the lock on the inside;make yourself easy during my absence. I shall lake the precaution to lockthe door of egress and ingress to this room, so that you may rest inperfect security that no one can harm you. And now good evening, for I mustbe off, and may pleasant dreams attend your slumbers. "

With this mockingly polite address and adieu he left the room and the cave, securing the door after him, and was soon on his way back. 

Eveline had sustained herself with the most determined and heroic fortitudeduring all the trying scenes of the day, and until Duffel was gone. By agreat effort of the will to seem calm, she had kept herself from betrayingany emotions of fear while her enemies were near to observe her bearing;but now that she was alone, the unwonted tension to which her powers ofendurance had been subjected, caused a reaction to take place; she wasoverwhelmed by the flooding tides of thought and despair that rushed inupon her. What a day of calamity it had been! What a night of raylessdarkness was before her!

She knew that she was in the hands and at the mercy of an unscrupulousvillain, who was incapable of performing a noble or magnanimous act, butbase enough to resort to any means in the use of which to carry an end, orgain a point. She but too well knew the fate before her, if no means ofresistance were placed in her hands; and where to find these she knew not. She was, as we said, overwhelmed with dismay. But gradually, as she hadtime to reflect, to collect her thoughts, and form resolves, she began togrow calm. There was a strength in firmness of will which could surmountmany difficulties. It was, indeed, a kind of wall of defense about her, which might materially aid her in the contest she clearly saw before her, with her unprincipled enemy. He was, she knew, like all villains, a coward, and she determined, among other things, to operate upon his fears. 

It might be supposed that she would feel little like sleep under thecircumstances by which she was surrounded; but having overheard part of anaside conversation between Duffel and his confederates, in which hementioned meeting them at some place designated, and about something to bedone on the morrow, she felt assured of what she could not have beencertain on his own word merely, that he had business which would detain himuntil the next day, and, consequently, would not return to molest her forthe present. She retired to the inner room, locked and bolted the door, (she had not expected to find a bolt on the inside, and the fact that therewas one gave her a feeling of greater security, ) then knelt down andoffered up a fervent prayer to heaven for protection, for shielding careand final deliverance; after which she laid down, and composed herself torest. Her slumbers were peaceful and undisturbed, attended with pleasantdreams; and she awoke, in the morning, as she supposed--for the light ofday never visited the dark recesses of her abode, which were lighted byartificial means alone--much refreshed, with her spirits quite restored totheir former elasticity. 

She went out into the other room, and selected a book for perusal; itchanced to be a work on metaphysics, and after poring over its abstrusepages for some time, she became drowsy, and finally fell into a dreamysleep. In her fitful slumbers, she was visited by a dream or vision ofextraordinary vividness, which made an indelible impression upon her mind, because she felt personally interested in the characters that appearedbefore her, and by alluding to the scenes, she might alarm the guilty soulof her persecutor; so, at least, she hoped and believed; with what reasonwe shall see hereafter. 

 * * * * *

After leaving the cave, Duffel hastened back to Mr. Mandeville's as fast ashis fleet steed could bear him. It was after dark before he drew up infront of that gentleman's house, his horse covered with sweat and foam, andwell-nigh exhausted. It was his wish to be there before the father shouldinstitute any search for his missing daughter, that he might succeed inthrowing the blame upon Hadley, in case the letters dropped for the purposeof implicating him should not have fallen into the hands of the parent; andwith this view he had a story already made up, to the effect that some onehad seen the fugitives in their flight. As was his custom, he paused on theoutside of the house to listen, hoping by that means to obtain a knowledgeof affairs, and of the feelings of Mr. Mandeville relative to hisdaughter's desertion or abduction as the case might be. He soon heard thehurried footsteps of that gentleman, as, in his deep distress, he paced thefloor--heard, also, his broken exclamations and heavy groans, and the onlysentiment all these things awakened in his callous soul was expressed inthe unfeeling words spoken to himself, in thought:

"The old man takes it hard. "

It was a very extraordinary thing for Mr. Mandeville to express histhoughts aloud, but he did so on this occasion, and Duffel heard hiscomments on the letters, and his execration of the writer, as also hisreflections upon his daughter's conduct; then there was a crumpling soundlike that of paper, as though the sheets were crushed in the hand of thereader. All this was music to the crime-stained soul of the guiltylistener, who exulted in the success of his scheme, and felt additionalassurance of ultimately triumphing in all his undertakings. But when thespirit-bowed father, in his hopeless agony, called down the curse upon thehead of the author of the wrong, and appealed to Heaven for vengeance, thevillain cowered as if truly smitten with a bolt; and the bare thought thatthe fate prayed for _might_ be his, sent a cold chill to his heart andforced out great drops of perspiration on his brow. He trembled in everylimb, like one in an ague fit, and it was some seconds before he couldregain command of his faculties. At last he felt something like himselfagain, and not wishing to hear anything more of the same kind, he knockedat the door, and the next minute stood face to face with Mr. Mandeville. Black as his corrupt heart had become, he could not look unmoved upon thatcountenance, and behold the ravages made in a short hour by the pains ofsoul _he_ had inflicted. 

"Are you sick, Mr. Mandeville?" was his first inquiry. 

"No, sir; but worse, much worse than sick. "

"Indeed! How is that?"

"Eveline is gone!"

"Gone?"

"Yes, gone forever!"

"What!" and the miscreant evinced the utmost surprise and astonishment. "You do not mean to say she is dead?"

"No, no! Would to God she was! I would a thousand times rather havefollowed her to the grave! But read, read, and know for yourself what hashappened. " Saying which, he placed the letters in the hypocrite's hands, and then, while he was reading them, buried his face in his own hands, andsat in mute but agonized grief. 

Duffel read the letters with secret delight, repeating to himself at everyparticular place where it suited him best, "Glorious!" and at the close ofall, "I must reward Bill for this. He's a perfect gem of a devil for suchwork. "

But to Mandeville, in well-feigned amazement, he exclaimed:

"Charles Hadley!"

"Yes, " said the afflicted parent, lifting his bowed head, "of all theworld, _him_! a criminal and vagabond, who had fled from justice to hidehimself from the face of man! Oh, my God! to think that she would forsakehome, friends, a good name, and trample upon a parent's love for such avillain!"

"Perhaps it is not yet too late to save her?" suggested Duffel. 

"How? what?" ejaculated the other, catching at the words as a drowning manwould at a straw. 

"I say it may be possible that the marriage-rites have not yet beenperformed. This may be written for a blind to prevent pursuit. "

"No, no; I cannot doubt its truth, and would not have a hope raised in myheart to be crushed out again by despair. Beside, whither should I go inpursuit of them?"

"I see you are in hopeless despondency, but I do not feel like giving overwithout a struggle--I have too much to lose in Eveline. Shall I try torescue her?"

"Oh! yes, if you wish to do so. "

"And if, by any means, I can circumvent this Hadley, and prevent theirunion, I have your consent to make her my wife?"

"Certainly. "

"And will you interpose parental authority in my behalf?"

"Yes, after this I will. "

"I have still one request more to make, and that is, that you will permitme to act in my own way, and according to my own judgment in this matter. "

"Do so; I have no advice to give. "

"Very well; I am to understand, then, that if by _any means_ I can rescueEveline from Hadley, she is to be my wife?"

"Yes. "

"Then I will try. I will follow them to the end of the world if need be. Perhaps you may hear from me soon, perhaps not for a month. Good-by. "

In a few moments he was galloping away at full speed, as if to impress hisrecent host with the idea that he was in great haste to be after thefugitives. 

Mr. Mandeville had been too deeply absorbed with his own feelings to payvery strict attention to what Duffel was saying; but the words _by anymeans_ now rose vividly up in his mind, and like a flash came the thought--

"He may intend to _murder_ Hadley!"

Starting to his feet, he hastened out for an explanation; but Duffel wasalready gone, and turning back, he entered his dwelling with theexpression in his thoughts--

"Let him die: it matters not!"

Ah, had he known the true state of the case, and the devilish import ofthose words in the mind of the abominable wretch who had uttered them, howsuddenly would he have aroused himself to action. But now he cared not. 

"If, " thought he, "Eveline is so ungrateful, if she thinks so little of afather's love, let her go! Why need I seek to force her to stay with mewhen she prefers the society of another? Oh, if I had not loved her sotenderly, I could endure this trial better. But why mourn and lament? No, rather let me forget her, as she has forsaken me. "

But he could not forget her with all his resolving, and we will leave himwith his sorrow. 

CHAPTER XIII. 

THE INTERVIEW. 

Faithful to his wicked intentions, Duffel presented himself before Evelineon the day succeeding the one in which she was placed in confinement at thecave, and having no choice in the matter, she was obliged to become aparticipator in the conversation he was pleased to introduce and force uponher. She was seated on an elegant sofa--for the apartment was luxuriouslyfurnished--when he entered; and with all the assurance of an acceptedfriend, he walked up and took a seat by her side. She was reading at thetime, and when he entered she barely raised her eyes from the pages of thebook, as if to assure herself who it was that intruded, and then, withoutfurther notice or any sign of recognition, continued to peruse the work inhand. This unexcited, cool and self-possessed conduct was not what thevillain seemed to expect or desire; he hoped to find a suppliant in tears, instead of a calm and apparently unconcerned woman; he was prepared forsuch a subject, but for the one before him he was not, and he was at a losshow to proceed; indeed, just at that moment he was the most uneasy of thetwo. But he must do something, and so opened the interview on this wise:

"You seem to be deeply absorbed in the contents of that book, MissMandeville, and I am pleased to see you so well entertained in this rathersolitary abode. "

As this remark did not positively require a reply, Eveline continued toread without opening her mouth; Duffel bit his lip in vexation, but after apause of some duration continued:

"I am very sorry to interrupt you when so agreeably employed, but necessityoften compels us to do things abhorrent to our feelings; and as I have someimportant communications to make, which it is best for you to knowimmediately, I must beg to be permitted to disturb you for a few minutes. Perhaps it will be some compensation for the brief interruption to give youthe latest intelligence from your father and former home. "

At these words Eveline for the first time raised her eyes to the face ofthe villain, as if to ascertain the expression of his countenance, andlearn whether he was in a serious or mocking humor. He went on:

"I had the pleasure of a long interview with Mr. Mandeville last evening. He was in much distress at your absence, and thought you were veryundutiful to leave him in his old age without even a parting word. "

At this unfeeling recital, Eveline cast upon the heartless wretch a look ofindignation, and her dark eyes fairly shot fire; he quailed under thescathing rebuke of those orbs, as he had often done before, but waschagrined that he had been unable to draw a single word from her lips, andmentally resolving to bring her to the speaking point, he proceeded:

"But sorry and indignant as he was at _your_ conduct, he was far moredeeply exasperated at Hadley. "

"Hadley!" repeated she, in the first moment of surprise. 

"Yes; that very loving letter he addressed to you fell into your parent'shands, together with another one from the same writer, directed to himselfwherein Hadley asks forgiveness for himself, and especially for you, fairlady, whom he represents to be in deep distress, that love irresistiblydraws you to him and away from home. "

"Villain!" ejaculated Eveline, with flashing eye. 

"Be careful of your words, my dear; you are not now in your father'shouse, and it may not suit my purpose to allow you the use of suchepithets, as applied to myself. "

With this remark, Eveline at once turned to her book and commenced readingagain, as much as to say:--"Have the conversation all to yourself, then!"and the miscreant so understood and interpreted the act, and felt that hewas outgeneraled by the superior tactics of his opponent, notwithstandingthe immense advantage he was master of in the contest. 

"Nay, fair lady, " he said, "I did not intend to cut you off from theprivilege of speech, but only to advise you to be a little careful in theuse of terms and epithets. "

"Sir, if after forcing a conversation upon me on your own terms, and at anadvantage of your own choosing, you are too cowardly to hear what I pleaseto say, you must talk to yourself. When I speak at all I select my ownwords. I do not belong to that class of contemptible poltroons, who slinkbehind others to hide themselves and their crimes, basely exposing theinnocent to the censures and punishment that should fall upon their ownguilty heads. No, sir; woman as I am I would scorn to stoop to such a lowdepth of infamy to screen myself from any position, even from death itself;and if you, with all this littleness of mind and cringing cowardice ofsoul, expect to intimidate me by any menaces, all I have to say is, youhave 'reckoned without your host. ' And permit me to tell you that there areno words in any language half adequate to express my contempt of you as aman, or my abhorrence of your acts as a criminal, of whom, thus far, thegallows has been shamefully cheated. "

This bold speech fairly took the rascal out of himself. He ground his teethin rage and seemed on the point of committing some desperate deed, butthose unquailing and flashing eyes were fixed upon him with a look thatseemed to burn into his innermost soul, and penetrate its dark recesses ofguilt. He was again conquered by that look; there was a magnetic powerabout it he could not withstand; and swallowing his rage as best he could, replied after this manner:

"I perceive you have that implement for which your sex is so distinguished, a ready tongue, and I must confess it points words sharply and drives themhome with force, and under some circumstances I might feel likeretaliating; but here, as my guest, I shall not presume to do so; it willaccord much better with my wishes to proceed with the matter in hand, --As Iwas saying, your father fully believes that Hadley has persuaded you toleave home and elope with him, and he is so shocked by your want of filialaffection, as to be totally disqualified for acting with his usual energy;beside, he says if you care so little for him as to desert him and the homeof your childhood for a horse-thief and a vagabond, he cares not to seekafter you, but says you may go. "

At the first, Eveline felt like weeping, and for a moment buried her facein her hands; but then she felt it would not do to give way to feelings oftenderness and sorrow in her present situation, and choking down the greatgrief that swelled up in her bosom on her father's account, she suddenlyassumed a commanding attitude, and addressed the calculating human fiend asfollows:

"Inhuman monster! how long do you expect thus to dare the vengeance ofheaven? You have stained your soul with crimes that would darken the pit ofnight; you have committed robberies, and thefts, and _murder_! Ay, startand turn pale when your crimes stare you in the face, you have done sobefore, and you will again. You thought there was no eye to witness yourplotting deeds, no ear to hear your murderous plans except those of yourvile confederates, but you see I am aware of your crimes. "

"Who told you these things?" he demanded, breaking in upon her discourse. 

"That is a question I shall not take the trouble to answer; it is enoughfor you to understand that _I know what you are_, and that long-delayedjustice will overtake you, perhaps, sooner than you deem it possible yoursecret acts can be brought to light; for you seem to have forgotten thatthere is One, whose eye never slumbers, whose ear is always open to theprayer of the distressed and to the voice of the blood of the innocent, which crieth from the ground as did the blood of Abel. "

"Ah, what a pity it is you are not a parson, or at least a parson's wife!You really talk like a preacher; but I fear your discourse has producedlittle more effect upon _your_ auditory than do the polished words of afashionable divine upon _his_; all very fine, but fancy sketches are notapt to effect as much with sober, common-sense people, as is the truth. "

This was said with something of returning assurance, Duffel having tried towork himself into the belief that all was guess-work on the part ofEveline, so far as her accusations were concerned. She saw this, and in amoment the remembrance of her dream that morning flashed across her mind, and she determined to try the effect a reference to the scenes which passedin review before her mental vision would have upon him:

"Sir, your assumed assurance would soon leave you if you were in acourt-room, and the evidence of your guilt, as I have it, detailed bywitnesses. When your secret conference with those vile instruments--not yetso vile as yourself--whom it has pleased you to use as tools, were madeknown before a court and jury, your brazen impudence would depart, and thespecter of a gibbet in the distance--and but a short distance, too--wouldpale your unblushing cheek and palsy your false tongue, skillful as you mayhave been in casting blame upon others by deceptive and lying words. Whenit was proved that _you_ stole my father's horse; that _you_ areresponsible for the absence of Mr. Hadley; that _you_ pointed the knife andthe pistol at his heart, and then mendaciously represented him as the thiefand kidnapper who is found in your own person; then, sir, would you vailyour face and go out no more among men, but upon your forehead, as _now_upon your soul, would be the brand of _thief_, _robber_, _murderer_! Ay, well may you cower! well may the cold sweat force itself out upon yourbrow! Did it never enter into your debased mind that the villain who isdegraded enough to sell himself to crime for a little sordid dust, will, for a larger sum, betray his employer? Do you suppose that when _you_meditate vengeance upon your tools, they will idly await your pleasure andplans, and lift no hand in their own defense?"

At this point Duffel actually sprang to his feet, the great drops oozingfrom every pore! How had his secret thoughts become known to her?--thoughtsthat no mortal ear had ever heard him utter?

"Girl! girl!" he shouted, "who and what are you? demon, witch or spirit?"

Then he paused a moment, as if to collect himself, and decide upon a courseof action. Becoming a little more composed, he continued:

"If you are in league with hell, then are we of one family if you have notbelied me, and I shall take it upon myself to strengthen the affinity by--"

"Sir!" she said, with a commanding look which awed him into silence, (forhis superstitious feelings were already in the ascendant, and he began to_fear_ her) "I have no connection with the household of his Satanicmajesty, _nor do I intend to have_, albeit you have intimated to thecontrary. "

"Don't be too sure of that, " he interrupted. "You must know that when I setmy heart upon a measure, I never allow myself to be defeated in itsaccomplishment; and just now the darling object I have in view is a unionwith yourself. "

This was _said_ with much of his usual assurance, though the expression ofhis face gave indications of internal uneasiness, and a trembling of soul, which belied the ostensible bravery put on for the occasion. 

"You speak as though there was but one will in the world, of which you werethe fortunate possessor; permit me to disabuse your overweening confidenceand selfishness on this point. I have no wish to pass words with such anunmanly representative of mankind as you, sir, but let me assure you it ismy very calm and fixed determination to show you that all your intentionscannot be carried out. "

"We will see, then, " he said, with something of aroused indignation, "whosewill is the stronger, or, rather, who has the advantage in this contest. You seem to forget your situation at the present moment, and that you areentirely and completely in my power. "

"I forgot nothing, sir: I am in the hands of One, before whom you are as agrasshopper; and His justice does not always slumber. "

"Turning parson again! It is all very well; but just now that highauthority seems to be engaged in some one else's behalf, and, much to mysatisfaction, has left you to take care of yourself. I, on the contrary, having an immediate interest in your welfare, have undertaken to care foryou; and inasmuch as your very powerful ally has given you into my hands, Iesteem it my interest and privilege to find a home and provide for you. "

These words of derision were spoken with mock politeness, and the manner ofthe speaker indicated that much of his wonted assurance had returned. 

"May that God you impiously defy, whose attributes you daringly andderidingly blaspheme, let fall upon your guilty head the just punishmentfor your crimes; I ask for you no greater curse--Heaven knows that will bedreadful enough!"

"There, that will do! We have had enough preaching for one day; let us nowproceed to business. I was just remarking how completely you are in mypower, and a glance at your situation will at once reveal to you the factthat I have you where I can compel a compliance with my wishes; but I donot propose to use force, unless compelled to do so by your own obstinacyand willfulness. I have already, on former occasions, spoken to you of mydeep and unquenchable love for you, and it is not my purpose to repeat thedeclarations made at those several interviews farther than to say, that myfeelings toward you remain unchanged; I regard you too highly to permitanother to wed you; I may be selfish, but that is a natural result of love;no one ever loved but he desired to possess the object of his affection. Inthis respect I do not claim for myself any superior excellence; my love ishuman in kind, it only differs from others by being stronger in degree; andthe deeper the love, the more ardent the desire to win the beloved. This ismy only apology for bringing you here; and, as it is a very flattering one, I hope you will accept it, and pardon the act to the performance of which Iwas irresistibly driven by this strongest passion of the human heart. "

Seeing the direction he was giving the conversation, Eveline took up herbook and commenced reading. Duffel was exceedingly vexed, but this time hewas not to be balked in his designs, and so took the book from her hands, saying as he did so. 

"I beg pardon, but now I _must_ and _will_ be heard. I have alreadyinformed you of your father's feelings toward yourself and Charles Hadley:I have now another piece of intelligence to communicate to you; and thatis, that your parent gave you to me in case I should be able, by _anymeans_, to save you from a union with Hadley. "

"It is false! My parent gave me his solemn promise never to interpose hisauthority to compel me to marry against my will. "

"Very well: you at the same time gave him your word never to see Hadleyuntil he was cleared of the crime imputed to him; he believes you have beenunfaithful on your part, and that he, therefore, is no longer bound toobserve the compact entered into between you. "

"Again you are guilty of misrepresentation. My father's word was pledged tome before he had even asked me not to see Mr. Hadley, and there was, consequently, no compact between us, but a voluntary promise on eitherside. "

"Which you violated by going to meet Hadley, as you supposed. "

"No, sir, I did not. My word was given to be observed so long only as Mr. Hadley appeared to be guilty. I know him to be innocent, and that knowledgeabsolves me. "

"As you please on that point; for it matters but little, and does notchange the view taken of the subject by Mr. Mandeville, who, as I said, hasgiven you to me on the one condition of preventing a union between you andHadley; _and I am at liberty to act just as I see fit_ in order toaccomplish this end. Don't you see that I have everything my own way, andyour father's sanction, also, to any measures I may adopt?"

"What you say _may_ be true, though I have no evidence whatever that it is;for if you would lie to my parent, you would lie to me also. One thing, however, I _do_ know, and that is, that you have not yet obtained _my_consent to your proposed measures, and being of age, I have the legal rightto make such disposition of my hand as I may see proper; and be assured Iwill never bestow it upon _you_! Sir, I would prefer to wed the vilestwretch in the Penitentiary of any State before you. "

"You may repent the use of such words, fair lady; and, indeed, but for mymerciful feelings toward you, ere this you would have been glad to beg theboon I now offer and you reject. "

"Infamous villain! never!"

"We shall see. "

"And we _shall_ see!"

She fixed upon him that look from which he had so often shrunk before, andagain he quailed beneath it. 

"From what you have already said, " he replied, avoiding her gaze, "I am ledto suppose you suspect me of crimes in the eyes of the law, which it wouldnot be pleasant for the world to know. This is an additional reason why Icannot permit you to leave this place except as my wife; for I am notprepared just yet to enter the court-room. I am persuaded that one of yourstrongest reasons for refusing to marry me, has its foundation in a formerpreference, and is kept active by the hope of a union with the object ofthat preference; if so, permit me to say to you that Charles Hadley is_dead_!"

"Perhaps, but I must have better evidence of the fact than your simple, unsupported word, or I will not believe it. _I know you bargained to havehim killed_, but I hope God overruled your wicked intentions. "

"Your hope is vain, and I will bring you the necessary witnesses to-morrowto prove my words; at present I will state the fact, and add; for yourbenefit, that, whether true or false, your destiny is the same, and from ityou cannot, shall not escape. I will now lay down the unalterable decree offate, which you may as vainly attempt to avoid, as to pluck down the starsof heaven, or to blot out the sun from the firmament!"

"Perhaps. "

"I give you one week in which to con the matter over in your mind; if atthe end of that time you willingly consent to become my wife, well andgood; if not, then I will make you mine whether you will or not!"

"Perhaps. "

"Girl! don't presume too far on my patience. I warn you it is not the mostenduring in the world. "

"I am not so sure of that. Cowards are generally very patient when there isno danger at hand. "

"You will repent this, girl!"

"And you, sir! what will you do when the rope dangles in your face?"

"Kiss my pretty wife and commend her to the compassion of her friends. "

"You will never have a wife, sir. God in His infinite mercy, will spare allmy sex from such a fearful calamity. "

"Enough words for this time. To-morrow I will bring the witnesses ofHadley's death, as I promised you; and this day week I will receive yourfinal answer to my last offer of a peaceable marriage. "

So saying, he left the room and the cave. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

THE EVIDENCE--DUFFEL THWARTED. 

It would be difficult to tell which of the two, Eveline or Duffel, was mostuneasy, or least alarmed, during the progress of the conversation recordedin the last chapter. Duffel feared that Bill and Dick had played him false, and he also saw that his antagonist was too much for him in a fair contest. Eveline felt an internal dread of her adversary, though she gave no outwardmanifestation of fear, having firmly resolved to withstand his everyattack, and if need be die in defense of her virtue. When alone, however, the feelings uppermost in her mind were those of distress and apprehension;and as she took a survey of the position in which she was placed, andcontemplated the hopelessness of her situation, a tide of emotions, longsuppressed, swept over her spirit, and yielding to her feelings, she bowedher head, and wept. 

When Duffel was alone, he called up all that had passed, and as he dwelt onthe revelation of his plots as made to him by Eveline, he came to theconclusion that the sooner he could get rid of Bill and Dick the better;for it must have been through them that she came in possession of thesecrets known only to themselves. 

"I'll teach them a lesson!" he said, "and once clear of these fellows Iwill never trust rascals again. I wish they would, hurry and make way withDuval; I would then have them! However, I must have an interview now, anduse them awhile longer. "

He proceeded to the "swamp, " where his associates were to meet him. Theywere already in waiting when he arrived, and without ceremony orcircumlocution, he accosted them as follows:

"So, then, you have turned traitors, have you?"

"_Traitors!_"

"Yes, and been developing my secrets. "

"If any tongue but yours should dare make the accusation, it would besilenced forever, " replied Bill, in much excitement. "Who dares to makesuch a charge against us? We demand to know, and his lying lips shall besealed with his own blood!"

"There, that will do. It was only a woman that intimated to me that youwere unfaithful; and I thought then, as I think now, that it was allguess-work with her. "

Here he narrated so much of the interview with Eveline as related tothemselves, and concluded by asking if they had held any privateconversation that she could by any possibility have overheard. 

"Not a word, your honor; we did not so much as make a sign by which shemight suspect us or you. "

"Very well, I am satisfied; but it seems she either knows or suspectssomething, and we must be more than ever on our guard. What I wish to sayto you now, is, that this lady, either for willfulness or out of disbelief, affects to discredit my statement concerning Hadley's death, and I wish youto accompany me to the cave to-morrow, and confirm my statements. You neednot implicate yourselves, but give the facts as you saw them transpire. "

"All right we'll be there; and I guess we can fix up the right kind of astory for the occasion. "

"And to-morrow night you must make a descent upon 'Squire Williams'pasture-field, and save a little of his grass by removing a part of hisstock. You understand?"

"Perfectly. We will try, but it's getting to be rather a dangerous businessof late. Since Mandeville's horse was stolen, the men have taken it intotheir heads to defend their property. Only a few nights ago, two of our menwent over with the intention of taking Thompson's fine bay; but he was onhand, and shot one of them through the arm; and they were glad to get offwithout the horse. "

"Indeed! that's bad news, for we must make a raise somehow. I don't wantthe captain to come back and find we have done nothing in his absence. "

"Well, we will do the best we can; but it is about time we were leavingthis part of the country, at least for awhile. I don't think we can effectmuch, and we run great risks of being detected. "

"Do you think suspicion rests on any of our members?"

"Well I can't say as to that. People are beginning to suspect everybodythey don't know, and some that they do. If a man hasn't any particularoccupation, he is pretty certain to be suspected of getting his living bydishonest means. "

"We must get away from here. I will be ready to look out some otherlocation within the next fortnight. In the meantime, do the best you can, and all that you can; but be very cautious. Remember to-morrow. "

"We will be there, be assured. "

With this the villains departed. 

Eveline continued to weep for some length of time and then, arousingherself, she summoned all the courage of which she was master, and bracedherself to meet the fate in store for her, be it what it might. 

In passing through the room, her eye fell upon a strip of paper, which layin such a position as to indicate that it had been brushed from a tablewhich was sometimes used by Duffel to write upon. She listlessly took it upand glanced over it, when her eye caught a few lines penciled upon it. Seating herself, she examined the writing more closely, and in a momentbecame interested. On the paper were some characters, the meaning of whichshe could not comprehend, though she recognized them in a moment, as beingthe same in form and character as those on the letter which had fallen intoher father's hand, purporting to be from some one to Hadley, as related inthe former part of this story, and in connection with these were clearlytraced the following words:

"And then Bill and Dick! They are first rate fellows in their way, and havebeen very serviceable to me; but I don't think it is best to have too manyconfidants. I must get rid of them in some way, either by fair or foulmeans. Then I shall feel safe and at ease. "

These few lines, it seemed to Eveline, had been written unintentionally, asa man would unconsciously "think aloud;" and she was persuaded in her ownmind, that Duffel knew not of their existence, or he would have destroyedthem. And this was the fact. He had written a letter to the captain on theday previous to Eveline's abduction, the first draft of which was now inher hand. This paper was on the table at his side, and after finishing theletter, he sat for some moments in deep thought, the burden of which washis own situation. His pencil was in his hand, and in the course of hissecret communion, the words we have quoted were spoken to himself, andrecorded with the pencil--his mind the while too completely absorbed in thecurrent of his reflections to note the act or be aware of the mechanicalaction of his hand. 

It instantly flashed across her mind that this document might be madeserviceable to her, if, on the morrow, unperceived by Duffel, she couldfind an opportunity of slipping it into the hand of one of hisconfederates. She turned it over, and wrote on the other side:

"I found this paper in the room where I am confined. You will know whetheror not the writing is in the hand of your employer; should it prove to be, as I suspect it is, you will at once perceive his intentions toward you, and can act accordingly. If, in this new phase of affairs, you feel willingto desert his service, and aid me to escape out of his hands, and from thisplace, you shall be abundantly rewarded, and I will ever be your debtor. 

"E. MANDEVILLE. "

She then folded the note into as small a compass as possible, and placed itabout her person for future use. 

The next day, Duffel visited the cave in company with Bill and Dick, whomhe introduced into the captain's room for the purpose already named. 

"You have not forgotten our conversation yesterday, Eveline, " said he, "norhave I my promise. In these gentlemen you have the witnesses of Hadley'sdeath, which, for your own good, I have taken this pains to establishbeyond a doubt. My friends will now speak for themselves. "

Bill at once addressed himself to her as follows:

"It is with much pain, fair lady, that we are before you as witnesses ofthe sad occurrence referred to by Mr. Duffel; but as circumstances haveplaced us in this unpleasant situation, we crave your pardon most heartily, and the more so, if what we have to say should be a source of grief to you. It so happened that my friend and myself were crossing the mountains, ashort time since, and being somewhat belated, were urging our passagethrough a dark and gloomy valley, in some apprehension, when we suddenlycame upon two villains, who had just slain a man, and were about to robhim. We rushed to the spot before their work was completed, and they fledfrom the scene of murder in the greatest alarm. We dismounted, and foundthat the individual was Mr. CHARLES HADLEY, with whom we had beenacquainted some years before. He was not yet quite dead, and spoke a fewwords about his mother and some other lady; but his articulation was soindistinct and his words so broken, we could not gather the import of whatwe supposed to be his dying messages to those of whom he spoke. He expiredin a few moments, and we then hastened to the nearest hamlet forassistance. I would fain stop here, lady, for the rest of the recital isvery shocking; but I have been requested to tell all, and must do so. Itwas something over an hour before we, with some four or five others, whohad accompanied us, returned, when, oh, horror! what were our feelings onbeholding a pack of hungry wolves devouring the body of Mr. Hadley! Welighted torches and drove them away, but nothing remained of the dead manbut his bones! God grant that I may never witness another such a sight!"

Eveline, who was much shocked at this story, lest it _might_ be true, though she was by no means certain it was not made up for the occasion, appeared to be much more deeply affected than she really was, and madeappear as though she was about to faint, seeing which, Duffel stepped upwith the intention of supporting her. She sprang from him, and, in greatapparent agitation, seized Bill by the arm, and demanded of him if what hehad said was the actual truth, and at the same time pressed the note in hishand, giving him an intelligent look. He very dextrously transferred thelittle billet to his left vest pocket, as though he was simply laying hishand upon his heart to give greater solemnity to his reply, and said:

"I assure you, madam, what I have told you is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and my friend will confirm the statement I havemade. "

"Yes, " said Dick, thus appealed to, "the sad story is but too true; I wishfor your sake it was not. "

This was said with some feeling, and it had more effect upon Eveline thaneven the horrid recital given by Bill, but she felt the necessity ofcrushing down all tender feelings, and with a masterly effort succeeded indoing so, then replied:

"You will pardon me, gentlemen, for having seemed to express a doubt on thesubject of your narrative; we are apt to judge persons by the company theykeep, and knowing your friend here, " (pointing to Duffel, ) "is very muchgiven to telling falsehoods, I thought it possible you might have formedthat detestable habit through his example; I trust, however, it is not thecase. "

Duffel boiled with internal rage at this remark; but suppressing his anger, he conducted his allies out of the room, gave them some directions, andthen returned to impose his unwelcome presence and conversation uponEveline, who had no means of avoiding him, but was compelled to hear hiswords. 

"I hope, " said he, "you are now satisfied of the truth of my declaration, that Hadley is dead. "

"He may be; but I say now, as I said before, I do not _know_ that he is;but admitting that he _is_ dead, what difference does it make?"

"Why not much, it is true, and I think I took the liberty of saying soyesterday. I only wish, by proving the certainty of this event, to show youthe folly of continuing longer to set your affections upon him, providedyou have been doing so heretofore. "

"And suppose I should cease to remember him, what would that avail you?"

"I would then hope to be able to convince you of my own deep love, and inso doing of exciting a kindred sentiment in your own bosom. "

"Have you the presumption to believe that I could be brought to such astate of degradation of feeling, now that I know who and what you are, whenI rejected you under far more favorable circumstances? If you have, let meat once tell you, that in this instance, as in many others, your vanity hasled you to entirely over-estimate your ability to please. Perhaps some ofmy sex might be silly enough to listen to your well-turned speeches, but Ican assure you the less you speak to me of _love_ the better. "

"People often change their minds. "

"So they do; but I think you have pretty good reason to believe that _I_ amnot particularly liable to be charged with that failing. "

"Well, no, I believe I cannot charge you with that weakness; but I am sureyou are very obstinate for one of your sex, which is not usually adjudgedto be among the amiable characteristics of a lady. "

"A lady that has no mind of her own is no credit to the sex; but I am sorryto say there are too many of that class, at least we might readily supposeso by the easy manner in which they are taken captive with soft, sillynonsense, and smooth, flattering words. If you admire such, the best thingyou can do is to go and make love to them; you will progress much fasterthan you do here. "

"There now, by my troth, I like that! I wouldn't give a cent for a girlthat had no spirit about her. If you keep on at such a rate, I shall bemore madly in love with you than ever! Come, be a good girl, and give us alittle more of that kind of spice!"

"You like it, do you? Very well, I will change the key a little then, justa little, and let you have a peep at yourself. You pretend to entertainsentiments of regard for me; but you know, and I know also, that it is myfather's wealth of which you are enamored. "

"No, I swear to you, I love _you_!"

"And I know that is a false oath. You base hypocrite! do you think for amoment that I cannot and do not see through your flimsy gauze of deception?I can read your guilty soul as a book; I know your motives, and I know thata pure, generous, or noble sentiment never had a lodgment in your breast. You are base, corrupt, cowardly and unmanly in every sense of the word. There is not a redeeming trait in your character. You are false to yourfriends, you cajole your enemies, and prey upon community. You _know_ thisis a true picture of yourself, only that 'the half has not been told;' andyet you have the unblushing audacity to talk to me of _love_!"

"Yes; and what is more, I am going to wed you. "

"Sir! never dare to utter such a word in my presence again!"

"Ha, ha, ha! That _is_ rich, any how! Ha, ha! A weak prisoner to dare amighty captor in that way! You certainly must forget where you are, mypretty little defiant beauty! Why I could just as easily compel acompliance with my wishes, as make you a listener to my discourse. "

"Not quite, sir; you might possibly find yourself slightly mistaken shouldyou attempt too much, and I give you fair warning to beware what you do!"

"Ha, ha, ha! Why, my love, I could conquer you with one hand. "

"You had better not try it, sir!"

"I certainly would make an effort had I not already allowed you a week tomake up your mind. But to show you how completely you are in my power, Iwill just plant a kiss on your ruby lips--"

"Never, sir; _never_!" said she, with flashing eye. "Dare to touch me withyour polluted hand, and you die on the spot!"

"Ha! what's that I hear? Talk of killing, do you? Well, we shall see. "

And he took a step toward her, with the intention of carrying out histhreat. 

"Stop, sir!" she said; and there was that in the tone of her voice whicharrested him as suddenly as would a bar of iron interposed across his way. "Know, " she continued, "that lips polluted as yours are can never come incontact with mine! I would sooner press mine to the slimy carcass of adecaying animal, than permit them even to touch yours! and I would farrather inhale the atmosphere from putrid flesh, aye, from the vilestcarrion, than that your foul breath should enter my nostrils! This, sir, will give a faint idea of the utter detestation, the inexpressibleloathing, I feel for you. "

"By heavens! you shall repent of this in sackcloth and ashes! Detest andloathe as you please, you _shall_ feel my lips upon your own! and thatnow!"

With this, the infuriated villain stepped forward and made a pass, intending to encircle Eveline in his arms, but she eluded his grasp, andplacing the sofa between them, drew from the folds of her dress a smalldagger, and pointing it at his heart, said:

"One step, one movement toward me, and your life pays the forfeit!" and shepressed the point of the weapon against his breast. 

The cowardly wretch was taken aback, and the moment he felt the instrumenttouch him sprang away, as if the sharp steel was truly entering his flesh. 

"Base coward!" she, in her excitement, hissed between her teeth in the mostcontemptuous manner. At his discomfiture and these words, his rage knew nobounds; he was beside himself with anger, and but for the weapon which sheheld, would have wreaked his vengeance upon her at once in the most beastlymanner. As it was, his cowardice did not permit him to make the attempt, and he contented himself with pouring out his wrath in words:

"You incarnate child of h----l! I'll make you weep in sorrow and shame forthis! I have given you a week for reflection, but now your time is at hand, any hour that I shall please to crush you! and I will not keep you long insuspense. You have called up a thousand furies in my breast, all clamorousfor revenge, and I will not resist their cries! No, it will be manna to mysoul to see your proud spirit humbled, or behold you a suppliant for mercyat my feet!"

"_Never!_"

"Oh, yes; you may talk, and by my dalliance I have learned you to becomeinsolent; but now I am done with temporizing. I throw down the gauntlet, since you have entered the lists, and will compel you to accept thechallenge. "

"No, sir, I accept it freely! Don't talk of compelling _me_ to do a thing. "

"I'll show you what I'll do! I'll bring tears into those flashing eyes, andprayers from that venomous tongue! Yes, I will! I have engagements aheadfor two days, and after that you shall have no peace day or night, until Ihave forced you to become my wife! I wouldn't marry you at all, but that Ihave sworn to you to that effect, and I will keep my word. "

"You have uttered many false oaths before; they are so common I do notregard them. "

"Your boasting will soon be done! If need be, I have fifty men under mycommand, upon whom I can call for assistance, and not one of them will dareto disobey my orders. "

"Poor, contemptible poltroon! Fifty men against one feeble woman! Verily, you have a brave set of fellows under a brave commander! But you dare notcall upon your men; I could make forty friends of the number in quick time;but, even if I should fail, you are too much of a coward to trust fifty menwith your secret, especially as they all know you have a superior incommand, to whom _you_ are amenable. "

"Who told you this?"

"Find out as best you can. Perhaps I might suggest to you the possibilityof having already made friends among the members of the Order. "

"Order! Who the d----l told you there was an Order?"

"Well, find out. "

"I will, then!"

"And you will not!"

"Then there's treason in the League, and I'll ferret it out. "

"Do so, by all means!"

She was gaining the victory again, and he changed his tactics. 

"I care but little who you may have in league with you, so long as you arehere in my power. No one can enter this room without my consent, and in itI am safe even from the attack of an army without. Here you are myprisoner; you think you are safe in the other apartment with the doorlocked and bolted on the inside, but you are not. There is a secret passageto the room, of which you are in total ignorance. I can avail myself of itat any moment: and you will some time be compelled to sleep. Don't you seeI have you, now?"

This was sheer folly; for it was evidently his best policy to have kept theknowledge of the secret passage to himself if he expected to avail himselfof it; but he was for inflicting all the pain he could, and this he fanciedwould be a deep thrust. 

"I thank you, villain, for this timely piece of information; and be assuredI shall not fail to be prepared for your reception, should you dare tointrude into my presence while there. "

"Hooty-tooty! as if I am not to be master in my own house! Well, well;flatter yourself with foolish fancies if you will; but know that yourdestiny is fixed. You shall never leave this cave, except as my wife. Thisis your fate, and you may as well make up your mind to it at once. I willhave no more words with you at present, but will leave you to reflect onwhat I have said, with the hope that a little calm thought will show youthe folly of resistance, the certainty of your fate and the wisdom of apeaceful acquiescence therein. "

Saying which, he left the cave, as much vanquished as victor, though with afirm resolve to carry his purpose, even if he had to disable her first, byshooting her through the arm, with a pistol, in order to overcome her!

CHAPTER XV. 

BILL AND DICK--HORSE-STEALING--ANTI-THIEF LEAGUE. 

On leaving the cave, after the interview with Eveline, Bill and Dickresorted to a place where they were in the habit of holding consultationson their own affairs, arrived at which, Bill produced the note whichEveline gave him, from his pocket, and at once perused it. A dark scowlgathered on his face as he read, and when he had mastered the document, anexclamation broke from his lips to this effect:

"Infernal villain and coward!"

"What now?" queried Dick, not a little surprised at his companion's violentlanguage. 

"What do you think?"

"That's a pretty question to ask! as if I could know anything contained inthat paper, when I've never seen it except in your hand. "

"This rascal, for whom we have been working these three months, wants toget clear of us, so soon as he has obtained from us all the aid hedesires. "

"What, _Duffel_?"

"Yes, Duffel. "

Dick stood a moment, as if in doubt whether to believe Bill's words ornot; at length he inquired:

"How do you know this?"

"Why, here it is, in his own hand-writing. "

That he wants to betray us?"

"No--yes--that is, he wants to get us out of the way!"

"How?"

"By fair means or foul; he don't seem to care which. But I will read hiswords, " and Bill read the billet to his accomplice. 

"So he's afeard of us!" commented Dick. "Well, it ain't much wonder that heis. Ef I had as many crimes to account for as he has, and others knew of myguilt, I'd be skeered, too. "

"See here, Dick, what the d----l does he mean by wanting us to hurry offthat affair with Duval?"

"Fool! can't you see nothin'? Why, he wants us to kill a member of theOrder, and then have us shot as traitors!"

"Egad! plain enough, truly. Well, Mr. Duval, you may pass this time; we'llpitch into higher game. What do you say, Dick?"

"Say? Why, that this friend of ours will have to git up mighty airly in themornin', ef he finds us nappin'. "

"Let me tell you, it is no very pleasant fix, this, that we are in. Duffelfears we will betray him, and is resolved to prevent it by having uskilled. That's the 'long and short' of the matter; and he has fifty men athis back, all sworn to obey his orders. He can accuse us of treason, try, condemn, and have us shot, in the shortest possible time. Now, how are weto help ourselves?"

"Well, we can't be tried till the next regular meeting of the League, andit is more than two weeks till that time. We can watch his movements, and, ef need be, kill him or give him over into the hands of the law on a chargeof murder. "

"Yes, give him over to justice, and who is to prove him guilty, unless itbe ourselves, and then we would have the whole League down upon us in quicktime! a pretty way, indeed, to get rid of him. True, we might kill him atour next meeting in the 'swamp' and then be hung for it, which would be apoor recompense for our trouble and bad pay for taking the life of such adastard. No, I am for revenge--a revenge that will thwart his designs, andsave us from his power at the same time. "

"But how are you going to accomplish so much? that's the rub. "

"See here; on the back of this note, Miss Mandeville writes a few lines, asking our aid, and promising a reward for any service we may be willingand able to render her. My plan is this: To take the lady from the cave, which will be the deepest blow we can strike the villain, and then--"

"Well that'll do for the present. I want to know, before you go anyfurther, how you are to git the gal out without the _key_, which, I takeit, Duffel is very careful to secure about his own person?"

"Key! the deuce!" replied Bill, taken aback, for a moment, by the query. "Ihadn't thought of that, but it's no difference; my plans are not alf madeout in the details yet; but this is no bar to them; for I'd like to see thelock that Bill Mitchel can't make a key to fit, if he has a fair chance. Ican make a false key in a day that will open the door to the captain'sroom. So that difficulty is settled. "

"And now for the rest of your plan. "

"Well, when we get all ready, I'll just drop a note to some of thevigilance men, and tell them when and where they can find Duffel takingcare of a stolen horse. This will save us from the malice of any of hisconfederates, as they will not suspect us, and place Duffel in the hands ofthe officers of the government; and he will not get away soon, I'mthinking!"

"So you expect to have Duffel captured about the same time you areliberating his gal. Well, that's pretty sharp; I think you have not wastedyour time in Duffel's service, and after all, ought to thank him for givingyou such good lessons in plotting. But you have left one loophole yet, forall that. "

"What is it?"

"I've been tryin' to think what you will do with the gal when she's broughtout of the cave. She'll have to tell where she's been, and that'll fix allof us. "

"I have that matter all settled. It won't do to take the girl home, that'scertain; and this is my plan for action on that score: You see I have beenthinking this matter over in my mind before to-day. I didn't know but weshould have a split with Duffel on the Duval affair, and I was preparingfor such a state of things in case it did come. As I have told you before, I know where there is a magnificent cave for our purpose in the mountainsof Virginia, to which it has been my determination to retreat, shouldanything go wrong here. Well, I intend to take this young lady along withus to that cave. "

"Dang the women! I don't like to be bothered with 'em. Ef you are goin' tothat place, why not let the gal go home and 'blow' all she's a mind to? Itwouldn't hurt _us_, ef she did let out the secret. "

"It might, though. Some of the members of the League might chance to findus hereafter, and inform on us out of revenge. "

"But we can swear the gal to keep still about who let her out. "

"Pooh! do you suppose she would or _could_ do it?"

"Why, yes, I think it's more'n likely she'd keep her tongue out ofgratitude. She's no common gal, that, and you may put a peg there. "

"Ah, that's it exactly. She's no common girl, as you say; and I have beenenvying Duffel his good fortune ever since she has been in the cave. Thetruth is, I was smitten by her charms the first time I saw her, and washalf tempted to play Duffel false then; and now that I can serve myself anddisappoint him at the same time, I shall not be slow to avail myself of theopportunity. "

"I don't like this business of runnin' off women, nohow you can fix it. Itallers looked mean and cowardly, somehow, and I despise meanness andcowardice above all things. "

"Well, that is a pretty speech to come from you, anyhow! as if you had notbeen engaged in mean acts half your life, for which you would have toswing, if the law should once get his clutches upon you. "

"I know I have done some _bad_ things; of _mean_ acts I have performed butfew, and the meanest of these was helping to carry off this very gal to thecave; and it was by far the most cowardly. Two men to one woman! It'sactually a disgrace, and I never think of it without feelin' little!"

"I am willing you should think as you please about the matter, so you giveme a little help in the affair. "

"I don't know about that; I am tee-totally opposed to meddlin' with women, and I don't think it's manly. "

"Yes, but in this instance we are compelled, as it were, to take the girlwith us. That changes the case, you know, very materially. "

"I'm not so sure as we need to take her. I believe she'd keep our secret efwe'd let her go. "

"Well, I don't; and so we differ. But that is not the question. Go shemust--go she _shall_! Will you assist me?"

"Why, I reckon I'll have to; it wouldn't hardly be fair to refuse a friendafter helpin' an enemy. I'll stand by you. "

"That's a good fellow! Well, so much is settled. To-morrow Duffel will beaway, and I will take the impression for the key. By Jove, won't it be richwhen he finds that he has been robbed and the bird is flown!"

"I think he'll conclude this partic'lar part of God's footstool is likelyto become a leetle too hot for him. "

"Yes; and about the time he begins to prepare for leaving, he'll findhimself taken care of in a way he doesn't dream of. "

"And there will be one coward less at large in the world. "

"And he will be paid for his treason to his friends. "

"But how are we to manage him till the time for action comes?"

"Oh, we must be friendly as ever; he is not quite done with us yet, and wemust seem to enter into his plans as fully as ever we have done, and, aboveall, give him no cause to suspect anything is wrong, or that we have anyidea of his intentions toward us. "

"Then we must go after them horses to-night?"

"Certainly; I would not miss the opportunity, because, if we succeed intaking the horses, they will be under our care, and we can use them for ourown purpose. "

"Sure enough. But if we don't get them, what then are we to do?"

"Why, we will take some from the stable. "

"I don't like that much. Ef it is found out, as it will be when we aremissed, we shall have the enmity of the Order. "

"I know, and have prepared for such an emergency. "

"How?"

"I will let you know in good time. We must away, now, to meet Duffel in the'swamp. '"

Thus terminated the interview between these bad men. Had Eveline dreamedthat such would have been the effect of her revelation to them of Duffel'spurpose, she would have burned the paper sooner than have placed it intheir hands. From one snare she falls into another, and there appears to beno end to her misfortunes. 

 * * * * *

Night was upon the world. In peaceful slumbers the innocent reposed, whilethe wicked, the thief and robber, stole out upon errands of vice and crime. 

'Squire Williams, though in common a follower of that old proverb:

 "Early to bed and early to rise, Make a man healthy, wealthy and wise;"

was, on this evening, up until past eleven o'clock, in social chat with aneighbor, who had "dropped in to spend the evening" with him. During theconversation between them, the subject of most engrossing and universalinterest in that community, that of horse-stealing, was amply discussed. 

"What do you think is best to be done?" inquired the neighbor. 

"Well, others may do as they please; but I intend to _defend_ my property, "was the 'Squire's reply. 

"Just the conclusion I have arrived at; and I shall not be surprised if weare called upon very soon to put our resolves into practice. "

"Have you heard anything new?"

"Well, no, I haven't heard anything, but I've seen a little, and that, Itake it, is about as good. "

"Why, yes, it might be better, if it was good for anything at all. "

"I do not know how good it is, but my suspicions were excited. "

"It is quite an easy matter to have our suspicions excited these excitingtimes, and on this very exciting subject. There is Mr. Mandeville, has beenmade to believe that one of the best young men who ever lived, is guilty ofstealing his horse first, and his daughter afterward. "

"You don't mean to say that he suspects Mr. Duffel of such crimes?"

"No; he judges a thousand times better man than Duffel; for, between youand me, I have my doubts about this Duffel. I have seen him on twodifferent occasions in company with a couple of, to say the least, verysuspicious looking characters. "

"You don't say so!"

"Yes; and what is more, he was evidently on good terms with them, though hedid not appear to wish me to think so, and passed the matter offindifferently. I might not have thought so much of the circumstance were itnot for the fact that he does not attend to business at all, and yet livesin a better style and more extravagantly than any other young man in thecountry. I tell you a man can't live these times, and spend money as hedoes, without having an income much greater than his. "

"Perhaps he is making inroads on his capital. "

"That may be, too, though I do not know that it is the case; but I _do_know that he is absent from home much of the time, occasionally for daystogether, and nobody can tell where he is. "

"I have noticed the fact of his absence myself. "

"Mr. Mandeville was here to-day, and gave me a history of his troubles. Itappears that this Duffel was in love with his daughter--or, as _I_ suppose, with his money--and had proposed to him for her hand, which he was willingto bestow, but the daughter was not. She had placed her affections uponanother, and, in my belief, a far worthier object, and to the importunitiesof both her father and Duffel, she gave a firm and constant refusal. Theparent forbid her favorite the house, and he believes that it was throughhis persuasions that Eveline left her home, of which you, of course, haveheard. "

"Why, yes, I heard the fact, but none of the particulars. "

"Well there are no particulars, except that Mr. Mandeville found a coupleof notes, purporting to be from her lover, one addressed to herself and theother to him, in the former of which he persuades her to meet him at acertain place, and in the latter informs the parent of their elopement andasks forgiveness. Now it strikes me that these notes or letters wereplaced there by design, and that they are both forgeries. I know thehand-writing of the young man he accuses, and though the manuscript of thetwo letters is a very good imitation of his, yet it is not the same. Beside, I do not believe him capable of such an act. "

"Why, then, is the daughter gone?"

"I believe she has been kidnapped!"

"_Kidnapped!_"

"Yes, I do!"

"But who would do it? Who would _dare_ to do it!"

"Who so likely as the true lover's rival?"

"Heavens! you don't believe _Duffel_ would commit such a crime?"

"I do; but mind, this is to go no further until I can find _proof_ tosustain my belief. I am going to keep a strict watch upon the movements ofthis fellow, and I think I shall be able to find out where he keeps himselfa part of the time during his absence. "

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing more nor less than that there is a secret gang of thieves andvillains of all kinds, whose head quarters are somewhere in this region ofcountry, and that I intend to ferret out their hiding-place. "

"I am with you in that work with all my heart!"

"Very well. Here, then, is a paper I wish you to sign. It is a pledge. Thevillains have banded together to prey upon us, and I am for bandingtogether to frustrate their plans and bring them to justice. This is simplythe form of agreement we enter into among ourselves, and it binds us to useall honorable efforts, to further the cause in which we engage, and toexpose the guilty wherever and whenever we can find them, even if theoffender should be our nearest kin. "

"I'll sign it, sir, with a hearty good will!"

"It further obligates us to aid each other to the utmost of our ability inrecovering stolen property, in case any of us should meet with such amisfortune. "

"All right, that's a good feature, I'm one of you, heart and hand!"

"Then you may sign, understanding, however, that all which passes betweenus, as members of this body, is to be kept an inviolable secret. Weadminister no oath, depending solely upon the honor of our members, all ofwhom are expected to be honorable and honest men, whose word will be betterthan the most terrible oath of a criminal. "

The document was signed, and the 'Squire continued:

"Now, I wish you to consider all that has or may pass between us thisevening as strictly confidential. At the last meeting of our body it wasmade the duty of every member to protect his property, and to shoot downall thieves who were caught in the act of stealing horses. Some, however, were for first warning the depredators, and if they did not then desist, tofire upon them. "

"Indeed! is it supposed that the rascals are so bold?"

"Certainly they are! Why, it was but two or three nights ago that twothieves went into the pasture to take old Marshall's horses, supposing hewas too aged and infirm to thwart them, even if he should learn theirdesigns; they went early in the evening, before people usually retired torest; they caused a disturbance among the horses, which called out a coupleof neighbors who chanced to be there, who went to the pasture and demandedof the thieves what they wanted; when they had the insolence to reply, thatthey came after the horses and were going to have them. With this the menfired upon them, but only with the intention of frightening them away; butthey were not so easily scared, and continued to follow up after thehorses, which were not easily caught, especially by strangers. Seeing this, the men reloaded their rifles, and, taking the best aim the darkness wouldallow, fired again; this time with the desired effect, as it was believedone of the villains was wounded. "

"I had no idea they were getting so bold!"

"No doubt they are numerous, and numbers beget confidence, you know. But wemust teach them a lesson or two they will not soon forget. "

"By the way, George Gordon came home from a hunt a day or two ago, with awound in his arm. Do you think it possible he could have been one of thethieves that night?"

"The truth is, I don't know who to trust nor who to suspect. I have nodoubt there are numbers of seemingly honest people who belong to thesecret gang of thieves. I should hardly have believed it of Gordon; butthere is no telling. How does he account for the wound?"

"He says his gun accidentally went off while he was leaning upon it withhis arm over the muzzle. "

"Guns are not apt to play such scaly tricks as that; and we had betterwatch him. "

"By-the-way, I heard a report yesterday, to the effect that Thompson hadshot, or shot at, some thieves the other night. "

"Yes, and you will hear of more shooting; mark that! And if the thieves donot cease their operations, you will hear of some of them being shot deadpretty soon!"

At this point in the conversation, a trampling among the horses in thepasture attracted the attention of the 'Squire. 

"Thieves, now!" he exclaimed; and taking down a couple of rifles, he gaveone to his neighbor and retaining the other himself, the two sallied forthto ascertain what was going on. It was a starlight night, and they couldsee some distance tolerably clearly. No sooner did they come in full viewof the field in which the horses were, than they espied two thievesattempting to coax the 'Squire's favorite horse to them. The animal, however, had always been shy of strangers, and would never suffer itself tobe caught by one even in the day-time. It was a noble animal, and thethieves, as well as the lawful owner, had set their hearts upon it. Theywould approach as near as prudence dictated, and then hold out corn andsalt to entice the beast; it would come near, but the moment they made theleast motion to catch it, would wheel about and let fly at them with itsheels in such a manner as evinced to the thieves that it was best to keepat a respectful distance. They were yet unwilling to go without him, andmade repeated attempts to win him over to their way of thinking, but he wasentirely too honest to be wheedled into such bad company. 

The 'Squire watched their operations until he thought it was about time tostop the play, and then fired near, but not at the rascals, at the sametime calling out to them that they had better leave in short meter if theywanted to get away alive. Supposing that he was alone and his gun empty, they returned an insolent answer, to the effect that they would leaveshortly on a couple of his horses; and turned to try their hand at takingsome of the others in the pasture. To such a bold pass had the thievesarrived!

"Aim _at_ the rascals, and fire!" said the 'Squire to his companion; andthey did so. 

"By jing, Bill, we'd better be moving, I believe. That ball took a lock ofhair off by my ear!"

"The devil it did!"

Everything being still at the moment, the 'Squire heard this scrap ofconversation between the thieves, and called out:

"Yes, you _had_ better leave, or I'll put the next ball through one of yourhearts!"

"Do it, then, and be ----!" said one of them; and leveling a horse pistolat the 'Squire he fired, the ball from which struck the fence close by. This climax of insolence aroused the 'Squire fully. His gun was justreloaded, and taking the best aim at one of the miscreants, both of whomwere now retreating rapidly, he fired. The fellow clapped his hand to hisface, but continued to run. They were soon out of sight. 

The incidents here related are strictly true; but the truth is not halftold. Many such scenes took place, and numbers of the thieves were killed, and some of them proved to be neighbors to those who had shot them!

The villains on this occasion were Bill and Dick, as the reader is aware, and this was the termination of their attempt to save the 'Squire'spasture, as Duffel suggested, or to get his horses as they themselvesdesired. 

So soon as the thieves were gone, the neighbor remarked to the 'Squire:

"This reminds me of what I was going to say in the early part of theevening, but was led from the subject by the turn our conversation took. "

"I remember, now, you mentioned having seen something, which excited yoursuspicions that all was not right, in some quarter. "

"Well, it was two men, very dare-devil looking fellows, whom I have seenprowling about on several occasions, looking out, as I thought, forchances to steal; and if I am not greatly mistaken, these are the samemen. "

"No doubt of it at all. --This night's operations have convinced me morethan ever of the necessity of strong measures; and the next time I seethieves at their work, I will not stop to scare them, but the first firewill be to wound or kill!"

"I think I shall act on the same principle. "

"I advise you to, and all other honest men. I am satisfied nothing elsewill do. "

With this they parted, each going to his own home. 

It may be well enough to explain more fully than has yet been done, thatBill and Dick acted in two capacities, one of ruffians, the other asgentlemen. Bill was equally at home in either character, and could act thelatter quite _a la mode_. Dick was rather out of his element when it cameto the gentleman: he was a little awkward, and by no means at his ease; butgive him a daring or desperate act to perform, and he was entirely at home. Yet for all this there was a streak of the man about him, and at heart hewas better than either Bill or Duffel. 

It was at Dick that the 'Squire aimed the last shot, and the bullet grazedhis cheek, doing him no serious injury, however, though it drew the bloodand left a scar. 

The two villains notwithstanding that they were foiled in their attemptupon the horses, prepared for the prosecution of the rest of their schemeson the morrow with great energy. But leaving them for the present, we willturn to other scenes and characters. 

CHAPTER XVI. 

EVELINE--THE ANTI-LEAGUE. 

Eveline did not sit down in supine idleness, and mourn over her sad fate. True, at times she gave way to her feelings, when the hopelessness of hersituation came upon her, as she strove to penetrate the future, in all itscrushing force; and she would then weep for a time. But there was afirmness about her character and a strength of determined resolution in herpurposes, which braced her spirit and filled her bosom with feelings suchas only have birth and nourishment in heroic souls. She looked her intendedfate in the face, with the fixed purpose to meet and conquer it, or perishin the attempt. 

In Duffel's absence, she had, on several occasions, searched the rooms ofthe cave in which she was confined, to see if there was no secret passagewhich communicated with the outer world. Her search had proved unavailing;but instead of the outlet she was seeking, she found a small, jewel-hilteddagger in a rich and costly case. It struck her at once that this weaponmight prove of great value to her, and with much care she concealed it inthe folds of her dress, where it was made fast. It was this dagger thatserved her so excellently in the interview with Duffel, recorded in apreceding chapter. 

During the interview just referred to, it will be remembered how admirablyshe sustained her part, and how triumphantly she thwarted Duffel in all hisvillainous calculations, and especially in his attack upon her person. After the wretch was gone, and she found herself alone, a train of sadreflections came crowding in upon her mind. Was Hadley indeed dead? shethought--and then the circumstantial narrative of the two accomplices ofher captor arose fresh in her mind. 

"Oh, my God!" she exclaimed, "can it be that ravenous beasts fed upon hisflesh? that those arms upon which I have leaned, and which I hoped wouldprotect me, were torn from his body? that those lips which have smiled sosweetly and spoken so hopefully and tenderly, and that noble face and browwere gloated over by howling and bloody jaws! No, no; it cannot be! God isjust! and the wicked shall not triumph. "

She tried to drive the horrible picture from her thoughts, and after a timesucceeded; for she felt the necessity of self-control in her tryingsituation, and bent all her energies to that point. Then she reflected uponall that had transpired that day, and she felt that with Duffel there wasno mercy. But she was not overcome by the thought. If worst come to worst, she resolved that death should save her from the spoiler. 

As these reflections occupied her mind, she remembered the declaration ofthe villain concerning the secret communication between the two apartmentsin which she was imprisoned. Until now it had been a source of no smallconsolation to her, that, in case of an emergency, she could retreat to herown room, and there abide in safety. But now this small comfort was takenfrom her, and she felt how completely she was in the power of heradversary. This feeling, however, did not crush her spirit; for she hadalready brought herself to the sublime point of martyrdom, and was preparedto die for virtue, rather than yield, _in any case_, to become the victimof sin, or to the wishes of the base wretch who hoped to conquer her. 

Life is sweet, and it will never be surrendered by one who has a correctappreciation of its Author, until every consistent effort has been made topreserve it. Hence, Eveline determined to use every means to save herselfbefore having recourse to this last resort. 

As she was reflecting upon this matter, the suggestion came, that, perhaps, she might find this secret passage between the two rooms, and possibly beable to fasten the entrance way to her apartment on the inside, and thusbar the miscreant out, who would dare intrude upon her privacy. Acting uponthe supposition that this idea was not beyond the pale of possibility, shecommenced a diligent examination of all that part of the wall of the outerroom which extended as far as the inner one; but she could find noresemblance to a door, no crack in the solid rocks, no spot on the floorwhich gave the least indication of what she sought. All was apparently anunbroken mass, through which no mortal or living thing had ever passed. Shebegan to think that, after all, Duffel might possibly be deceived himself, or else was only trying to frighten her. Determined, however, if there wassuch a communication as he spoke of, to find it, if it could be found, shewent into the other room, and commenced the same minute search, havingfirst locked and bolted the door, so as to make certain of not beingdiscovered or interrupted, unless the intruder should come by the secretway. After the closest examination of the wall, with her eyes, to nopurpose, she commenced trying the efficacy of touch, pressing her fingersover every portion of the surface of the room; but, as no appearance ofwhat she was laboring to find rewarded her search, she began to despair ofsuccess. 

"If there is such a passage, " she thought within herself, "it is so guardedthat none may find it, save the possessors of the secret: and my only hopeis in sleepless watchfulness. How long I shall be able to live withoutsleep, God knows. "

In this manner the night was passed--night in the outer world; for to herthe night and day were alike, and she could only guess as to whichprevailed above her. She sat down to collect her thoughts and form, ifpossible, some plan of action by which to be governed. While thus engaged, she recollected the note she had given to Bill, the memory of which hadbeen crowded from her mind for the past few hours by the pressure of otherthings. 

"Oh, if I but knew how it would affect them!" she said, as she suffered herthoughts to dwell upon the subject. "They will certainly see the folly oftrusting in Duffel, and the imminent danger they are exposed to in hisservice; but will they, can they help me? I will hope even if it is vain todo so. It is a fearful thing to be compelled to throw one's self into thehands and upon the mercy of such bad men; but God can overrule the evilintentions of the wicked, and very bad men sometimes perform noble andgenerous deeds. "

Ah! had she known that at the very moment she was thus endeavoring toconsole herself, Bill was taking an impression of the lock to the door ofthe outer room, for the purpose of taking her to another prison, fartherfrom home and hope than the one she was now confined in, how the littlehope from that source would have died in her bosom!

After remaining for some length of time in a state of attempted repose, hermind, the while, completely absorbed in contemplating her own situation, she finally concluded to go out into the other apartment, and make anothereffort there, to find the entrance, if such there was, to her own room. 

She had not been thus employed long, when a knocking at the outer doorattracted her attention. She listened a moment, and then, supposing it tobe Duffel, was about to retire to the inner cavity and bar him out; butjust as she started to put this resolve in execution, her steps werearrested by hearing her own name called in a voice not like Duffel's. Sheinstantly paused, and the call was repeated:

"Miss Mandeville! If you are present and hear me, please step to this doorand look into the keyhole. It is a friend, who will aid you, that is nowaddressing you. "

With a beating heart, she quickly reached the door, and from the placedesignated drew a small, compact roll of paper. On it were traced somelines by one who was evidently a highly accomplished penman. She hastenedto examine the purport of the billet, which read as follows:

"Your appeal to us for assistance was not made in vain. We are fullysatisfied of Duffel's wicked and base intentions toward us, and areresolved to thwart them. You shall be brought out of this den, and beholdagain the sunlight of heaven. By the day after to-morrow we will have ourarrangements completed, when you may expect to hear from us again. Holdyourself in readiness to leave this place at any moment. Is thissatisfactory to you, fair lady?"

There was no name to this; but it needed none to tell Eveline from whom itcame. She knew it was from Duffel's accomplices, and rejoicing in thesuccess of her plan, she replied to the inquiry at the close with alacrity:

"Yes, my good friends, this is eminently satisfactory. May God bless you, as you help me. "

"Thank you for the confidence you place in us! we will endeavor to rewardyour expectations by delivering you from this dismal prison, at the veryearliest moment possible. Will you now be so good as to burn the littlestrip of paper, lest by some unfortunate accident it might betray us to ourmutual enemy, and thereby frustrate our plans?"

"Yes, sir, I will burn it immediately. "

"Thank you. Keep up your courage, and be of good cheer. "

"Accept my warmest gratitude for your generous aid, gentlemen; and beassured you shall not go unrewarded for the great service you render me. "

"We ask no pay. The service you speak of will be most cheerfully and gladlyrendered; and in your enlargement and the defeat of Duffel, we shall bemore than a thousand times rewarded for the small efforts we shall becompelled to put forth in your behalf. And now adieu!"

"Adieu, gentlemen, and may Heaven bless you, in your efforts on my behalf. "

It would be impossible to describe the feelings of Eveline at the close ofthis interview, separated though she was from her expected deliverers by adoor of adamant. She did not take time to think into whose hands she wasabout to fall; in her gratitude and enthusiasm she forgot that they wereruffians, and clothed them in garments and with the glory of heroes, whofor her sake risked their lives! Oh had she seen the blackness of heartwhich lay at the bottom of their seeming heroism and noble deeds, how herpoor heart would have grown sick, and her bright hopes gone out in midnightdarkness!

She retired to her room, bolted herself in, again read the note, thenburned it, and gave herself up to the enjoyment of the first delicious hopethat had sent joy to her troubled heart since the sad hour of her capture. Only two more days, and she would be at liberty! What a joy to herdesponding spirit! Two more days, and she would be free from her fiendishpersecutor, and could fly to her parent, to pour the balm of consolationinto his rent breast, and bind up his lacerated heart! Only two more days!How the thought swelled her bosom! Alas! that from this high pinnacle ofhope she must so soon be hurled!

From the interview Bill went out to meet Dick, whom he had left on guard, to give warning if Duffel or others should be coming to the cave. 

We may as well remark here as at any other point, that the arrangements ofthe order with regard to the cave were these: One of the number was alwaysexpected to be within its precincts, to admit members who wished to obtainentrance, either to escape the pursuit of officers of justice, or todeposit booty. If by any possible chance this guarding sentinel should becalled away, without being able to give warning of his departure from thepost assigned him, he was to leave the key in a designated spot, where anymember might find it in case of need. As Bill did not wish any one to knowwhat he was doing at the door, he very generously offered to take thesentinel's place for a half-day, and permit him to go out and breathe thefresh air. The offer was gladly accepted; and Bill succeeded, to his entiresatisfaction, in getting an impression of the lock, while on duty in thesentinel's stead. 

There was, also, in a far corner of the outer cave, or rather, in anapartment by itself, a kind of kitchen, where food was prepared. It wasfrom this place that Duffel supplied Eveline with nourishment, taking hermeals to her himself, which, by the way, though ample and of good quality, were generally served up cold, or, to speak plainly, were left in thecaptain's room for her to partake of when and as she saw proper; for shewould touch nothing that he brought, in his presence, nor would she havedone so at any other time, could she have lived without food; it was onlyto be preserved from starvation, that she forced herself to eat in thatcheerless abode. 

In another part of the cave, separated from the main room partly by naturaland partly by artificial means, was a kind of magazine, where powder, leadand arms were kept. To this the men had access at any time, and alwaysresorted when in need of weapons or ammunition. With this briefexplanation, the reader will be able to understand how things were managedby this band of freebooters, as, also, some of the succeeding portions ofthis story. 

As we said, Bill left the cave and went out to see Dick, who was stationedalong the passage-way in the bank of the stream, to impart to him thesuccess of their operations thus far, and to finish the details of some oftheir arrangements for the future. The two worthies remained inconversation some two or three hours awaiting the return of the sentinel;and then Bill, becoming impatient, left the cave in Dick's care, andhastened away to get his key made. A portion of their conversation whiletogether will be given hereafter, when a third party will be introduced asa listener; a party who at _once_ became most deeply interested in theirplans, and caught every word with the greatest eagerness, and with suchemotions as may be supposed to agitate a human bosom only in cases wherelife and death are pending in the balances. 

Will the contest be villain for villain? and life against life? We shallsee! What, in the meantime, will become of the so recently hopeful Eveline?Will she be lost in the strife where murderer wages war against his brothermurderer? Let us not anticipate. 

Before proceeding with the direct thread of our narrative, we will againglance at the action of the "Anti-Horse-Thief League, " organized, asalready intimated, to put down the bold land-pirates, whose depredationsupon property had become so unbearable the honest portion of community hadno alternative left but to "become a law unto themselves, " and by directand combined action clear the country of the host of desperadoes with whichit had become infested and overrun. Many of our aged readers will rememberthose exciting times; perhaps some of them can call to mind the very hourwhen _they_ were forced to take their rifles in hand and go forth to defendtheir property. 

On the very night that Bill and Dick made their ineffectual attempt on'Squire Williams' horses, two others of the "Horse Thief League, " as thegang of thieves were christened by the honest portion of community, went ona similar excursion into a different neighborhood, some five or six milesaway, and met with a still warmer reception from the farmer whose stockthey endeavored to remove without his consent, than did Bill and Dick intheir attempt; for one of them was so badly wounded as to be scarcely able, with the assistance of his companion, to get away from the field and to hisown home. Next day it was rumored that such a neighbor was badly wounded, and it was very doubtful if he recovered. Of course the wound was accountedfor on strictly honorable grounds; but people understood the matter; andwhen, the second day, his remains were borne to the tomb, people shooktheir heads, but kept their lips compressed. If his children could grow uphonest men, the crime for which their father died should never be imputedto them, or cast reproach upon their after lives. Then, too, it would notdo to speak too plainly about a man's being killed, as it might lead tounpleasant consequences in after years, perhaps; for men were actingunlawfully in thus defending their property with arms. 

These things caused still more active and energetic measures to be adoptedby the Anti-League. A vigilance committee was appointed, consisting atfirst of three, and afterward of five men, who were to serve one month, andthen be relieved by other five, each member taking his turn, until all hadserved. The duty of this committee was to keep a constant watch upon themovements of all suspected characters; and when a horse was stolen, tofollow up the thief until, if possible, the offender was taken and thehorse recovered. 'Squire Williams volunteered to serve on this committee asone of the first five, and four others joined themselves with him. Forhimself, without naming his suspicions to any one, he kept an eye uponDuffel's movements, resolved, if he was guilty, to prove him so, by thecollection of such facts as would convict him in a court of justice. Theneighbor who was with him on the night of the attack became his companionon the committee, and took upon himself the task of watching Bill and Dick. This arrangement was made the day after the thieves had been shot at; sothat while Duffel was busy making his arrangements with the members of theThief League, in anticipation of a speedy removal of the head quarters ofoperations to another part of the country, and while Bill and Dick werebusy with their plans of villainy, having in view the defeat of Duffel andthe possession of Eveline, the committee were also busy, endeavoring by themost active and vigilant efforts, conducted at the same time with greatcelerity, to circumvent the villains; not that they knew the particularplots and counter-plots that were going on among the common enemy, for ofthese they were ignorant; but they were determined to hunt them up and stoptheir depredations. 

Thus it will be seen that the elements are at work; and from the determinedcharacter of all the operators and their great desire to have things donespeedily, we may expect stirring times. 

CHAPTER XVII. 

HADLEY. 

It will be remembered, that after his recovery from the wounds inflicted byBill and Dick, as recorded in a former chapter, Hadley proceeded toPhiladelphia. When he reached that city he found his mother and uncle bothvery sick, and in need of constant care and attention. She had no kinddaughter to sit by her couch and smooth her pillow; and he had noaffectionate wife to bathe his fevered brow with her soft hand, and by suchgentle attentions as no one else can bestow, alleviate his pain. Hadleyendeavored, to the best of his ability, to fill the place of daughter toone, and of wife to the other, in his assiduous efforts to watch over, aidand comfort them; and though he did not possess all that sweet softness ofmanner and voice that belongs especially to woman, and though he could notperceive, with the quick intuition of the other sex, yet by constantattention he was enabled to ease many a pain and throw comfort into many anotherwise sad and lonely hour. 

At first his mother was in need of the most attention, and was hardlyexpected to live from one day to the next; but he soon had the satisfactionof seeing her disease yield to nature and treatment, and she began to growbetter. But almost before he could relax anything in his attentions to her, the uncle became much worse; and he shared his time between the two, scarcely taking time to eat or sleep. 

Between the uncle and nephew there had existed a coldness for some years, which was caused by the following circumstance:

In his youth the uncle was the companion of an estimable young man, betweenwhom and himself there existed the warmest friendship and sincerestattachment. They were indebted to each other for many kind acts, and thusbecame mutually endeared one to the other. At length they were separated, by the uncle going to the West Indies on business, expecting to be detaineda length of time, perhaps for years, which proved to be the case. While hewas away the friend of his younger days met with that fate so common tomankind--fell in love and got married. The union proved to be a happy one;and when, after years of separation, the uncle returned, he found in thehouse of his friend a joyful wife and a beautiful, smiling daughter, achild of seven years, with a sweet disposition, and a heart to loveeverybody. 

To this young child, Mr. Scofield--James Scofield was the uncle'sname--soon became very deeply and fervently attached, as did also the childto him; He saw that the father had found a nearer and dearer friend thanhimself, and he was glad in his heart to witness the happiness whichreigned in the peaceful home so sweetly cheered by love. Many persons wouldhave been jealous of the wife's ascendency in her husband's affections; butinstead of envying the wife, or feeling ill toward her, he came to love heras a friend, not only for her own sake, but, also, because she made hisfriend such a kind and amiable companion; and in the endearment of theirlittle girl, who soon learned to be his pet, he was repaid for anyexclusive companionship from her father that he might have monopolized hadhe remained, like himself, a bachelor. 

Four years after his return from the Indies, Mr. Scofield was called to thebedside of his dying friend. In their last interviews he was charged withthe guardianship and care of the young girl, conjointly with the mother, who was also recommended to his friendship, with the injunction ever to beto her as a brother and a counselor. These trusts he accepted, with apromise to be all to the dear ones he left behind that his friend couldwish; and this promise he faithfully kept. No friend, brother, father, orhusband could have been more attentive to the wants, or more solicitous forthe welfare of those entrusted to their protection or dependent upon themthan he was. He endeavored to anticipate their desires and necessities--ofadvice and friendship, not of goods, for the friend was in goodcircumstances, and had left them with plenty of means to live well andcomfortably all their lives--and in all things to be to them the kindfriend they needed. 

A warm attachment existed between them. Many thought--and idle gossipswhispered it about--that the widow was soon to console herself for thegreat loss she had sustained, by taking Mr. Scofield as a second husband;but no such idea ever entered _their_ minds. Her heart was buried in thegrave with her husband; and he--ah, he had a secret. A gentle being, beautiful to him as an angel, had once crossed his path; but before takingher to the altar, the angels came and took her to their homes, beyond thereach of blight or death; and since then his thoughts often wandered awayto the regions of perfection; and with the memory of his loved one inheaven, he never coupled a thought of a second love on earth. 

It was not long that the widow and her husband's friend remained inignorance of each other's feelings; the secret he had kept from all othershe confided to her; and in mutual explanations and confidences, they sooncame to understand each other; and thenceforth their intercourse wasunrestrained and cordial. What knew or cared they for the busy tongue ofrumor? Nothing. Secure in each other's esteem, with a high rectitude ofpurpose, they continued their good offices to each other, careless what theworld might say, so they gave no cause for vicious tongues to speak evil ofthem. 

We need hardly say that with such intimate association, Mr. Scofieldlearned to love little Ida as a father loves his own child. Had it not beenfor the judicious watchfulness and careful training of her excellentmother, she might have been spoiled by his petting. As it was, no childcould be gladder to see a parent than she was to see her friend. She wouldbound away to meet him; and when seated, would climb upon his knee whileyoung, and when older seat herself by him and listen to the stories hewould tell her, or play in his locks with her childish fingers. 

About a year after his friend's death, Mr. Scofield's only sister lost herhusband; and, at his earnest solicitation, she and her little boy came tolive with him. 

Mrs. Hadley was not wealthy, though she could not be called poor, as herhusband had left her a small property, which, by careful management, wouldschool Charles and keep them both until he should arrive at manhood, when, by his own exertions, he could carve out a fortune for himself. 

Mr. Scofield soon learned to love Charles very dearly, for he was anamiable and affectionate boy, and always strove to be kind and dutiful tohis uncle. It was one of the brother's first acts to introduce his sisterto his friend's wife; and they were not long in forming a warm attachmentfor each other; so much so that Mr. Scofield became almost jealous of eachof them for cheating him out of so much of the society of both. He mighthave become quite jealous had it not been for the fact that while themothers were entertaining each other, he was left to entertain thechildren, who, of course, were soon almost constantly together, and werenot long in becoming as familiar and affectionate as brother and sister. 

It was not long until Mr. Scofield conceived the idea of a marriage betweenthese two children when they should arrive at proper age; and this finallybecame the darling wish and object of his life. 

It does not come within the scope of this sketch, to dwell upon particularsin regard to the affairs of these two happily situated families, and so wepass over the intervening years, until Charles, at seventeen, was sent toCollege. About the same time Mr. Scofield was called away to the WestIndies on business, and by his advice, the two widows were to live togetherduring his absence. 

He had never breathed his intentions concerning the young people to anyone, and he hoped no interference would be required, but that the constantassociation of the two would naturally result in an attachment like the onehe so anxiously desired to spring up between them. 

Charles made rapid progress at college, and in three years graduated withhonor. During these three years he had seen his uncle but once, as hisIndia business was much more complicated than he had expected to find it, and detained him, with the exception of a brief visit home, a little overthree years in arranging it, which, was finally done by closing it up andremoving his funds nearer home. 

He was very proud of Charles as a student, and often prophesied greatthings for him; but he was sorry to be able to perceive no signs of anattachment like that of lovers existing between the young folks. Still hewas hopeful. They might love and not know it themselves; if so, it wouldrequire something to awaken them to a consciousness of the fact. Heresolved on trying an experiment. Meeting Ida alone, he said:

"Do you know, my dear, that I am about to send Charles away?"

"No. Where is he going?"

"Where there is a possibility we may never see him again. "

"Oh, don't say so, uncle!" (She had learned to call him uncle. ) "What wouldwe do without him? Do send some one else, and let him stay!"

The uncle thought he saw the evidence of a deep affection in her evidentdistress, and, as this was his object, he replied:

"Oh, I had only thought of sending him to the West Indies; but if youinsist so hard, I suppose I shall have to find some one else to go. "

"There, that's a good, dear uncle, as you always are. Oh, I am so gladCharles will not be sent away from us!"

With secret delight--for he felt sure she loved his nephew as hewished--Mr. Scofield next sought Charles, to see if an interview with himwould result as satisfactorily to his wishes as with Ida. He wasdisappointed; Charles evidently loved Ida, but it was only with a brotherlyaffection. He waited a few weeks longer, and then spoke plainly to hisnephew on the subject that lay nearest his heart. He told the young man howmuch he desired to see him and Ida united, and hoped if he did not alreadylove her, that he would try to do so. As Charles had formed no attachmentat that time, he readily consented to converse with Ida--ascertain whetherher affections were engaged to him, and if so, to reciprocate them, ifpossible. He did so; but he found that Ida's attachment was like his own, and then he plainly told her of his uncle's wishes. 

"I had never thought of that, " she said; "but if it is his desire and yoursalso, that we should be united, I think I could live happily with you. "

This was said in a matter-of-fact way, that, more clearly than anythingelse, showed her want of that peculiar kind of love which sanctifiesmarriage. Charles saw this, and replied:

"I have no doubt, Ida, but you would make one of the best of wives; but Ishould fear to wed you, when neither of us loved more ardently than we do. "

"Why would you _fear_?"

"That either or both of us might afterward see some one that we could loveas those are expected to, who enter into the solemn obligations of themarriage covenant. The heart is not master of its own emotions; they comeand go, regardless of our calls and commands, and we may not count uponbeing able to control them. How wretched it would cause either of us to beunited to each other, while a third party was loved, I leave you todetermine for yourself. I have been so accustomed to regard you as asister, it seems strange to think of you in any other light; and I hopethis little passage between us will not mar the freedom of ourintercourse. "

"I am sure I do not intend that it shall; and I think in consenting tobecome a nearer companion to you than even a sister, I have given ampleassurance of my esteem and regard. "

"We will then continue to be friends, and I will go at once and communicateour decision to my uncle. "

When Charles related to Mr. Scofield what had transpired between himselfand Ida, he saw that his uncle was deeply disappointed and dissatisfied. 

"Boy!" he said, in more of a passion than Charles had ever seen him, "Boy, you've made a fool of the matter and of yourself, too!"

"Why, uncle!" replied Charles, in utter astonishment. 

"Yes, you have!" continued the old gentleman, "and I am provoked at you. Ihave always intended to make you my heir, but I shall not do it now, atleast, not until you consent to wed Ida. "

"Ida does not wish to marry me. "

"She'll not object, I know she will not. I have set my heart upon thematch, and you must marry her, Charles. "

"I am deeply pained to say so, but I cannot. "

"You _must_!"

"Nay, then, I _will not!_"

"Boy! do you wish to drive me to disinherit and disown you?"

"Disinherit me if you will, but I beg you will not disown me. I have aconscience in this matter; if it was only a whim, I would yield to yourwishes. "

"And you utterly refuse to accede to my desires?"

"I do. "

"Well, I am sorry for you, but I am resolved, seeing you care so little forme, to substitute Ida's name for yours in my will. "

Charles could bear to be treated harshly, but to be accused of want ofaffection and gratitude toward the benefactor to whom he owed so much, called tears to his eyes. 

"You know, uncle, that I love you as I would a father, and it is unjust ofyou to charge me with a want of affection. "

Mr. Scofield was moved by the evident distress his words had caused in hisnephew's mind, and relenting a very little, he said:

"I will try you, then; instead of cutting you off at once, I give you aweek to consider the matter over; if, in that time, you find you love mewell enough to accede to my wishes, well and good; if not, I will surely doas I have said. "

Saying this, he abruptly closed the interview, and left Charles in a stateof the deepest distress and sorrow. His mother tried to persuade him toyield to his uncle's good pleasure; and, finally, Ida and her mother joinedin entreating him not to break all their hearts by suffering himself to bedriven from home. He had most difficulty to overcome Ida's pleadings, forshe told him no fate could be so bad as for him to be sent away, to wanderin the world, and die, perhaps, among strangers, with no kind mother, sister or friend to minister to his wants or smooth his dying pillow. 

"Spare me, Ida!" he said with emotion. "You will yet see the day when youwill thank me for my firmness. If I did not think so--if I could beconvinced that you loved me, as every woman's heart must love some one atsome period in life, I would not hesitate to comply with the wishes you allexpress, and remain on my uncle's terms. As it is, I shall go. "

The week expired, and at its close Charles had everything arranged to leavehome. He formally told his uncle of his determination to seek his ownfortune, as it was impossible for him to comply with his wishes; but thathe did not go in anger. For his fortune he cared but little, though it wasa great grief to be compelled to go from him bearing his ill-will. 

The uncle was much affected, and a word of entreaty from the young manwould have induced him to recall the sentence of his doom; but as thatword was not spoken, he could not quite unbend enough to voluntarily askhis nephew to remain. Charles left on the morning after the interview, forthe west, having, after due reflection, arrived at the conclusion that acompetence could be secured there as speedily as anywhere else. Fortune ledhim to the Mandeville settlement, where he soon became a favorite, andwhere he was in a fair way to accumulate a reasonable share of this world'sgoods, when the incidents occurred and the mishaps befel him, which havealready been narrated. 

With these digressive remarks, thrown in to give the reader a fullerknowledge of the character and position of one of our most interestingcharacters, as, also, that what follows may be understood, we return tothat portion of our story now supposed to be more deeply interesting tothose who have followed us thus far, in the perusal of this more thanmerely romantic tale. 

As we said, Hadley's time was taken up first, in waiting upon his mother, and then upon his uncle. In the midst of these trying but cheerfullyperformed duties, he found but little time to think upon his own prospects, though not an hour passed that the image of Eveline was not called upbefore his mental vision, and if left to the current of thought for a briefperiod, his reflections became of the most agonizing character, and thetopics upon which he dwelt something like these:

Was she sick? or, worse for his hope, had she passed to that "bourne fromwhence no traveler returns?" If alive, was she still persecuted by Duffel?was her father still resolved to force her to wed the villain against herwill?

As such thoughts rushed through his mind, he almost became impatient ofduty and ready to leave his post to fly to the rescue of his love. But agroan from either of the invalids would instantly call back his wanderingmind, and in the active labor of kindness and sympathy, he always forgothis own troubles. It was well for him he knew not of the charge preferredagainst him by his base rival, and still better that he knew nothing of thevillain's intentions in regard to the idol of his heart, or he wouldprobably have left the sick ones to care for themselves, and flown to therescue of her he loved, ere she was stolen and conveyed to the cave. 

In the midst of his duties at the bedsides of the afflicted, he hadforgotten to inquire after his old friends, Ida and her mother; but so soonas Mrs. Hadley began to mend, she told him they were away from the city ona visit to some friends, but were expected to return in a few days. He wasglad to hear this, for as soon as he could leave, he wished to return tothe west. He made a confidant of his mother, and told her she must excusehis impatience to learn the fate of his affianced bride. She remembered buttoo well the days of her youth to chide him, telling him he should go asearly as he felt it safe to leave his uncle. They had scarcely finishedtheir little communications, when Charles was called to minister to theother invalid. After making him as comfortable as possible, Mr. Scofieldrequested him to be seated, and then opened a conversation with him, onthis wise:

"I suppose, Charles, you have not forgotten the cause that separated us?"

"No, uncle, I have not?"

"And do you still adhere to your old determination?"

"I do?"

"Well, I have repented of my rashness, and I hope you will forgive me. "

"I have nothing to forgive, but much to be thankful for. "

"I was very cruel, for I had set my heart on the marriage, and it was adeeper disappointment to me than you could well imagine; but it is overnow, and I am satisfied all has turned out for the best, seeing you did notlove each other. I have finally arranged my affairs, and my will bequeathesten thousand dollars to Ida, and the rest, about fifty thousand, toyourself. I may not live long, or I may linger for years; but whether I gosoon or remain long, be a friend to Ida and her mother when I am taken fromthem. "

"I could not be otherwise, my dear uncle; it will be truly a pleasure toserve and protect them. But now let me thank you from the bottom of myheart, for your kindness. I am unworthy to become your heir, but if it soplease Providence and you to permit me to become the recipient of yourbounty, I shall make it my endeavor to use and not abuse your wealth. "

"God help you there, my boy! It is a difficult thing to make good use ofriches. "

We shall not dwell to narrate all that transpired. In a few days Ida andher mother came home, and learning the situation of their friends, immediately installed themselves as nurses to the sick. 

Hadley was now relieved from the weight of care and duty he had assumed, and took more rest. 

His meeting with Ida was cordial, and it was not many hours till they weremutual confidants, and Ida said:

"So, you see, I _do_ thank you for your firmness. But, oh, I so much wishto see Eveline. You must go back soon. She may need your aid. "

And he did go soon. Mr. Scofield soon began to convalesce; his mother wasout of danger, and bidding all an affectionate adieu, with the hope soon tomeet again, he started in the early dawn of a beautiful morning for thescene of his hopes and fears. 

On the second day of his journey, a sad presentiment of impending evil tookpossession of his mind. Ah! had he known the situation of his beloved atthat hour, how his heart would have died within him, and his soul burned toinflict merited retribution on the heads of her enemies. But the dark fatethat hung over her at that hour was vailed from his view, and hope mingledwith fear in his bosom. Fear, however, kept increasing, and before theclose of the third day, a voice seemed to Whisper:

"Haste, Hadley, haste! Wings of lightning can scarcely bear thee swiftenough to the rescue of her thou lovest so dearly!"

CHAPTER XVIII. 

THE UNKNOWN LISTENER. 

Eveline continued to indulge in her pleasing reverie of hope, and in thecheering thoughts that came crowding upon her mind in anticipation of aspeedy release from her dungeon, and restoration to her father and friends, she forgot that her situation, in the meantime, was one of peril, even ifher newly found friends should be able to accomplish their object. Duffelmight return at any moment, and, in vindictive fury, bring about her ruinor death. Such dark pictures, however, were, for the moment, driven fromher mind by those of a more enlivening nature, and she ceased to searchafter, or even to bear in mind, the secret passage. 

As she sat in peaceful quiet, thinking of home and dear ones, her eyechanced to fall upon a spot in the wall, where, the light striking it toadvantage, a clear, crystaline stone, flashed back the rays from her lamp, as it sparkled with a brilliancy scarcely inferior to that of a diamond. Curiosity led her to a more minute examination of this singularly brightobject; and approaching, she placed her finger upon it. It seemed to beimbedded firmly in the solid rock, but projected out a very little beyondthe surrounding portions of the wall, just far enough to be perceived bythe touch. She pressed upon it to ascertain if it was really unmovable, and, as she did so, open flew a small door, barely large enough to admit asingle person through its portals. In a twinkling her labors of the pastday and night came to remembrance, and she exclaimed:

"_The secret passage!_"

In a moment all her former feelings returned; and, taking a lamp in herhand, she prepared to explore the mysterious avenue thus opened before her. Before committing herself to the unknown, perhaps tortuous passage, shetook the precaution to place an obstruction in the doorway, so that thedoor could not, by any possibility, swing to and shut her on the outside. She took the forethought, also, to see that her dagger was safely securedabout her person, not knowing whither she was going, or into what companyshe might fall. 

Having thus prudently provided against accidents and emergencies, Evelineentered the passage, which was dark, damp, and dismal, with tremblingnerves and a timid heart. Slowly, cautiously, step by step, she felt herway, aided by the light of her lamp. It seemed strange that she should haveto go so far to get into the other room; yet still she moved on and onwithout coming to the end of the passage or to any place of egress. 

The way was narrow and somewhat zigzag, and in several places she had tostoop in order to proceed. Where did the underground passage terminate?With what did it connect? Was it a natural one? or had it been made by man?Perhaps it was the connecting line between the cave she had left and someother den of wickedness known and occupied by this band of villains? Withsuch and a hundred similar suggestions her mind was occupied, and she beganto feel unpleasant. Perhaps she was venturing into the presence of thosewho would have even less regard for her than Duffel. An undefined terrorfor a moment seized upon her, and she was about to yield to the dictates offear, and return to her room, when a kind of murmuring sound, as if ofvoices in the distance, met her ear. Listening a moment she felt quite surethere were living persons somewhere near; and summoning all her resolution, she boldly pushed forward, determined to solve the mystery in which she wasinvolved, and if human beings were in her vicinity, to ascertain who andwhat they were. 

Advancing with a cautious but firm step, she was not long in doubt as tothe nature of the sound; it evidently proceeded from human lips. As shedrew nearer words became distinguishable; and then she came to the end ofthe passage, which abruptly terminated against a solid wall, like those ofthe cave. But the wall was evidently a thin one, and on the immediateoutside--or other side--were the persons, who were engaged in conversation. She stood there but a brief moment when her attention became fixed and allabsorbed in the conference going on between the interlocutors, both of whom(she could distinguish but two voices, ) seemed to be deeply interested insome matter under consideration. 

"I tell you what it is, Bill, I don't like this here bizness of runnin' offthat gal a bit. I've been thinkin' the matter over, and the more I think, the more I don't like it. "

These were the first words that Eveline heard distinctly and connectedly. Who were they? and who was the girl? There seemed to be something familiarabout the voice of the speaker, and yet she could not tell where or whenshe had heard it before. In a moment came the reply:

"I thought that point was settled. I tell you I'd take her if it was onlyto spite Duffel. "

"Duffel!" ejaculated Eveline in thought, and she came near making theexclamation aloud. "Duffel! then these men know him!" In a moment the truthflashed upon her mind. It was Duffel's friends, her captors, the ones fromwhose aid she was so soon to be delivered! Yes, now she remembered thevoices! And for a moment her heart bounded in gratitude to the lastspeaker, whose words she understood to express his firm resolution toliberate her. The moment the rejoinder came from the other, however, hermind was perplexed, but as she listened further the whole matter wasuntangled:

"And wouldn't it spite Duffel just as much if we should take her back?"

"No, I don't think it would. Beside, I want to show him how completely wecan beat him at his own game; and then, too, I wish to be revenged on himto the fullest extent; he likes the girl, and to know that she is in thehands of another, who has entirely outwitted him, will be a source ofchagrin, and the spark to light the fires of jealousy. "

"You don't intend to let him know that you have taken the gal!"

"Certainly I do!"

"And then have the whole League after us! A fine plot, truly!"

"League the h----! I tell you I'm going to blow the whole thing to nothing, cave and all!"

"What!"

"When I leave this region there will be no League here. This cave will bein ruins, and the whole order scattered to the four winds of heaven!"

"Are you crazy, Bill Mitchel!"

"No, I am just coming to my senses. Here we have been these many years, doing all the most dangerous and daring work of the order--work that otherswere too chicken-hearted to undertake--and what is our reward? We areesteemed as the meanest of the Clan, and as being hardly fit to associatewith those who claim to be the gentlemen of the League. Why, I believe theofficers would cut our throats at any time to save themselves. See whatDuffel is after at this very time. Never was a man served more faithfullythan we have served him, and now that we have rendered him all the aid heneeds or desires at our hands, he would cut us off; aye, worse, he wouldmurder us--murder us as we have murdered for him. Do you think I would letan opportunity to be revenged on him pass unimproved? _Never!_"

"But how are you goin' to do all this mighty work?"

"I'll tell you. The captain is away; I intend that Duffel shall be securedby the officers of the law; the rest of the members I will take measures tofrighten; and when they resort to this infernal cave for refuge, counsel, or concert of action, they will find it in ruins. "

"How in ruins?"

"Isn't there powder enough in the magazine to blow it to atoms?"

"Powder!"

"Yes, _powder_! Is there anything in that explosive material that needcause you to look so wild? I thought you were better acquainted with itsproperties. "

"I believe I begin to understand your intentions; but they don't exactlychime with your plans of yesterday. "

"Yesterday! I tell you I was only half awake then. I hadn't considered allthe sides to the question; and the more I think, the madder I get. I tellyou we have been imposed upon; and I am going to pay back the debt withinterest. I had another idea yesterday; but my plans were then immature andunsettled, now they are arranged even to the details. I tell you I havebeen thinking for the last twenty-four hours; and it has been to somepurpose, as you and the rest of these fellows, and Duffel in particular, will find out. "

"Very well; if the order is to be destroyed, then there is no need offearing to let the girl go home, as she could do us no harm if she _did_reveal our secrets. "

"I tell you I have taken a fancy to the girl myself and have set my hearton possessing her, _and I will do it_. It's true I don't care for the ordernow. I defy all its members; but that makes no difference about the girl. She goes with us. "

"I don't believe any good will come of takin' her, but there is a plaguygood chance for evil to come of it. "

"Let it come, then, and we'll face it like men! I tell you I am desperate;I have fixed my stakes and I don't intend to be driven from them. The moreI think, the more determined I become. "

"But it looks so mean and cowardly to abuse a woman. "

"Who said I was going to abuse her?"

"I say so. "

"You'd better be a little careful of your speech, my good fellow!"

"I'll say what I please; and you know what I have said is the truth. Haintyou goin' to deceive the gal? Didn't you jist tell her that you was herfriend? and that we'd liberate her? And don't she expect us to take herhome, instead of away off to that cave in Virginny, where she'll be nobetter off than she is here? And haint it cowardly to lie and deceive themas trust in your word and honor?"

"Honor! a pretty word that for such a fellow as you to use! How long haveyou entertained such high notions, pray?"

"Allers, sir, allers! Did you ever hear me tell a lie? Did you ever see mebetray any one that put themselves under my care? Say, sir, have you?"

"Well, no, I don't know as I have; but what of that?"

"A great deal, sir; a great deal! It means that I'm not a mean, cowardlydog; that I don't go to a woman with a lie in my mouth, and sneakinglydeceive her! No, sir, I am above such work. "

"That will do, I can't bear everything, even from you, and I warn you notto go too far!"

"Warn away, then; I'm not the man to be skeered by any woman-stealer thatever walked the earth. No, sir, I'm not! And I say ag'in, the man that'llimpose on a woman is a coward, and a mean one at that. "

"Come, come, Dick, it's no use to be talking in that manner. You know I amno more of a coward than yourself; and so what's the use of such an adoabout nothing. Didn't you tell me yesterday you would stand by me in thisaffair? Come, now, keep your word, and don't prove yourself a liar aftersuch a boast of truthfulness, just a moment ago?"

"Yes, there it is ag'in. You told me it was for our personal safety, andsuch like stuff, that you were goin' to take the gal along; and now youdefy the whole order, and are goin' to blow them all to atoms! I take itthat makes quite a difference. "

"Didn't I tell you the girl was to go any how? And didn't you say it wouldhardly be fair to help an enemy and not a friend? Come, where is your honornow?"

"That promise, I tell you, was obtained under false pretenses, and is notbinding!"

"A pretty excuse, indeed!--Well to bring the matter to a point at once, Inow state distinctly that I am going to take the girl with me, because Iwish to do so, and for that reason alone; and I want you to help me. Willyou do it? That's the question, and I want a positive answer, yea or nay, and no more palaver on the subject. Say, will you stand by your old friendin this last great hour of need?"

"I s'pose I'll have to; but it goes mightily ag'in' the grain, to be mixedup in these women affairs, and I feel as mean as a kill-sheep dog, when Ifind myself at such a dirty work. 

"Well, that matter is settled, then, and I hope we shall have peace andagreement between us hereafter. I know when you say you'll do a thing, you'll do it, and I want a reliable companion to stand by me just now. Oncewe get into our new quarters, in old Virginia, I shall feel safe, as we canbid defiance to our enemies. "

"Well, let us be off, then, as quick as possible; for, to tell the truth, Idon't like this part of the country much; it's gittin' entirely too hot forour bizness, and is by no means as safe as it might be. "

"We must be off to-morrow, if we can finish all our arrangements, which Ihope we shall be able to do, if we lose no time. We must have our horsesready to-night, at all events; for it may suit to start in the night, if wefail to get away to-morrow. I am not sure but it will be the best plan toleave in the night, any how. "

"Certainly, it will be. "

"Well, it's settled, then, that we leave to-morrow night; and that beingthe case, I must hasten away to get the key made. You stay here till thesentinel returns, and then meet me at the usual place this afternoon, andwe will have everything arranged in order. "

With this the villains parted, Bill going out of the passage, and Dick intothe cave. 

To all this Eveline was an absorbed, but to them unknown, listener. How thegreat hope of the morning died in her bosom, as the fearful truth wasrevealed to her, that another snare was laid to entangle her feet--that hernewly found friends were but enemies in disguise. Instead of liberators, who would restore her to home and friends, they were vile miscreants, destining her to a fate no better than that which now surrounded her, andremoved still further from the possibility of succor. For a little time sheclung to the hope that Dick would hold out in her behalf; but this lastprop was taken away, and she felt that there was no help from any quarter, and that self-dependence was her only safeguard. 

Ah, how desolate was her heart in that hour! How like a lone reed in thepelting tempest did she feel herself to be! Surrounded by enemies on allhands, a prisoner in a dungeon, with no friendly arm to lean upon, no kindvoice of sympathy to encourage and strengthen her, she felt almost likegiving over the struggle, and lying down to die where she stood. 

But this feeling of despondency was of short duration. Arousing to a livelysense of her situation, this apathy was thrown off, and the native energyof purpose which she had exhibited so strikingly on former occasions, quickened her spirit and restored vigor to her frame. Immediately she beganto collect her thoughts, and cast about to see if there was no way ofescape from this new danger. At first she thought of making a confidant ofDuffel, and throwing herself upon his generosity; but remembering all thathe had done, she felt that this would be vain, so far as _she_ wasconcerned, while it might save _him_ from merited exposure and punishment;and so she at once abandoned the idea. 

In the midst of perplexity and doubt, the thought struck her with thevividness of a flash of intelligence, that the passage she was in mightcommunicate with the outer world! The very suggestion caused her to heave asigh of relief. What so probable as this supposition? At any rate she hadsomething to do, a definite object to call forth her energies; and this wasno small matter, in the state of mind under which she was laboring at thathour. 

Raising her lamp to a level with her face, she passed the light close tothe wall, scrutinizing every spot, to see if there was no sign indicativeof another spring-closed door. But no brilliant fragment of stalactiteappeared as a reward for her search, and she turned away with a feeling ofdisappointment, and heaviness at her heart. As she did so, for the firsttime her eye fell upon a polished surface, much resembling the face of amirror, upon the opposite wall. Looking more attentively, she discovered, as it were, trees, shrubs, a running stream of water, and all theaccompaniments of a finished landscape painting. Fearful as was hersituation, she could not help pausing to admire the beauty, thenaturalness, the perfection of the scene. She had never beheld any thinghalf so vivid, so truthful, from the pencil of the artist. It actuallyseemed as if water was running over its gravelly bed, as if the bushesmoved in the breeze; in a word, the whole looked far more like a realitythan a cold painting. As she was gazing in admiration upon this singularappearance, a bird actually flew over the scene! She could hardly believeher senses; but soon another one followed, and she knew there was nodeception in her eyes this time. 

Philosophy was not universally taught in those days, as it is now, andEveline did not know how to solve this mystery as well as many a schoolgirl could do at the present day; but she had read of the tricks of themagicians of Egypt and India, and what seeming wonders they could show intheir magic mirrors; and she came to the conclusion that the robbers of thecave had learned the same art, and that before her was one of thesoothsayers' glasses. 

But what was the design had in view in placing it in that obscure andunfrequented place? As this query suggested itself to her mind, a manpassed along on the bank of the stream! and in a few minutes another in theopposite direction; and in the last one she recognized one of her captors!She at once comprehended the design of the apparatus; it was to reveal whatwas passing without to the eye of the individual within, who had doubtlessadopted this method of informing himself of passing external events, as ameans of personal safety in case of need. It was, she supposed, a device ofthe captain of the thieves, to save himself, either from the ministers ofthe law or from the violence of those under him, in case of revolt. 

It is not our design to enter into an elaborate description of this pieceof mechanism, as every student of philosophy, who is well acquainted withthe reflection and refraction of rays of light, will understand how aningenious contrivance produced the results spoken of. The same principleenters into the arrangement of the _camera obscura_. There was an aperturevery artfully cut through the wall, and so guarded on the outside as toescape notice; and in this a tube was placed with a set of happilycontrived fixtures, by the aid of which the scene without was accuratelydepicted on the polished surface within. It was the work of the captain, asEveline supposed. 

As this contrivance was evidently intended to give information of dangerfrom without, it must certainly be connected in some manner with the meansof escape; else what was it worth? Such was the conclusion to which Evelinearrived, as she philosophized upon the matter. And she reflected further, what other method of escape was there, save a secret medium ofcommunication with the outer world? None at all, except it be a quietwaiting within the passage she now herself occupied, which she could notbring herself to believe was the case; so she renewed her search for thedoor of egress. 

On minutely examining the mirror, she saw at one side of it a smallprojection, like a ball of ivory, and pressing hard upon it, a door, ofwhich the mirror itself was a section, sprang a little way open. She threwit back wide on its hinges, and holding her lamp in the opening, saw at herfeet a flight of stairs leading down into the gloom below. A damp currentof air came up from this subterranean cavity, and its clammy coldness senta chill almost of horror through the frame of the agitated girl. One lessresolute than herself would have shrunk at the idea of exploring so dismala looking place; but not so she. Summoning all her energy, she boldlydescended the steps, which had evidently been cut out by the hands of man, and soon found herself at the bottom of the course. In front of her, allwas solid earth and rock; but on turning to the right she discovered anopening, following which it was but a little while till she saw lightahead, and a few more steps brought her to the margin of the stream, alongthe bank of which was the path to the cave. That path, then, wasimmediately above her! And here she was with the wide world before her! Howher heart bounded!

Her first thought was to fly immediately; but prudence dictated a cautioussurvey of the place before venturing her all in an attempt at flight. 

She accordingly ventured out in the most guarded manner, to makeexplorations. The water was but a little way below where she stood, andwhen in a high stage must evidently flood the place she occupied and thesteps leading up out of it. But as the stream was now very low, she had afine opportunity for making observations. Stepping down to the edge of thewater, she had an excellent view of the stream both ways. The banks werevery high on each side, steep, and inaccessible; so much so, indeed, thatfor a moment she was in despair of getting from her prison, now that shehad found the way out. A closer inspection of the bank where she stoodshowed her the possibility of escape, by following the water's edge to somepoint below or above, where the high bank receded. This was enough; all shewanted was the bare likelihood or possibility of escape, and she wouldventure all upon the trial. 

Having made these hasty observations, she started back, to makepreparations for an immediate departure. When she reached the upper passageand closed the door, she glanced at the mirror to see what was going onwithout. What was her disappointment and horror, to see Duffel's imagepassing before her on his way to the cave! She had hoped to get off beforehis return; but now that hope was gone. She must meet him again; and towhat desperate extremities might he not proceed in the interview in whichshe must now be compelled to take a part! Then she remembered that she hadleft the door from her room to the passage ajar, and he might reach itbefore she could get there, and revealing to him her secret, cut off herlast and only hope of escape. The thought awoke all her energies, anddashing along the narrow way at the top of her speed, stooping as she ran, to avoid the low places, she reached her room and closed the door of thepassage, just as she heard a knock at the other one, opening into thelarger room. 

CHAPTER XIX. 

THE THREAT AND ITS EXECUTION--EVELINE LOST. 

Quickly arranging things in her room, and restoring the lamp to itsaccustomed place, so that every article should appear in usual order andnothing betray her secret, Eveline--the knocking at her door being justthen repeated--demanded:

"Who is there?"

"It is hardly worth your while to ask that question, when you know therecan be but one person having access to this place. "

"Excuse me, sir; but I have understood that _you_ were only here bycourtesy, the rooms belonging to another. "

"Well, I am here, at any rate, and have the mastery as well as theoccupancy of the place. Will you open the door?"

"If I please. "

"Well, _do_ you please?"

"And if I do not?"

"Then I shall enter by another way. "

"As I am not overly anxious to see a _master_, you may enter as you can. "

"Very well. "

Eveline chose not to open the door for two reasons: first, she wished toascertain whether or not there _was_ a secret passage between the rooms;and, secondly, if Duffel's assertion in regard to the matter should provetrue, she wished to know at what point the entrance was situated, that, ifneed be, in any future movements she might make, obstructions could beplaced in the way of ingress. One thing, however, perplexed her a little;she could not keep her eyes on all sides of the room at once, and Duffelmight come from some quarter unawares, and take her at advantage, ere shecould meet his attack. Thought is very rapid in times of danger, ifpresence of mind is retained, and the difficulty stated had fixed herattention but a few seconds, ere several plans of release had suggestedthemselves and been abandoned; but at length it occurred to her, that as itwas impossible for the secret door to be in the same place as the otherone, she would be perfectly safe, in taking a position against the latter, from any possibility of surprise, and standing there she could seem more ather ease than in any other position, where her continued watchfulness wouldbetray anxiety. 

She had scarcely placed herself in the posture desired, before she saw aportion of the wall to her right slowly move from its place, and presentlya mass, the size of a small door, stood out fairly into the room, and frombehind it stole the villain, in such a manner as to leave no doubt of hisintentions to surprise her, if possible. Seeing she was prepared for hisreception, and aware of his entrance, he closed the door, and, boldlystepping into the room, addressed her thus:

"So, incredulous fair one, you see I am here, notwithstanding yourdisbelief in my word. "

"Yes; I see you are here. "

"Well, that is a very cordial welcome to an old friend, certainly. In whatschool have you taken lessons in hospitality and politeness?"

"In one where I have learned to treat insolence according to its deserts. "

"Indeed! then I think we must have graduated at the same institution. Perhaps we had as well try each other's skill and proficiency, and the onethat shall prove the aptest scholar be declared victor in the contestbetween us. Do you accept the challenge?"

"I accept nothing from you; your pretended friendship I despise; yourthreats I hold in as much contempt as I do their author; your intendedinsults I will pay back even to death, sir!" and as she spoke, there was aflashing light in her eye which gave the villain to understand she meantall she said; but assuming not to heed his convictions on that point, hereplied, with as much seeming ease as he could command:

"Oh, I have heard such talk before. "

"Yes, and like the base coward you are, you sprang from the dagger at yourbreast, even though it was but a woman's hand that held it. "

"Girl! don't presume too far on my forbearance! I warn you in time tobeware of that!"

"I presume nothing on any good trait of character or nobleness of soul youmay possess, sir, but on your _cowardice_!"

"Do you wish to drive me to extremes?"

"You are already on the extremest verge of all that is vile and loathsome. "

"By the furies of h----, I'll not endure this longer!"

"Oh, yes, you will; you need not expect any other treatment so long as youcontinue to force your unwelcome and disgusting presence upon me. I havenot taken lessons in the school of which you were talking, in vain: and asyou set yourself up as a rival, just exercise your skill; I ask no favors, and fear not your opposition. "

"Yes, you do; with all your boasting, you fear me, coward though I be, atthis very moment. "

"Yes, exactly as I fear the proximity of any other corrupt thing with whichit is unpleasant to come in contact. There is a certain small animal of thecat species, bearing, however, another and very significant name, withwhich it would be about as disagreeable to come in contact as withyourself; as I would fear it, so I fear you; in my estimation you areequally vile and equally to be avoided. "

Again Duffel grew red in the face with rage, and he was on the point ofseizing and overpowering Eveline; but his eye fell upon the dagger, whichshe held in her hand, and prudence or cowardice held him back. His responsewas given with savage malice:

"I'll take the fire out of your temper, ere you are many hours older; markthat! You have gone too far for me longer to continue my gentle dealingstoward you. I have endeavored to persuade you, I have expostulated withyou, and made all reasonable offers to induce you to acquiesce peaceably inyour fate, which I would have made an honorable and enviable one; but youhave treated all my kindness with contumely and misconstrued my forbearanceinto cowardice. Now you must prepare for the worst. "

"Sir--villain, rather, every word you have uttered is as false as the pitof night, and you know it! Yes, sir, you know that as you stood there andspoke, unmitigated falsehoods fell from your lips while every declaration!And knowing this, and knowing that _I_ know it, also, you have theaudacity and the insolent impudence to say that you have offered me anhonorable position in life! Is it possible that you are so fallen as not toknow that in a truthful, virtuous, and noble soul there can be nothing soabhorrent as lying, villainy, and cowardice? Talk of honor! Better mightSatan take of goodness!"

"Go on! you are only placing thorns in your path, every one of which willpierce you as a pang of agony. "

"I have no doubt you would like to intimidate me by such ominous remarks;but I have heard similar ones from the same source before; and knowing thedistance which separates their author from truth, you may well rest assuredI place implicit confidence in their falsity. "

"I'll prove to you how true they are, then; in one thing, at least, youshall be convinced of my veracity; and that is, that I am now in earnest, and mean to remain in earnest until my wishes are accomplished, and you, the victim of my pleasure, become a suppliant for mercy and restoration toan honorable position in society. "

"_Never!_"

"We shall see; I have been talking, --from this time on, I _act_!"

Saying this he drew a pistol from his pocket, and holding it before her, went on:

"You see I came prepared this time! I was fully resolved to bring mattersto an issue at any rate, and more especially if you persisted in yourinsulting course of address. You have done so; the cup of yourtransgressions is full, and the time of your probation expired. Now comesthe judgment!"

He had expected to see her turn pale and tremble, and, perhaps, become asuppliant for more time to consider the matter; but with the exception of alittle closer compression of the lips, and, if possible, a little moredetermined expression, he saw no change pass over her countenance. Ifterror she had, it was kept out of sight. She made no reply, and heproceeded:

"You think because your dagger served you once it will do so again; but itwill not. I could execute my plans immediately and at once have youhelplessly in my power; but I prefer to give you one more and the lastopportunity of deciding for yourself. Know, then, that as soon as I findthis offer rejected, I will send the contents of this pistol through yourright arm, and if that is not enough I have another in my pocket here, which shall pay the same respects to your left arm. You will then be at mymercy as completely as though you were an infant. I leave your own fancy topicture what will follow, understanding my intentions as you do. With thiscertain doom before you, will you, Eveline Mandeville, consent to be mywife, now or at some future day?"

"I WILL NOT!"

The reply was clear, bold, decided, without a tremor of voice or thequivering of a muscle. The fiendish wretch was awed by her courage, buthaving, as he said, resolved to bring matters to a crisis, he went on:

"You have chosen your fate, be the consequences upon your own head!" Heraised the pistol. 

"Will you throw away that dagger and permit me peaceably to approach you?"

"_No!_"

"I will ask you three times, and with your third refusal I shall fire; sobeware! Will you throw away the dagger?"

"_No!_"

"This is the third and last time I shall ask the question, " and he repeatedit slowly: "Will you throw away t-h-e d-a-g-g-e-r?" and he brought theweapon to his eye. 

"NO!"

There was a pause of a second, and then a flash of fire, a cloud of smoke, and the report of a pistol told that his threat was executed. The brutalmonster waited a moment for the smoke to clear away from his vision, notliking to venture upon that ominous looking dagger until assured of abloodless victory. Poor, despicable coward!

As he kept his eye fixed toward the spot where Eveline stood, eager to seethe result of the shot, he felt something strike his breast, and, turninghis eyes downward, he beheld the glittering dagger glance along his leftside! A button had turned its course and saved his life! He sprang away, uttering an affrighted oath, and grasped for his other pistol. It was notin his pocket! and there he stood unarmed, before the unhurt but outragedwoman he had attempted to destroy!

Eveline, though excited, was unusually self-possessed during all theinterview just related. She felt the imminence of her danger, but it onlyaroused her faculties to a more acute observation of every incident andcircumstance that might, by any possible chance, be turned to advantage. When she saw that Duffel was resolved to put his threat in execution, shedetermined to make him the victim instead of herself, if it were possibleto do so. In speaking of this reserved pistol he unconsciously placed hishand in his pocket--a side coat pocket--and drew the weapon up, so that thebreech rested upon the upper and outer edge of the receptacle in thegarment. Eveline noticed this, and in a moment her plan of action wasformed. She did not like the thought of killing a human being, but asDuffel had proceeded to such extremes, she felt that if it was not her dutyto slay him under the circumstances, she would, at least, be justifiable inso doing. She, therefore, settled it in her mind to go to this extremelength, much as she shrank from a deed of blood, in case the monster firedat her. She took in the idea at once that a puff of smoke would conceal hermovements for a moment, and, under its friendly cover, feeling sure of herability to avoid the shot, she would smite the villain to the heart andseize the pistol at the same instant, to use in case the thrust shouldprove ineffectual. Having her mind divided between the two acts, both ofwhich must be done in the same breath, she did not aim the dagger with asmuch precision as under other circumstances she might have done, and theresult was as already stated; the pistol, however, she safely secured; andwhen she saw Duffel feel for it, and perceived his disappointment and alarmat not finding it, she said:

"Here it is, sir, and for once you are in my power! It is now my turn!"

The miscreant cowered before her determined gaze. 

"Prepare for your end!"

"I crave your mercy. "

"_Mercy!_ You, vile, unmanly wretch! did _you_ show mercy?"

"I was excited, --spare me!"

"Down on your knees, then, and beg for your life!"

He hesitated to demean himself thus, she raised the pistol, and there was afire in her eye which spoke volumes to the craven soul of the poltroon. Heobeyed, fell upon his knees and begged his life at her hands, promising toliberate her if she would grant his prayer. When he ceased pleading, andpaused for her reply, she answered:

"Know, base coward, that, woman as I am, I would scorn to take the life ofan unarmed enemy. I was only trying you to ascertain how low you woulddegrade and how debasingly demean yourself to beg for mercy. I would havemade you swear to take me from this place, but I knew you would perjureyourself the moment an opportunity afforded, and I did not care to burdenyour guilty soul with another crime. For the same reason I declineaccepting your proffer to take me away. I know you would prove treacherous, and I will not trust myself in your hands. Go, now, and remember that thenext time you enter this room in my presence, you die! I will not permitanother insult of the kind; no, sir, _never_! Open that door and leave!"

He obeyed; she followed him with the pistol presented, until he was out ofthe captain's room. He closed the door into the outer cave with a slam, andlocked it, and then called out:

"Madam, you were a fool for not securing the keys while you had me in yourpower. I now curse and defy you, and swear that I will make you repent thisday's work in the dust and ashes of humiliation. I shall not come alonenext time, but with fifty men; and you _shall_ be overpowered and feel theweight of my vengeance! I'll wring your proud heart till it bleeds, and inyour degradation will scorn you!"

She did not wait to hear more of his harangue, but hastened back into herroom, shut and bolted her door, placed every movable object in theapartment against the one by which Duffel had entered, and then enteringthe secret passage, ran to the mirror to see if the villain left. She hadbeen there but a few minutes when he passed, cursing as he went, andswearing to be revenged. 

The reader may wonder why Eveline did not shoot the wretch when she had himin her power, but the truth was, she knew nothing about using fire-arms, and feared to make the attempt, lest, failing, she should be again in hishands. She knew, too, that it would not be prudent to trust herself to beled out of the cave by him, as the moment he met one of his followers hewould betray her, and she would be again a prisoner. Still she would havemade this venture, had not the secret passage held out to her a morehopeful mode of escape. 

All these considerations, dangers and probabilities flashed through hermind with the fleetness of thought, and she came to conclusions with thesame rapidity. Doubtless, she pursued the best course. She could presume onDuffel's cowardice, but she dare not trust his word or his oath. 

So soon as her persecutor passed out from the cave, as shown by the mirror, she hastened back to her room to make preparations for leaving the den ofinfamy in which she had been confined, feeling well assured that but a fewhours would be suffered to elapse, ere Duffel, with as many adherents as hedeemed necessary to accomplish his ends, would return, to wreak hispitiless vengeance upon her. Making everything ready for her departure, sheawaited the darkness of the approaching night, that in its friendly mantleshe might find protection and shelter. But ere the light of day hadwithdrawn, she again ventured out into the stream for the purpose of morefully reconnoitering the place, and fixing in her mind the relativeposition of things, obstacles and distance, and to obtain such knowledge ingeneral as might facilitate her escape. 

Night came; she left her room, the common door locked and bolted, thesecret one clogged with the furniture of the room, so that it would requirethe united strength of several men to force it open. The door of the secretpassage which she had learned to open and shut from both sides, was closedafter her, and alone she passed along that damp aisle, paused a momentbefore the mirror to note whether it reflected the scene without, andseeing upon its face but blank darkness, she opened the last door betweenherself and the world into which she was going, closed it as she passedthrough its portals, descended the stairs, reached the outer extremity ofthe passage, put out her lamp, and the next minute stood on the pebbles atthe margin of the stream. A brief survey of the coast in all directionssatisfied her that she was not observed, and without more delay she moveddown the stream as rapidly as the nature of the ground and her want ofexperience in such places and mode of travel would permit. 

It was about a mile from the starting point before she reached the firstrecession of the high bank, that afforded an opportunity to leave thestream, which she improved without delay, and after a laborious ascent ofan inclined plane, more than a hundred yards in extent and quite steep, shefound herself on the high bluff, with the cave in the distance. 

But now a new and before unthought of difficulty faced her. She was in awilderness, with no compass by which to direct her course, and no friendlyguide to conduct her to the habitations of men. For a moment she was almostparalyzed by the magnitude of this untried danger, and hope well nigh fledfrom her breast. But rousing her energies she boldly looked her fate in theface, and committed herself into the hands of that Providence who had sooften befriended her in former times of peril, and then shaping her courseas well as she could by the stars, she plunged into the dense forest, withher face, as she believed, toward home, which she hoped to reach some timethe next day. 

Alas for her hopes! in less than an hour she was totally bewildered andlost in the wilderness! She felt her loneliness and helplessness now morethan when facing her malignant enemy; and to add to the horrors of hersituation, howls of wild beasts soon greeted her ears!

CHAPTER XX. 

THE TABLES TURNING. 

When Duffel left the Cave, as shown in the preceding chapter, he wentimmediately to the place where he had appointed to meet Bill and Dick, boiling over with rage all the way, and "breathing out vengeance" on thehead of Eveline. He had entered her room so confident of triumphing, thatthe humiliation of defeat was tenfold greater than if he had doubted ofsuccess. And then the degradation to which he had been forced to abasehimself! The very remembrance of it set his blood to boiling! He cursedhimself for his cowardice; he cursed Eveline for her manifestation ofcourage and for everything else she had done. To be forced to kneel and beghis life of a woman! and that woman his own prisoner, on his own terms, inhis own dungeon! The thought burned into his very soul! and the more hethought the fiercer became his wrath. 

In this frame of mind he reached the rendezvous, and found his accomplicesawaiting his arrival, for they had work of their own on hand and did notwish to be detained too long by their old leader but now secret foe. 

"I'm glad to find you here, " he said, as soon as he came up, and his toolssaw in a moment that something unusual had happened or some extraordinarywork was to be done. 

"We are always punctual, " Bill replied. 

"And it is well you are this time; for there is work to do immediately. Iwant you to collect together as many of the members of the League as can befound, and assemble them in the cave by midnight. "

"Why, what in the world has happened?" inquired Bill in some alarm, lesthis own scheme should be frustrated by these demonstrations on the part ofDuffel. 

"Not much of anything; indeed I may as well tell you at once, that thismovement has reference to Miss Mandeville. I have just returned from thecave where I called upon her, and from her obstinacy and a number of hintsthrown out, I am fully persuaded she expects deliverance from some quarter;and I am determined to put an end to such anticipations without furtherdelay. I think the sooner she is conquered the better. I should haveproceeded to extremes at once, but I wished to persuade her into avoluntary marriage, so that I might come in for the old man's money; butshe has found some means of arming herself and is firmly bent on having herown way, while I am as fully resolved she shall not. But I must have a dipinto the old gentleman's purse; that's another fixed fact; and so I amgoing to marry the girl whether she will or not; and I want you, Bill, toact the parson. I know you can do it. Disguise yourself and--. But you knowall the details as well as any reverend pastor in the land. Do it up right, and give each of us a certificate in due form, so that it will stand inlaw; and you shall be liberally rewarded; yes, and promoted, too. You shallnot serve me for nothing. Come, now, away as fast as possible to get themen together, and report to me at midnight precisely, in this place. "

Duffel had managed to smother his wrath during the brief moments he wasgiving his orders; but no sooner had the seemingly pliant tools of his willleft, than he again foamed over, and pacing back and forth, continued hiscursing, as though he would spend his impotent fury in blasphemy. 

Bill and Dick started off, as if in the most cheerful manner and with thegreatest alacrity they would do their leader's bidding. But no sooner hadthey reached a safe distance than they began to consult how they were tomanage this new and unlooked for phase of affairs, which seemed destined toundermine all their former arrangements and to overthrow their entirecalculations and plans. But Duffel could not be more determined to avoiddefeat than they were, and they set down the thwarting or overreaching himas the first object to be accomplished. Bill reflected awhile, and thensaid:

"I think we can manage it. Instead of going after the men, you must getthree horses ready for our immediate departure, while I go and prepare thelady for the journey. We must endeavor to have everything arranged byeleven o'clock, so as to be sure of success. "

"But how are we to manage Duffel?"

"Leave him to me; I can do that part of the business effectually, I think. "

With this understanding, the rascals parted, each to carry out his part ofthe work for the evening and night; and they had but little time in whichto work, for the afternoon was far advanced, and they had many miles totravel, in order to accomplish their ends. 

Before proceeding to the cave, Bill sat down and dated and signed a note, already written, which he folded and addressed to 'Squire Williams, andprocured the service of a little boy to carry it to him. We shall hereafterlearn its import and object. 

When he reached the cave it was already night. He found the sentinel in avery uneasy mood, and very anxious to get off till morning, to carry outsome design of his own. He had engaged a member to take his place, but fromsome cause he had not arrived. Bill gladly assumed the post, and in a fewminutes was alone with his thoughts and plans. 

When assured that the other was far enough away, he closed the door to thecave and locked it. Then, going to the armory, he selected several bracesof the best pistols, and secured them about his own person, for his andDick's future use. He next opened the money-chest, and took from it all thegold that had been collected since the last division, some two thousanddollars in all. This he fastened in a belt worn next to his person. Aftermaking every other arrangement about the room according to his wishes, hewent to the magazine and brought out all the powder it contained, and soplaced the kegs and other vessels containing it, as to secure the greatestamount of destructive force from the whole. All these he then connected bytrains of the explosive material, which were united in one wider oneleading out at the door of the cave. 

These preparations made, he went to apprise Eveline of their readiness fordeparture, intending while she was making the few preparations necessaryfor starting, to go out and see after Dick. 

When he opened the door to the captain's room, he was struck with theprofound stillness which everywhere pervaded the place. No Eveline wasthere; but he remembered having seen the door to the small room open on aformer occasion, and supposing her to be within, went and rapped on thedoor, at first gently. No answer. Then louder, and louder. All was still. He called her. No response came. Wondering if she was asleep, or what couldprevent or deter her from answering his call, he proceeded to break openthe door. This he succeeded in doing, after considerable effort; but whenhe perceived she was not there, his surprise and astonishment wereunbounded. He knew not that while he was robbing robbers, and placingpowder for the demolition of the cave, she had left its dismal precincts bya way unknown to him or Duffel, and was now far away in the wilderness. 

"Where is she? What does it mean?"

These questions he put to himself, but could not answer. A thousandconjectures rushed through his brain; but no satisfactory clue to themystery was hit upon. Had Duffel deceived them? No, his anger andearnestness were too real for that. Had she other friends? Had not thesentinel turned traitor, and having liberated the prisoner, was anxious toget away, lest his perfidy should be discovered, or to gain a reward forhis treachery? This, though hardly probable, was the most plausiblesupposition, and Bill concluded to act upon it. He was resolved to carryout his plans in, all their details; except that Eveline could not be takenwith them; for he was not going to yield up his stolen gold, nor forego hisrevenge on Duffel. 

Looking at his watch, in the midst of these perplexing reflections andstrengthened resolves, he saw that it was time for him to be off to seeDuffel, as the place of meeting was some ten miles from the cave, and apart of the distance had to be gone over on foot. He reached the spot aboutthe hour appointed, and found the miscreant already there, impatientlyawaiting his arrival. 

"What success?" inquired Duffel, the moment he came up. 

"None at all, your honor. "

"How?"

"Bad news, _very_. "

"What?"

"I fear there is treason in the League. The doors of the cave are all open, even to the inner door of the inner room, and no living person is withinits walls!"

Duffel was speechless with surprise and terror, the astonishingintelligence seeming to paralyze all his powers; at last he made out toloosen his tongue and queried:

"She is gone, then?"

"Yes, and the sentinel, too!"

"Then we are betrayed! What shall we do?"

The terrible news Bill brought, completely unmanned Duffel, and hispresence of mind entirely forsook him; hence his last query, which waspropounded with all the imbecility of helplessness. 

"I'll tell you what I am going to do, " said Bill; "and that is, leave thispart of the country as speedily as possible. "

"But won't the officers be upon us immediately?"

"No; if at all, not before to-morrow. We can make our arrangementsto-night, lay in the swamp all day, and leave to-morrow night. You have ahorse already prepared in the swamp; I would advise you to go home withouta moment's delay, and make all necessary preparations for your journey, andbe back in the vicinity of your horse before daylight, or as soon after aspossible; and to-morrow night we can set out for the cave in thesouth-west. "

"I believe your plan is a good one; but when shall we meet again?"

"Not until we get away from this section of country; perhaps not until wereach our ultimate destination. But we have no time to lose, all dependsupon dispatch, and we had best be about our preparations. Good-by, captain. "

"Good-by, my fine fellow. I thank you for your advice, and hope that whenwe meet again it will be under more cheering skies, and with brighterprospects before us. Good-by. "

And thus they parted, to meet again--where?

Bill hastened back to the cave, where he found Dick in waiting with thehorses. In as few words as possible, Bill explained to his confederate howmatters stood, and what measures he had taken; then sending Dick back somedistance with the animals, he laid a long train of powder from the caveoutward, and at the farthest extremity placed a can of the explosivecompound, wherein he had adjusted a slow match, to which he now set fire, and then hastened away with Dick to a place of safety. 

Duffel, as we have seen, was thoroughly alarmed by the intelligencecommunicated by Bill; and like all who depend more on stratagem than oncourage, he cowered before the danger which seemed to stare him in theface. The suddenness of the announcement had not a little to do inproducing the result; but when on his way home from the interview, afterhaving more time to contemplate the calamity and his own situation, hisfear did not abate. Every little noise startled him, and his mind wasconstantly harassed with the idea that officers of justice were after him. One cause of his trepidation may be traced to the fact of his many andfearful crimes; he knew how deeply he had involved himself in guilt by theabduction of Eveline and the murder of her lover, as he believed, at hisown instigation and command; and he felt well assured, now that hisintended victim was at large, she would not be slow to act with vigor forhis apprehension and punishment. He knew full well, too, that Mr. Mandeville, when once his eyes were opened, would pursue him withunflagging energy and tireless perseverance, until his crimes were dulyexpiated to the full extent of the law. With such knowledge and reflectionsfor companions, well might the guilty wretch quake with fear. If"conscience makes cowards of us all, " how much more so _him_, reeking as hewas with blood and crime!

Notwithstanding all his fears, he reached home in safety, made a few hastypreparations for his journey, placed his effects left behind in as goodorder as the shortness of the time would allow, gave them in charge to hisservant, with such orders for their disposal as pleased him, and thenstarted for the swamp, which he reached about daylight, and into which heplunged with as much pleasure as ever a hunted fox entered its secureburrow. Though still very uneasy, he breathed more freely than before sincereceiving the unwelcome tidings from Bill. 

 * * * * *

'Squire Williams was seated in his easy chair after the labors of the day, quietly enjoying himself in a train of dreamy reflections, when he wasaroused from his state of languor and but half wakefulness by a knock atthe door. Feeling tired, he did not get up to open for the visitor, but inthe old fashioned style, requested the knocker to "come in. "

A neighboring boy entered, and handed him a letter, saying:

"The man who gave me the letter for you told me to tell you, you had betterread it immediately. "

"Indeed! Then it must be of some importance, " said the 'Squire as he openedthe document. It read as follows:

"'SQUIRE WILLIAMS:--Having learned that you take a deep interestin the movements of young Mr. Duffel, who is supposed to be connected witha body of outlaws and thieves by yourself and others, I take the liberty, though a stranger, to address a line relative to the individual named, which may be of some service to you in detecting him, and to community, bypreventing his further operations. 

"If you will go to the swamp, nine miles from C----, early to-morrowmorning, and watch closely all day and all the next night, should he notmake his appearance sooner, you will detect him in the act of leaving theplace on a horse which he has forgotten to pay for. I would advise that youtake a few confidential friends with you, and, if possible, induce Mr. Mandeville to be one of them; you will understand my reasons for makingthis request in the end. Make all your arrangements with great caution andsecrecy, _and be sure to trust no one in whom you have not the mostimplicit confidence, or you may be betrayed_. I make this remark, on thesupposition that you are not aware of the fact, that some of your neighborsare associated with a class of men who do not live by lawful avocations, but are members of an organization which has for its object union ofstrength and harmony of action among those who prey upon community. I wouldfurther advise, that you do not go to the swamp before daylight--_give himtime to get into the trap_. I will cut the letter B on a beech-tree at thesouth-western corner of the swamp, which will be a sign and guide-mark thatyou are in the right way; from that tree keep a direct north-east courseuntil you reach a large walnut tree, then turn at right angles with yourformer course, and cross the marsh on the logs which you will find placedthere for that purpose. Beyond the marsh, or rather in the center of it, there is an island, which it is extremely difficult to reach by any otherroute than the one pointed out. On it you will find Duffel, _provided youare cautious and wary in your movements_. You will wonder how I am sofamiliarly acquainted with the operations of these bad men: without fullysatisfying your curiosity, let me say, that whatever I may have been, I amnow desirous of handing over to justice one who is deeply guilty--guilty ofcrimes of which even you, perhaps, have never dreamed of accusing him. Onthis point I have only to say, you yourself came near losing your life inplace of one of his victims. I allude to the attack made upon you by twopersons in the 'dark passage, ' some weeks ago. You will remember it! I knowall, though revealing but little; and as it will be known that treason isin the camp of the League of Thieves, I shall leave the country at once. Goto the swamp as directed, and you will satisfy yourself of all that I havetold you; but let me advise you to note strictly the directions I give you, and be extremely careful in your movements and choice of confidants. Yours, for law and justice, "EX LEAGUEIST. "

So soon as he finished reading this singular communication, the 'Squireasked the boy:

"What sort of a man was he, that gave you the letter?"

"He was large, with dark eyes, and sun-burnt face. "

"You did not know him, then?"

"No, sir; he was a stranger. "

"That will do. "

The 'Squire was puzzled to know what to do. The man might be acting in goodfaith, or he might be only leading him into a snare. After maturedeliberation, he came to the conclusion that his informant was notdeceiving him, and resolved to act upon the suggestions of the unknownwriter, be he friend or foe. 

He accordingly set about making preparations for the adventures of themorning, without delay. By midnight all his arrangements were completed, and he lay down to snatch a little rest before setting out on theexpedition. At three o'clock in the morning, the little company, numberingfive in all, of whom Mr. Mandeville was one, set out for the swamp. 

Bill and Dick had scarcely reached a safe distance from the cave, when asound as of ten thousand thunderbolts rent the air, and the ground at thesame time trembled as in a violent earthquake. The horses plunged andsnorted, and then stood still in mute fear. The villains, who were lookingin the direction of the cave, saw a column of fire, smoke, earth, and rocksheaved up in the air--a huge mass like a mountain--some portions to theheight of several hundred feet, and then fall again with a heavy crash, making the earth vibrate beneath them. They knew then that the cave was inruins, and its place occupied by a shapeless mass of matter. 

The explosion took place a little after three o'clock in the morning, andconsequently but a few minutes after 'Squire Williams and his party had setout for the swamp. They heard it, and felt the quivering of the earth, though twenty-five miles distant, and for a moment paused in alarm, fullybelieving it was an earthquake. But as no repetition of the sound or shocktook place, they concluded the danger was past, and proceeded on their way. 

Duffel also heard the report and felt the shaking, and it filled him withalarm. He was nearing the swamp at the time, and for a little whilehesitated to proceed, but finally did so, arriving at the same conclusionas did the party in his rear. 

It became the general belief in the neighborhood, and for forty milesaround the cave, that the noise and its accompaniments were to beattributed to a veritable earthquake; and we believe a report to thateffect finally went the rounds of the press. 

CHAPTER XXI. 

EVELINE PURSUED BY WOLVES--BILL AND DICK--DUFFEL. 

Terrible was the condition in which Eveline felt herself to be placed whenthe deep-toned howls and piercing screams of the ferocious denizens of theforest fell upon her ear! In a moment all the wild and horrible stories ofadventures with wild beasts she had ever heard or read about, came vividlyup in her memory, and from a hundred places her disturbed fancy picturedthe glaring eyes of savage monsters which she imagined were in the act ofspringing upon her. From these she would turn in affright, and hasten awayas fast as her trembling limbs could bear her. In this way her confusionbecame more aggravated, until, finally, every trace of knowledge as todistance or courses, was obliterated in her mind, and she wandered withoutmethod or aim, save that she always went in an opposite direction to thatfrom which the last sound proceeded. But this indefinite way of fleeingfrom harm did not answer her wishes; for soon she heard the baying ofwolves in her rear, and the constancy of their howling, and the directnessof their movements convinced her that she was pursued! What a thought wasthat! Alone, and lost in the wide wilderness, and the fiercest and mostdaring of its ferocious inhabitants on her track!

No sooner was this conviction fixed in her mind, than she flew rather thanran, tearing her clothes and lacerating her flesh against the brush andthorns which beset her way. She scarcely felt the wounds and thought aslittle of the destruction of her garments, but kept on, on, on, she knewnot whither, and cared not, so that she escaped from her dreaded pursuers. All would not do. Ever and increasing, nearer and nearer, came the dismalsound! How her heart died within her, as the increased loudness of thebaying of the wolves told her they were fast overtaking her! In vain sheexerted all her remaining strength, and taxed every nerve and muscle to itsutmost capacity! There was no help! As unerring as mistakeless instinct, and as certain as the decree of fate came the blood-thirsty pack! Despairbegan to settle down upon her spirit, and she was almost ready to wishherself back in the cave. But at this juncture, a sound seven-fold louderthan any thunder she had ever heard, broke with stunning violence throughthe solemn forest, and at the same moment, far in the distance, flashed upa column of fire sparkling and scintillating, and sending a gleam, as oflightning, among the shades of the dim wilderness. It was the knell andfuneral light of the cave. 

Instantly everything was as hushed as the chamber of death; not a sounddisturbed the stillness of the deep solitude that reigned around her, andEveline herself paused, and held her breath in alarm and wonder. Theillumination lasted but for a moment, and all was dark again; but in thatmoment the affrighted girl saw a large tree before her, with a cavity atits base, sufficiently large to admit her person; and, as soon as she couldcollect her thoughts after the surprise of this unexpected and mysteriousphenomenon, she resolved to make the cavity an asylum for the night. She nolonger heard anything of the wolves; the unaccountable light and noiseseemed to have frightened them away, and with deliberation she rolled uppieces of timber to block up the mouth of her retreat, then entered andbarred herself in as securely as she could, and patiently and sleeplesslyawaited the dawn of day. The night being already far advanced, she had notlong to wait, though to her it seemed like an age ere the welcome lightappeared; but it did at last, without the anxious moments being disturbed, and she stepped forth from her hiding-place to renew her efforts to reachhome. But she was at a loss to know which course to take, or what method toadopt in order to extricate herself from the mazes of the pathlesswilderness in whose impenetrable shadows she was enveloped. She stood forsome moments in a state of perplexing irresolution, and then resolved towalk in the direction of the rising sun, thinking that if she did not reachhome in that way, it was probable she would arrive at some settlement; andshe was anxious to see the habitations of men, even if the occupants wereentire strangers, for she felt a deep dread of remaining another night inthe wilderness, and knew that once among honest men, it would be quite aneasy matter to get home, even if the distance was great. 

Having settled upon a line of action, Eveline began to execute her purposewith all the energy and promptness for which she was distinguished. She hadproceeded some distance, and the sun whose dim approach was only heraldedby a few faint streaks of light when she set out, was now pouring a floodof light through the interstices of the forest, when her attention wassuddenly arrested by the appearance of two horsemen wending their way amidthe intricacies of the wild-wood. Her first thought was to call to them forhelp, but on more mature deliberation she was fearful they might belong toDuffel's band, and if so, would betray her into the hands of thatunprincipled and enraged villain, when she knew but too well that death ora fate infinitely worse, was the the alternative left for choice; shetherefore kept silent, preferring to take the chances of her lonepilgrimage to casting herself into unknown and suspected hands. 

It soon appeared, however, that the discovery was mutual, and that thehorsemen had less fear of her than she of them; for, after a moment's pauseto satisfy themselves of the reality of her presence, they turned theirhorses' heads toward her, and in a few seconds arrived at the spot whereshe stood, silently awaiting their approach. She had feared they weremembers of the association of thieves, and as such, was expecting to seehard features with a brigand's expression upon them; but, much to hersurprise and pleasure, the men before her bore none of the marks she hadpictured to herself, but were genteelly dressed and quite fine-lookingfellows. One of them addressed her in the most polite manner and with agrace that showed plainly he had been in good society:

"Will you pardon me, fair lady, a stranger, for being so bold as to presumeto address you? but it is so strange to see one so delicate as yourself inthe midst of a wild wilderness at such an early hour. May I inquire ifmisfortune has overtaken you? or why it is that you are here? and if we canbe of any service to you?"

There was something in the voice that sounded familiar to Eveline, and shelooked at the speaker to see if she could recognize him as a casualacquaintance, but she could not; his features and face were entirelystrange to her; and though every word he uttered seemed to be in a tone shehad heard before, it was impossible for her to tell where or when, and sheconcluded it must be a singular coincidence and nothing more. When heconcluded, she replied:

"I have been so unfortunate, sir, as to lose my way in the forest, and havewandered I know not whither, in my nightlong efforts to extricate myselffrom the unpleasant situation in which I am placed. If you can aid me toget to C----, or to any other neighborhood, I will take it as a greatfavor, and will reward you for your trouble. "

"We will escort you with the greatest pleasure to any point you may wish togo. You must have wandered a long way if you started from C----, for it ismore than fifty miles to that place. "

"Indeed! I had no expectation it was so far. I cannot think of asking youto take me such a distance. "

"We will do so with the utmost pleasure without being asked; it is exactlyin our way, and very fortunately we have a horse at hand, alreadycaparisoned for a lady's use, which is at your service. " Then turning tothe other he said:--"Bring up the led horse for the lady, " and hiscompanion started as directed. The speaker then continued, again directinghis discourse to Eveline:

"By the appearance of your apparel, I should suppose you had not found theunderbrush of the forest a very pleasant impediment to travel; your faceand hands, too, I perceive, have suffered severely. "

"Yes, I have found darkness and the brush and thorns rather difficultopponents to contend with;" saying which, she glanced at her habilimentsfor the first time, and their tattered appearance caused her to blush; butin explanation, she narrated the adventures of the night, except such partsas related to the cave and her captors, which she deemed it best not todivulge, not knowing into whose hands she was falling. As she finished thenarrative, the other man came up with the horses, and she was assisted tomount the one adapted to her use, when the three immediately started ontheir journey. 

We have only to say--and the reader, most likely, has already anticipatedus--that these two men were none other than Bill and Dick disguised, whohad accidentally fallen in with her in that unexpected place, to the greatdelight of the former, and with ill-concealed disappointment on the part ofthe latter. They had intended to remain in the woods that day, and had justleft the led horse for the purpose of making observations, when theunexpected event caused them to change their original intention, and setout on their journey for Virginia immediately. Little dreamed Eveline thatshe had fallen into such hands--that these, her seeming friends, were thevery villains she had heard plotting their schemes of rascality and crime. How different from what they were would have been her feelings, had sheknown the truth in relation to her situation!

 * * * * *

'Squire Williams and his party had no difficulty in finding the way intothe swamp, as pointed out in Bill's note, and ere the sun was two hours inthe heavens they had passed the marshy place spoken of, and were on theisland, where, if the note of information was correct, they might expect tofind Duffel and the stolen horse. 

Here the 'Squire directed the men to remain while he went forward toreconnoiter and ascertain, if possible, where the animal and the villainwere. He returned in less than an hour, bringing the intelligence that hehad found the whereabouts of the former, but had been able to discover notraces of the latter. 

A consultation was held as to what should be done, but opinions weredivided. At this juncture Mr. Mandeville, who had manifested but littleinterest in the affair until now, and who was not apprised of theindividuality of the persons they were after, seemed suddenly to becomehimself again, and taking in the whole subject at a glance, threw in hisopinion to the following effect:

"The horse being found as stated in the letter, we have every reason tobelieve that the thief is not far off; and as the beast cannot live withoutfood, at some time during the day the thief, who is, doubtless, secretedsomewhere about the vicinity of the horse, will come out to feed him. Ithink all we need to do is to hide ourselves near the animal and wait forthe fellow to appear. "

This advice was at once adopted, and moving forward under the 'Squire'sguidance as noiselessly as Indians, the whole party secreted themselves inambush, within shooting distance of the horse, which was hid away in athicket of bushes so nicely, that it was a mere accident the 'Squirediscovered him. Here they remained in whispered silence for several hours, until some time in the afternoon, and were about to despair of seeing theculprit, when their attention was directed by Mr. Mandeville, who had kepta sharp look out, to a man descending from a thick, bushy topped tree. Hewas a good way off, and they could not distinguish his features; but hepaused and looked around in all directions, as if to satisfy himself thatthere was no one near to observe his motions; then going to a large tree, and taking another look around to be sure of safety, he removed some barkfrom its base, which was very dextrously fitted to its place, and revealeda large hollow caused by the decay of the inner portions of the tree, fromwhich he drew forth a bag of oats, and, cautiously approaching the horse, gave him a mess. 

"Now is our time!" whispered the 'Squire. "Two of you go on either side soas to cut off his retreat, while Mandeville and I march directly upon him. You, Jake, look out for, and take charge of the horse. Move rapidly, butwith as little noise as possible. Strike out!"

With the concluding words all five rose from their hiding-place andproceeded to execute the parts assigned them. 

Duffel, whose senses were quickened by fear, heard the breaking of a smallstick under the tread of one of the party, and looking out, saw his danger;for he recognized his pursuers, though they had not, as yet, ascertainedwho he was. In a moment he decided upon his course of action, which was toflee for life; and, mounting the horse, which he had in preparation for anyemergency, he bounded away at as rapid a rate as he could force the animalinto going. 

The 'Squire called out to him to stop; but he seemed not to hear. 

"Stop!" repeated the 'Squire, "stop, or I'll shoot you!"

Still he heeded not the command or the warning, but made only the greaterexertions to get out of reach of gun-shot and make his escape. 

Without losing more time, the 'Squire leveled his rifle and fired. Therider tottered for a moment and then fell from his seat. In a minute or twohe was surrounded by his pursuers. 

"You have killed me, 'Squire, " were his first words, as that gentleman cameup. 

"Well, why did you not stop; I should not have fired if you had done so. "

"I did not wish to be taken alive. "

At this juncture Mr. Mandeville came round where he had a view of thethief's face, and, with unfeigned horror and amazement, he recognized him, and exclaimed:

"_Duffel!_"

"Yes, Mandeville, " said Duffel, "it is I, and there is Tom, _your_ horse. "

"So he is, as I live, " said the bewildered individual. "How is this? Icertainly am not dreaming. "

"No, " replied Duffel. "I would to God it was a dream. You see before youthe very man of all others you had chosen for a son-in-law, and but foryour daughter's opposition, I would this day have stood in that relation toyou, which I am now glad is not the case. But I have much to reveal to youand little time to do it in. "

"Well, first of all, have you seen anything of Eveline?"

"Yes, I have both seen and conversed with her, and until last night I knewwhere she was, but now I do not. "

He then entered into a brief history of his past conduct in relation toHadley and Eveline, keeping nothing back. 

"So, then, Hadley is dead?" queried the 'Squire, who felt a deep interestin that young man's welfare. 

"Yes, sorry enough I am to say it, for it is the only murder that rests onmy conscience, and a heavy burden and a deep stain it is with which toappear in the presence of an offended God!"

"And you know nothing of Eveline?" interposed Mr. Mandeville. 

"Nothing more than I have told you. She may be on her way home, or she mayhave fallen into the hands of those who will have as little regard for herfeelings and wishes as I had. I think she has been taken from the cave bysome of our number, but with what design is more than I can tell. "

"Where is the cave?"

"I am bound by the most solemn oath never, under any circumstances, to makeknown its location, and if I were to do so, it would avail you nothing now;she is not there. "

"Well, can't you give us some clue to its whereabouts?"

"No, I dare not. I know how great must be your anxiety to learn the fate ofEveline, but I can assist you no further in prosecuting a search for her. She is either safe, or her doom is sealed, and I know not which is the mostprobable, safety or destruction. In fact I am as much in the dark as youare in relation to her last disappearance; it is a mystery which I can onlyaccount for on the supposition already stated, that there is treason in theLeague. "

All this was said with difficulty by Duffel, who suffered great pain fromhis wound, but would not allow himself to be disturbed until he hadrevealed what was on his mind. He now permitted himself to be placed on arude litter, which was prepared by the men out of the branches of trees, and was carefully borne toward his home. 

But before they had emerged from the swamp he motioned them to stop, andthey did so. 

"I am going!" he said, in a voice scarcely above a whisper. "I thank youfor your kindness. Whoever bears the tidings of my death to my mother, please break the news to her as gently as possible. "

The thought of his mother seemed to awaken the better part of his nature, and at the same time to quicken his pulses. He grew stronger under theexcitement, and ejaculated in a louder tone:

"Oh, my God! that I should come to this! I fear the intelligence will killher!"

He covered his face with his hands and groaned in agony. Every eye in thatsolemn group around him was moist with tears. 

"Take me on!" said the sufferer, after a pause. "Possibly I may be able tohold out till I reach home. If I do not, Mr. Mandeville, and you shouldever see Eveline again tell her that almost with my dying words I cravedher forgiveness. "

Duffel the man and villain was subdued, and Duffel the boy was again cometo life. The memory of a mother's love opened the long-sealed fountain ofaffection in his sin-encased heart, and he felt once more, in a littledegree, as he had done in the days of his innocence. 

As he was carried along the current of thought again changed, and he cast aretrospect over the years of crime, which had made him an outlaw, andbrought him down to the gate of death. The dark picture shut out the lightof more pleasant memories, and his soul sunk back into the night ofdarkness which the blackness of his crime had cast around it! Again hegroaned in anguish of spirit and closed his eyes, as if by so doing hewould shut out the phantoms of his evil deeds from his soul's vision. 

The excitement of conflicting emotions threw him into a fever, and beforehe reached his home, which was not till after night, he was delirious. Abroken hearted mother laid her soft hand affectionately upon his head, andcalled his name in such endearing tones as only a mother's lips canbreathe; but he knew not that it was her, he felt only the touch of ahorrid specter, and heard but the mocking of fiends!

Then he raved and bid the ghostly phantoms begone! Oh, it was terrible towitness his soul-disordered agony, and hear the awful words that fell fromhis fevered lips!

"Why, in Satan's name, " he said, "have you come to torment me with yourjeers and scoffs, ye minions of h----? Away with you! Back! back! I say, toyour black home in the pit!"

Then covering his eyes he lay and shuddered for a brief period, but soonscreamed out:

"Keep your forked tongues out of my face, you hissing devils!"

These paroxysms, upon the horrors of which we have no wish to dwell, lastedall the night, but subsided about the dawn of morning. The last imageconjured up by his distempered fancy seemed to be one of Hadley:

"Oh, Hadley, " he pleaded in piteous tones, "do not look upon me in thatway! Take from me those mournful eyes, oh, take them away! for that lookburns into my heart! Hadley! Hadley! have pity on me! and spare me! Am Inot tormented enough already?"

But we will not linger to depict this harrowing scene. When the feversubsided he was weak as an infant. His mother asked him if he knew her, andhe whispered:

"Yes, oh, yes! God forgive me for bringing your 'grey hairs in sorrow tothe grave!' Oh, that I could die with your forgiveness graven upon myheart; but I dare not hope--I dare not pray for it!"

"God bless you, my son! and forgive you as I do!" passionately exclaimedthe parent; and her heart was writhing with agony!

What a fearful thing it is to bow a parent's head with shame! to crush outthe joy from a tender mother's heart, and shut the light from her spiritforever! And, oh, what a fearful thing to die with this consciousnessburning into the soul like the sting of scorpions!

None of the horrid visions that visited his fevered brain in the hours ofdelirium were half so painful as the anguished expression on that mother'sface. It sunk to the great deep of the guilty son's soul; and, with thatpale face bending over him, his last glimpse of earth, his sight paled andhis spirit left its clay tenement for eternity. What a lesson in his lifeand death!

CHAPTER XXII. 

THE DISGUISED VILLAINS MEET HADLEY--THE RESULT--CONCLUSION. 

As already stated, Bill and Dick had disguised themselves in the garb ofgentlemen, and with certain disfigurements of countenance which completelyhid their features and rendered it impossible to identify them, either intheir character of villainous murderers, or as the abductors, on a formeroccasion, of their present captive. When Bill first discovered Eveline inthe woods, he was about to make known to her that he and Dick were thefriends who had promised to liberate her, but on second thought he deemedit best to keep up the disguise, and learn, if possible, whether she hadany knowledge of his real intentions and their ultimate destination. Henceher inability to trace the voice, which sounded so familiar, to the wilyvillain who had enticed her to meet Hadley for the purpose of placing herin Duffel's power. 

Bill endeavored by every indirect means, not calculated to excitesuspicion, to draw from Eveline the facts of her situation, with the viewof informing himself of her sentiments toward the friends who had promisedher freedom; but she kept her own counsels, and completely baffled him inhis object. He knew that the present course of deception could not long bepersisted in, as, at furthest, on the morrow a development of facts musttake place, or, at least, a continued persistence in the disguise as todestination would be impossible. How to make himself known in his realcharacter was a matter which puzzled him not a little; for he well knewfrom her manners and from the resistance she had made to Duffel, that itwould be no easy task to force her all the way to Virginia. If he couldonly manage to keep up appearances until a certain point was gained, whichhe hoped to reach by night on the second day, he felt pretty sure of finalsuccess; for he would then be on a route along which friends were numerous, and he knew where to stop for refreshments and at what places to put up forthe night. But how to reach that point was the difficulty. 

After bestowing much thought on the subject, he at last hit upon the planwhich he concluded would enable him to accomplish his ends without beingmistrusted by Eveline. His plan was simply this: To give Eveline tounderstand that it would be impossible for them to reach C---- that day;and when, on the morrow, it should appear to be time for the termination oftheir journey, he would, in seemingly well disguised uneasiness, inform herthat they were lost in the wilderness! and as the day wore away, that itmight be possible they would have to remain in the forest all night, ifthey did not happen to stumble on some settlement or lone cabin. In thisway he could gain the time desired; and he well knew _what_ solitary cabinhe would reach at night!

Poor Eveline was again in the toils of an enemy, and it would seem now thatnothing but death could release her from the snare in which she hadunconsciously fallen. In her situation, "ignorance was certainly bliss;"for while the web of fate was weaving so surely around her, she wasthinking of home and friends with joy at heart, that soon she would returnto the one and be greeted by the others. Alas! how little knew she of thedark purposes of the vile wretches who were confided in as friends!

Without lingering to describe the particulars of the day and night, exceptto mention that the latter was spent at a first class public house, andwithout the occurrence of any note worthy of incident, we will simply statethat Bill, who let Dick into his secret, carried out his plans to theletter; and on the second day, about noon, communicated to Eveline theunwelcome and, to her, startling intelligence that they had missed theirway and were somewhat bewildered, but still hoped all would come out right. All the horrors of her former night's adventure in the wilderness came upin her mind, and she shuddered at the thought that a repetition of itsdreadful experience might be before her, but concealed her feelings as wellas she could, though Bill saw that a sudden pallor overspread her face, and that she was really alarmed. 

Bill produced a pocket compass, and pretended to take directions and shapetheir course from it. Toward evening, he announced the fact, that he wasquite confident they were near a secluded dwelling occupied by an oldhalf-hermit sort of a fellow and his family, which, though affording butpoor accommodations, would be preferable to the forest as a shelter for thenight. As predetermined by him, they reached this desolate lookinghabitation, and put up for the night. Seeing that Eveline was ill at ease, he found means to whisper in her ear:

"Do not be alarmed at appearances; these people are rough, but honest; andin any emergency, be assured we will defend you with our lives!"

But this whispered assurance of defense had the contrary effect from whatwas intended, for Eveline at once had her fears confirmed that there _was_danger to be apprehended. She did not, however, manifest her increasedapprehensions of evil, but seemed as calm as possible until she was shownher sleeping apartment for the night, which was a room on the first floor, with a bolt to the rude door on the inside. She fastened herself in; butinstead of sleeping, put out her light, and listened with sharpened ears toevery noise that disturbed the stillness of the night. She had been in herroom but a little while when she was startled by a call from without:

"Halloo, the house!"

She waited a moment, and then heard the owner go to the door and demand:

"Who's there?"

"A benighted traveler, who has lost his way, and wishes to obtain shelterfor the night. "

"The house is already full of guests, and I cannot take any more. "

"Let him in;" said Bill, whose voice Eveline recognized. "He may be worthtaking in, you know. "

The man then called out:

"My guests think you can be accommodated; so you may come in, I reckon, andshare such fare and lodging as we can give, which are none the best. "

"If you will show me the way to the stable, I will first see to my horse, "said the traveler. 

The host pointed out a shed where the beast could stand, and soon the tworeturned to the house. 

The moment the new-comer entered the door, Bill and Dick cast inquiringglances at each other; paleness as of death was on their cheeks, andsuperstitious alarm at their hearts; for in the stranger they beheldCHARLES HADLEY! Was it his ghost come to torment them in the hourof their triumph and security? Several minutes passed before they could beassured of his identity, that he was veritably flesh and blood, and not aspirit. It was well for them that the obscure light of the room cast theirfeatures in shadow, or their blanched cheeks and disquiet looks might havebetrayed them. In a very short time they found it convenient, as on aformer occasion, when seeking the life of the same man, to go out to seeafter their horses. 

"Well, Dick!" said Bill, when they were alone, "What now?"

"D----n me, ef I didn't think the dead had come to life, when I first seenthat feller! He must be bullet proof, for I placed my pistol plumb ag'in'him when I fired. I'm half a mind to believe yet that it's his ghost. "

"But it is not his ghost, that's certain, though I could have sworn that hewas dead; and we must get rid of him, some way, or he'll play the d----lwith us. "

"I think the best thing we can do is, to leave the gal in his care, and cutstick for Virginny as straight as we can shoot. "

"Nonsense! We can easily get old Sampson to kill him for his money, andthat will save us from any further fear of his revealing our secret. "

"I don't like this bizness of killin'; 'taint human, no way you can fixit. "

"Come, Dick, don't make a fool of yourself. I want you to stand by me now, like a man. "

"I shall have nothing to do with killin' Hadley; you may jist put a pegthere, and say no more about it. "

"Well, let me alone, then, and don't interfere with my plans, and I'll doit myself. "

"Ef it's to be done at all, better let old Sampson do it. I'd a good dealrather his hands should be made red with Hadley's blood than mine. Thetruth is, Hadley is a first rate chap, and it's a mean, cowardly act totake his life. " "Come, come! no more of that sort of talk. If you don'twant to help me, just let me alone; with old Sampson's aid, I can get alongwithout you; but I don't see what has come over you, of late. "

"Well, I ken soon tell you that I'm down on this wimen bizness, and allershave been; and it is mean, low, dirty work--this steelin' poor things--anyway you ken fix it, and I've told you so often. I don't believe any goodwill come of it in the end, either; ef I could have my way, thereshouldn't, that's certain. Ef you _will_ go ahead, why, go; but I tell youno good will come of it at last. I would be glad ef you would quit now; butI'll not stand in your way, becoz I've agreed to stand by you already. "

With this understanding, the rascals returned to the house--if house itcould be called--and very soon afterward intimated that they would retire. 

"As the stranger seems very tired, " said Bill to the host, "we willwillingly remain until you show him his room, " and he gave the proprietorof the premises a knowing wink. 

As Hadley rose to follow the host, he thanked the men for their kindness, and Dick turned away to conceal his feelings, for he was really sick atheart, bad as he was, at the thought that so noble a fellow should fall asacrifice for such a base purpose; and he half resolved to give him warningof his danger, and save his life. While his thoughts were thus occupied, the host returned, and he and Bill very soon went out together, Dick toowell knew for what purpose. 

"Ef I could only let them out and get them off safely, I'd do it, " musedDick; "but there it is, I can't do it, and it's no use tryin'. "

But notwithstanding he came to this hopeless conclusion, he continued tothink about the matter. At last he concluded:

"Well, ef I can't do anything else, I ken give the feller a friendly wordof advice, jist to kinder put him on his guard, like. "

So he stepped to the door of Hadley's room, and gently tapping it until hegained the occupant's attention, whispered in his listening ear:

"There is danger about, stranger, and ef you take the advice of a friend, you'll not sleep over heavy to-night. Better have your arms ready foranything that may happen. "

"Thank you! my friend, " whispered Hadley, in response. 

"No thanks, stranger; I'd help you more, if I could; but my hands arekinder tied like, and if they were free, sarcumstances would prevent mefrom givin' you any aid. "

Having thus compromised the matter with his conscience, Dick walked away, resolved to have nothing to do with the affair. Indeed, his sickness of the"wimen bizness" was hourly increasing, and he was half tempted to leaveBill, unless he would relinquish Eveline. 

While these events were transpiring, Eveline, wide awake and excited byfear, continued to listen to every sound without, remaining perfectly stillherself, so that the inmates of the house supposed she was sleeping. 

We will here remark, that the house was a double-cabin, with a kitchenattached to one of the ends, and a sleeping-room to the other. The familywere in the kitchen, and Eveline was in the room opposite to it on the sameside, but at the other end of the house. The part of the cabin leading toand from the kitchen, was in one large room; but the part leading to andfrom Eveline's room, was divided into three apartments, two smallsleeping-rooms, and one large hall-shaped one, extending the full length ofthe house, which was a kind of sitting-room, and into it opened all threeof the bed-rooms, two at the side and one at the end. There was a rudechamber above these rooms, furnished with beds; for old Sampson's was arendezvous for thieves and pickpockets, who often assembled there inconsiderable numbers, rendering it necessary for him to have these variousaccommodations for their benefit. Old Sampson himself was an outlaw, andmany a murder had been committed in his house, and always in the roomoccupied by Hadley, with which there was a secret communication, andbeneath it a vault for the reception of the dead bodies of his victims, until such time as they could be removed without detection. 

With this brief explanation, we return to the thread of the narrative. 

When Eveline heard the voice of the stranger, she was struck with itspeculiarity, but, as it was louder than she had been used to hear Hadleyspeak, she did not recognize it, and the few brief words she afterwardheard him utter, were too indistinctly heard by her to elicit the truth. When, however, she heard that well-known voice thanking the men for theirkindness, she recognized it in a moment, and but for the fact that he wasjust retiring, she would have rushed out and thrown herself in his arms. 

Hadley had not long been gone, when she heard a low murmuring of voicesback of her room, and noiselessly approaching the side of her apartmentnearest the speakers, she placed her ear to a crevice in the logs, andlistened. 

"I don't want to go to extremes unless there is good reason to believe hehas considerable money about him. "

These words, spoken by the host, were the first she heard distinctly. 

"I think there is no doubt on that point, " was the reply, "for to mycertain knowledge he has just inherited an estate from a rich uncle. "

"Has he indeed? Then he may be worth plucking. But can we rely on yourcompanion?"

"Oh yes; Dick is true as steel. He will not take an active part in theaffair, because he does not like my taking the girl, on one side, and forthe reason that Hadley has never wronged him, on the other, but he will beas far from betraying us as we ourselves; I will answer for him there. "

Dick! Hadley! In the quickness of the lightning's flash, the whole truthbeamed into Eveline's soul. Her pretended guides were none other thanDuffel's accomplices, and the plotters, afterward, of her own destruction, and she was now on her way to that cave in Virginia!

But the horrors of her own situation were lost sight of in contemplatingthe fate that was hanging over Hadley, who was to be killed for his money!As the light of these great truths broke in upon her mind, she came verynear screaming out in affright, but fortunately did not. She still listenedto see if she could learn how the dark deed of blood was to be consummated, but the mode of dispatching victims seemed to be understood by both and wasonly alluded to and not explained, and the villains soon left the spot andre-entered the house. 

What a world of conflicting emotions and thoughts now contended in thebosom of the long and deeply tried girl! She knew Hadley lived; but oh, what a fate hung over him! Could she save him? Alas! it seemed animpossibility. Should she make the effort, it might only hasten thecatastrophe she would prevent. If she could only put him on his guard; butthat was out of her power, for she could hear Dick walking to and froacross the large room, and she believed he was a sentry on guard. 

In this dilemma she sat down on the only chair in the room, and leaned herhead upon her hand. She then found that her brow was covered with largedrops of cold perspiration, which the intensity of her feelings had forcedout. What to do she knew not; and so she sat, in an agony of suspense, while the slow moments passed away. At length she thought of her arms, which she still retained, and as she did so, resolved to use them in caseof emergency, either for the preservation of her lover, or to preserveherself from the fate in store for her if Hadley should be murdered and shecarried off. 

From the first, Hadley did not like the appearance of things about thehouse, nor the looks of his host, who was not only rough in features andmanners, but carried with him a countenance with a very sinister expressionupon it, and an eye that spoke of crime and a guilty soul; but when Dickgave the warning, he was doubly confirmed in his first impressions, andresolved to profit by the advice so singularly volunteered. He did notundress, but before extinguishing his light examined his pistols, a braceof which he had procured for defense, to see that they were in proper orderfor immediate use. After making all needful preparations, he put out hiscandle, and remained in perfect quiet. Soon he heard the two men return, and then Dick went above to rest, and the others were left alone. 

For a long time all was still; not a sound was heard; not a whisper brokethe profound silence; yet there were four pairs of sleepless eyes in thathouse, whose owners were all within a few feet of each other!

At length Hadley, who had taken a position by the door, heard the softesttread of feet, then a suppressed breathing close by his ear, and he knewthat some one was listening. He turned his face away that his own breathingmight not betray him, and awaited the result of the other's observation. Itwas but a little while till a low whispered conversation fell upon hisattentive ear!

"Does he sleep?"

"Yes, apparently very soundly. "

"Then the sooner it is done the better. "

"Yes; bring me the lantern. Now when I go in, close the door and standnear, but do not open it till I call; I don't want the bird to escape. "

"All right. Be careful to make sure work of it. "

"Trust me for that; he'll never know who struck him. "

Hadley knew the decisive moment had come, and he prepared himself for thecrisis; but he felt that the odds was fearfully against him, and his hopeof escape was small; still he was resolved to make a desperate effort forhis life. 

As already remarked, the room was small, and the head of the bed camewithin a few feet of the door, so near, that by taking one step, Hadleycould touch it with his hand. Around the bed were long curtains reaching tothe floor. It was but the work of a moment for him to secrete himselfbehind these in such a position as to face the murderer when he turned tolook after him in the bed. He had just secured his situation when the doorgently opened, and the man of the house entered with the noiseless tread ofa cat, bearing a dark lantern in one hand and a monstrous knife in theother. Stealthily he approached the bed, and then gradually lifted theshade and threw the light around the room to be sure his victim was not outon the watch; then he gently parted the curtains and slowly brought thelight to bear upon the pillows. 

Now! thought Hadley; and as the surprised assassin raised himself up totake a closer scrutiny of the position in which he had expected to find hisvictim, he leveled his pistol within two feet of his breast and fired! Witha heavy groan the old man fell to the floor. Bill rushed into the room, andas he did so, Hadley fired his other pistol, but the uncertain light andBill's rapid motion caused the shot to be thrown away. 

At the same instant a piercing shriek from Eveline's room told that she wasalive to all that was passing. 

Bill immediately drew a pistol and fired at Hadley, but the latter made aquick movement to one side and avoided the bullet. Then the two sprang ateach other and closed in for a life struggle. 

It was man to man with them, but Bill had the advantage of much practice, and his strength being equal, his skill must finally gain him the victory, unless fortune should greatly favor Hadley. Life was the prize at stake, and every nerve and muscle was taxed to its utmost capacity. At length theyfell, Hadley being uppermost. The knife which had fallen from old Sampson'shand, lay within reach, and Hadley stretched forth his hand to grasp it, but as he did so, Bill, who was watching his opportunity, by a sudden andtremendous effort, turned his antagonist, and seizing the knife, the momenthe felt his enemy safely beneath him, raised it for the fatal plunge at hisheart, and with an oath exclaimed:

"Die, now, like a dog! and be out of my way!"

But the words were scarcely uttered, when his uplifted hand relaxed itsgrasp of the deadly weapon, and at the same precise point of time, a flashand report told that a third party had taken part in the deadly conflict. Bill fell over upon his dead companion a corpse, and springing to his feet, Hadley stood face to face with Eveline! Each spoke the other's name, fellinto the other's arms, and Eveline fainted away! At this juncture Dick madehis appearance, and taking in the whole scene at a glance, hastened out andsoon returned with a vessel of water. Hadley took a handful of the fluidand sprinkled Eveline's face, who soon revived. 

We shall not attempt to describe the joy of the transported lovers. But thefamily had been aroused by the unusual noise, and soon the wife and her twodaughters stood with the dead. In their horror and distress, Hadley andEveline forgot their happiness. 

There was no more sleep for the inmates of that lonely dwelling that night, and with the early dawn, the lovers, guided by Dick to a public road, leftthe scene of death and wretchedness for home, where they arrived insafety, the next evening, to the unspeakable joy of Mr. Mandeville, who hadjust returned from a fruitless search after his daughter, in despair. 

Dick went back and buried his dead companion, and old Sampson, after doingwhich he left the country, and was never afterward heard of. 

The League was never revived in that section of the country after thedestruction of the cave, though many of the members went to the south-westto join their captain, and the Order is still in existence in a littledifferent form. 

We have little more to add. Charles and Eveline were married with the fulland free approbation of Mr. Mandeville, who ever after loved Hadley as hisown child, and acknowledged that for once the daughter's was better thanthe FATHER'S CHOICE, and often shuddered as he contemplated hownarrowly his beloved daughter had escaped becoming the wife, first, andafterward, the victim, of THE HORSE THIEF RIVAL.