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diff --git a/16676-h/16676-h.htm b/16676-h/16676-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..797b1b1 --- /dev/null +++ b/16676-h/16676-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8247 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Eveline Mandeville, by Alvin Addison</title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + hr.full { width: 100%; } + pre {font-size: 8pt;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Eveline Mandeville, by Alvin Addison</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Eveline Mandeville</p> +<p> The Horse Thief Rival</p> +<p>Author: Alvin Addison</p> +<p>Release Date: September 8, 2005 [eBook #16676]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EVELINE MANDEVILLE***</p> +<p> </p> +<h4>E-text prepared by the Library Electronic Text Resource Service of Indiana University<br /> + (<a href="http://www.letrs.indiana.edu/">http://www.letrs.indiana.edu/</a>)<br /> + and by the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (<a href="https://www.pgdp.net/">https://www.pgdp.net/</a>)</h4> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1"></a></p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h1>EVELINE MANDEVILLE.</h1> + +<h2>By ALVIN ADDISON,</h2> + +<h3>Author of "The Rival Hunters."</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h6>CINCINNATI:<br /> +PUBLISHED BY U. P. JAMES,<br /> +167 WALNUT STREET.</h6> + +<h4>1837</h4> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2><a name="EVELINE_MANDEVILLE" id="EVELINE_MANDEVILLE"></a>EVELINE MANDEVILLE:</h2> + +<h3>OR,</h3> + +<h2>THE HORSE THIEF RIVAL.</h2> + + + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I"><b>CHAPTER I.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II"><b>CHAPTER II.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III"><b>CHAPTER III.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><b>CHAPTER IV.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V"><b>CHAPTER V.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><b>CHAPTER VI.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII"><b>CHAPTER VII.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"><b>CHAPTER VIII.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX"><b>CHAPTER IX.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X"><b>CHAPTER X.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI"><b>CHAPTER XI.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII"><b>CHAPTER XII.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII"><b>CHAPTER XIII.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV"><b>CHAPTER XIV.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XV"><b>CHAPTER XV.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI"><b>CHAPTER XVI.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVII"><b>CHAPTER XVII.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII"><b>CHAPTER XVIII.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIX"><b>CHAPTER XIX.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XX"><b>CHAPTER XX.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXI"><b>CHAPTER XXI.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XXII"><b>CHAPTER XXII.</b></a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + + +<p>"Why do you persist in refusing to receive the addresses of Willard Duffel, +when you know my preference for him?"</p> + +<p>"Because I do not like him."</p> + +<p>"'Do not like him,' forsooth! And pray, are you going to reject the best +offer in the county because of a simple whim? the mere fancy of a +vain-headed, foolish and inexperienced girl? I did not before suppose that +a daughter of mine would manifest such a want of common sense."</p> + +<p>"Whether my opinions of men are made up of that rare article so +inappropriately called 'common sense' or not, is a question I shall not +attempt to decide; it is sufficient for me to know that I have my 'likes +and my dislikes,' as well as other folks, and that it is my <i>right</i> to have +them."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes! <i>you</i> have rights, but a <i>parent</i> has not, I suppose!"</p> + +<p>"You know very well, father, that I do not deserve an insinuation of that +kind from you: I have always regarded your wishes, when expressed, save in +this one instance, and I have too much at stake, in so serious a matter, to +lightly throw aside my own opinions."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, you have been the most obliging of daughters, to hear your own +story; but no sooner does a point of any moment come up, upon which we +happen to disagree, than my wishes are as nothing—a mere school-girl whim +is set up in opposition to them, and that, too, without even a shadow of +reason! A <i>very</i> dutiful child, truly."</p> + +<p>"Father, how <i>can</i> you talk so? You surely are but trying me; for you +<i>know</i> I do not merit the rebuke conveyed by your words and manner."</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"Why do I?"</p> + +<p>"Because you are willfully disobedient."</p> + +<p>"No, not <i>willfully</i> but <i>sorrowfully</i> disobedient to your wishes. Glad, +indeed, would I be if I could comply with them, but I cannot. Nor should +you expect me to, until you show some good grounds why you entertain them."</p> + +<p>"Have I not already done so repeatedly? Have I not told you that Duffel's +prospects are fairer than those of any other young man of your +acquaintance? Is he not wealthy? Has he not one of the best farms in the +country? What more do you want?"</p> + +<p>"A man of principle, not of property."</p> + +<p>"And is not Duffel a man of principle? Is he not strictly honorable in all +his dealings?"</p> + +<p>"He may or may not be honest in his dealings; I do not allude to business, +but <i>moral</i> principle, and in this I think he is decidedly wanting."</p> + +<p>"Why do you think so?"</p> + +<p>"His actions and manners impress me with such a belief; I <i>feel</i> it more +than <i>see</i> it, yet I am as fully satisfied on that point as if he had told +me in so many words that he had no regard for the restraints of morality +and religion, save such as a decent respect for the customs and opinion of +society enjoins."</p> + +<p>"Mere fancy again! I'd like to know if you expect to live in any of the +air-castles you are building?"</p> + +<p>"I think there is not quite as much probability of my inhabiting one of +them <a name="Page_4" id="Page_4"></a>as there is of Duffel's incarceration in the penitentiary."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean, girl?"</p> + +<p>"To be plain, I do not believe Duffel's wealth was honestly obtained, or is +honestly held. You have heard of the Secret Gang of Horse Thieves, I +suppose. Well, I overheard this immaculate Duffel of yours, without any +intention on my part, conversing with a 'hale fellow well met,'—no other +than the stranger you yourself suspected of being a villain—and from the +tenor of their remarks, they belong to some clique of rascals. I could not +gather a very distinct idea as to what the organization was formed to +accomplish, for I could not hear all that was said; but I learned enough to +satisfy myself that all was not right. I had not mentioned the circumstance +before, for the simple reason that I wished to obtain stronger evidence +against the parties, but you have my secret—act upon it as you think +best."</p> + +<p>This conversation will sufficiently explain itself. A father desires his +daughter to marry against her will, because a wealthy suitor proposes for +her hand, but she cannot accede to his wishes, because, we presume, she has +a romantic notion that <i>love</i> ought to have something to do, in making +matrimonial connections.</p> + +<p>The father was somewhat taken aback by the revelations of the daughter at +the 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 the +parties suspected.</p> + +<p>Duffel, from some source, obtained an inkling of how matters stood, and +seeing the father, had a long interview with him in private. What was the +purport of his part of the conference, and the object he had in view, may +be gathered from the following passage between father and daughter.</p> + +<p>"So, ho, my girl, you thought to deceive me concerning young Duffel, did +you?"</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"You would have me believe him a horse-thief and a bird for the +penitentiary?" he went on, without seeming to notice her interposition. +"Well, your well-devised scheme has failed of its object, and I have at +once revealed to me its purpose and end, and its originator."</p> + +<p>"I do not understand you, sir!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no! very ignorant all of a sudden! You forgot one of the most material +portions of your revelation to me the other day, and that was <i>the name of +your confederate</i> in concocting that story of the guilty associations of +Willard Duffel."</p> + +<p>"I had no associate, and I have never mentioned the circumstance to a +living soul except yourself. Now, please be equally frank, and tell who +your confederate is in this plot to make your daughter out a hypocrite and +a liar?"</p> + +<p>The father was startled by this bold demand, which, indeed, opened his eyes +to the enormity of his child's wickedness, if his charges against her were +true; but he had set his face to one point, and not being easily turned +aside from a purpose, proceeded:</p> + +<p>"I am not to be deceived by a show of indignation and virtue, when it is +assumed for effect. You need not put yourself to the trouble of a denial or +confession; I know who is associated with you to traduce Duffel; it is no +other than the one who stands between you and the man of my choice—a poor +beggarly fellow, to whom you have taken a fancy because of his +worthlessness, I suppose. You understand who I mean. Well, he shall stand +between me and my wishes—or rather between you and good fortune—no +longer."</p> + +<p>Indignation, surprise, wonder, fear, resentment, and a hundred other +emotions filled the mind of the daughter during the delivery of this +address; but amid them all, there was a purpose as fixed as that of her +sire's to have a voice in the matter of her own disposal. But before +anything further transpired, the father cast his eyes out of the open +window, and seeing a gentleman approaching, said:</p> + +<p>"There comes that beggarly dog now! I must go and meet him."</p> + +<p>And without further ceremony or explanation, he immediately left the house.</p> + +<p>It would be a difficult task to portray the feelings of the daughter at +this moment. She saw that her father was incensed, but the sorrow that this +circumstance would otherwise have engendered in her bosom, was lost in the +feeling that an outrage had been perpetrated upon her rights and +sensibilities, and she felt the blood of indignation coursing through her +veins, and mounting her temples and brow. How could she help these +emotions, when she<a name="Page_5" id="Page_5"></a> <i>knew</i> that injustice had been done—that she had been +insulted 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 tears +forced themselves to her eyes—tears half of sorrow, half of anger.</p> + +<p>But now a new source of anxiety, mixed with alarming apprehensions, took +possession of her distracted mind. Her father had left the house abruptly, +and looking in the direction he had taken, she beheld him in violent +conversation with Charles Hadley, the only man for whom she had ever +entertained sentiments of tender regard, the only one to whose "tale of +love" she had listened with quickened pulses and beating heart, the only +one to whom she had plighted her faith, with whom exchanged vows of love +and constancy. And her parent had just termed him beggarly! What could be +the cause of his dislike? and for what purpose had he sought the young man +in so strange and unaccountable a mood? and what was the nature of the +interview between them?</p> + +<p>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 was +in 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 so +much at stake, we must excuse the exceptionable act.</p> + +<p>"It is not worth while for you to deny it, Hadley, as I have the most +positive proof of your designs."</p> + +<p>These were the first words that greeted the daughter's ears, and they sent +a chill to her heart. She knew that her lover was impetuous, and feared the +charge 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 the +remainder of the conversation with breathless attention and intensely +absorbed interest.</p> + +<p>"Pray, sir, will you be so kind as to give me the name of the individual +who has dared to accuse me of a base plot? You certainly cannot refuse so +small a request, and yet of such great importance to me, as it gives me the +only possible chance of clearing myself from the groundless charges +preferred against me so invidiously."</p> + +<p>"I do not feel disposed to reveal the name of my informant, as it would +lead 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 fullest +credit."</p> + +<p>"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 me +the greatest pleasure to convince you of the fact, would you allow me to do +so; but as I cannot do that, will you permit me to hold a moment's +conversation with your daughter?"</p> + +<p>"Why, sir, it was to prevent that very thing that I met you here. No, I +cannot grant your request; and hereafter you will please consider my +daughter 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 not +permit my child to associate with those whom I know to be unworthy. Sir, I +will hear no word of explanation! Go!"</p> + +<p>Hadley felt the unkindness and injustice of Mandeville's remarks, and had +he merely consulted his own feelings, he would have retired at once, and +never again intruded himself upon the society of one who could show himself +so destitute of the characteristics of a gentleman. But there was another +than himself that must suffer should he go, as his feelings prompted, from +the premises of her father forever. Love was all-powerful in his breast at +that hour, and choking down the rising emotions of anger and excitement, he +attempted to reason with the stern man before him.</p> + +<p>"But you surely," he commenced, "do not mean to drive me from your door +without a hearing? You certainly are too much of a gentleman for that."</p> + +<p>"I mean, sir, that I will allow no base, thieving miscreant to enter my +house; nor will I permit a daughter of mine to hold intercourse with such +villains! And more than that, I will tell you, sir, that I am not to be +dictated to, as to whose company<a name="Page_6" id="Page_6"></a> I shall keep, or whom admit to my house, +by any such worthless, gallows-deserving scamp as yourself!"</p> + +<p>This was more than Hadley could bear. He had resolved not to become +excited, but anger rose in his bosom in spite of his will, and he answered +in deep, excited tones:</p> + +<p>"Sir, no man can apply such epithets to me and go unchastised. I demand a +recantation of your unfounded charges, and an apology for their utterance."</p> + +<p>And as he spoke he assumed a menacing attitude. Rage at once filled the +breast of Mandeville, and instantly rendered him altogether ungovernable. +He raised his clenched fist, as if to strike the young man, and hissed +savagely between his set teeth:</p> + +<p>"Insolent villain! do you dare to insult me thus at my own door! Away in a +moment, or I'll smite you to the earth without another word!"</p> + +<p>Hadley stood still.</p> + +<p>"Go, vile dog! I say; go!" and he drew back his arm to strike.</p> + +<p>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. It +emanated from the house, and the first motion of the two in conversation +was to start forward in that direction; but recalling the words of the +proprietor, that he was never to enter his dwelling again, Hadley paused +and turned away, but loitered about the premises till he saw the father +ride off in great haste toward the nearest village, and speedily return, +quickly followed by a physician; then he left, with a vague feeling of +dread laboring at his heart.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>THE EAVESDROPPER.</h3> + + +<p>As Eveline Mandeville had mentioned the circumstance of having overheard +the conversation between the two worthies, related, in the first chapter, +to no one but her father, it becomes a matter of curiosity to know how +Duffel had come in possession of the secret. A very few words will explain +the matter. Like most persons who feel a consciousness of want of rectitude +of purpose, he felt desirous to learn what other people thought of him, +fearing his evil intentions might possibly manifest themselves in some +manner unnoticed by himself; and as he had most at stake with the +Mandevilles, he was proportionally more interested in the opinions they +might entertain respecting his life and character, than in those of any +others. He accordingly resorted to the mean and cowardly expedient of +eavesdropping, in order to gain a knowledge of the standing he occupied in +the estimation of this family, particularly with regard to the father and +daughter. He would approach the house unobserved and listen at some point, +to overhear the conversations that took place in the family circle!</p> + +<p>He was thus occupied during the conference of parent and child, above +referred to, and learned, to his great joy, that in the father he had a +warm advocate, but with equal chagrin that the daughter had no good-will +toward 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 a +good property being a still stronger motive, he had set his heart upon +making her his bride, even though she might detest him as a companion.</p> + +<p>But when he heard the revelation made by the daughter to her father, at the +close of their interview, concerning his association with the suspicious +stranger and probable connection with some secret body of villains, and +perceived the marked effect it had upon the latter, he became alarmed for +the success of his schemes, and seeing the conversation was ended, hastened +away, ere he should be discovered, to invent some plan whereby to +counteract the effects likely to produce a permanent feeling against him.</p> + +<p>After long and deep thought, during which scheme after scheme was suggested +to his mind, turned over, examined, and abandoned, he finally hit upon an +expedient that suited his purpose exactly, and at once resolved to act upon +it. For this purpose he sought and obtained a private interview with Mr. +Mandeville, as already intimated, in which he began the development of his +plot as follows:</p> + +<p>"I have sought this interview with no idle purpose, Mr. Mandeville," he +began. "You are already aware of the deep interest I feel in your daughter, +and how <a name="Page_7" id="Page_7"></a>intimately my future happiness is interwoven with her good +opinion. That good opinion, I have the best of evidence to believe, is +being undermined by one to whom you have ever been kind, but who, I am +sure, you would not wish to become your son-in-law, though he has the +audacity—if I may be allowed so strong an expression—to aspire after your +daughter's hand! Having nothing of his own to recommend him, and knowing +that I am in his way, he does not cease to traduce me to your daughter on +every occasion, and I fear the insidious poison of his oily tongue has +already had a serious effect on her mind, which, if not put an end to, will +turn her good opinion of me into dislike or even aversion. Why it was but a +few days ago that he and another fellow, a stranger in these parts, and a +very suspicious-looking chap, had a conference in private, of, to say the +best of it, a very sinister character; and, would you believe it, this +fellow disguised himself so as to appear the very personation of myself?</p> + +<p>"I was struck dumb, sir, when these facts were put in my possession by one +of my workmen, who happened to see the villains and overhear a part of +their talk. But the worst of the story remains to be told. Either by chance +or design—and with the facts in the case I leave you to determine +which—these confederates placed themselves near a bower to which your +daughter had resorted but a few minutes previously, so that she, however +unwillingly, 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, as +she must suppose, under such criminal aspects!"</p> + +<p>This most artfully told tale was not without its effect upon the father. He +believed it: how could he help it when so strongly corroborated by what his +daughter had previously told him? At the conclusion of it, he demanded, +with something of vehemence in his manner:</p> + +<p>"Who was the despicable villain that thus dared to plot against the +interest of my family?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, there is the difficulty," said Duffel, craftily. "I fear to divulge +names for several reasons. In the first place, I know you cannot but feel +highly indignant, and will desire to punish the criminal as he deserves; +but I have no proof that will stand in law, and—!"</p> + +<p>"Will not the testimony of my daughter added to yours be sufficient to +convict the rascal, I'd like to know?"</p> + +<p>"You forget that your daughter's testimony would criminate me—that she +must fully believe it was I, and no other, that was in conversation with +the stranger; for I am told that the disguise was perfect, so much so that +it is impossible your daughter should not be deceived."</p> + +<p>"I see the difficulty."</p> + +<p>"Well, as I was going to say, being unable to substantiate my charges, I +would lay myself liable to prosecution for slander, which must be far from +pleasant, beside giving my adversary a decided advantage over me. In the +next place, my name would be coupled with those of blacklegs and secret +villains, a circumstance far more to be dreaded than the other. But I have +a still higher motive for wishing this affair to be kept quiet—your +daughter's welfare and fair name. Pardon me for being compelled to speak of +her in this connection; it is, I assure you, sorely afflicting to me; but I +shall strive to do my duty, even with the fear of offending before my eyes. +As already shown, your daughter's evidence, either publicly or privately +given, must lay upon me the weight of crime; in addition to this, I must +now undertake the formidable task of informing you that my enemy, who I +have already told you has an eye to your daughter's hand, is regarded by +her 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 but +too soon find out to your sorrow. This fellow, who desires to rival me in +the affections of your daughter, has been pouring into her ear tales of +every sort to prejudice her against me—and I fear with but too much +success. Lately, she avoids me whenever it is convenient to do so, while +she often walks out with my—no, he is too contemptible to be called a +rival.</p> + +<p>"You now see the state of the case; you see on what a slippery place I +stand, and how much need there is of being wary and cautious where and how +I step. My fair name is in danger of being tarnished; my prospects for life +blighted; my hopes destroyed and myself suspected of <a name="Page_8" id="Page_8"></a>being the associate +of villains. And all this has been so artfully contrived, I find myself in +the meshes of the net woven to entrap me, ere I had become aware of any +designs being formed against me, or that I had enemies who were endeavoring +to compass my ruin; and, worse than all, when these overwhelming truths are +made manifest to me, and my very soul burns to extricate myself from the +difficulties that surround me, and fasten the crime where it belongs, and +crush the miscreant with his own guilt, I am tied. So encircled am I, that +every attempt I might make to escape the toils of the cowardly foe who has +laid his plans so deep and darkly, will only add to the horrors of my +situation. Pardon me, then, for withholding the name of him who is striving +to rum me; but oh, if possible, save your daughter from his grasp!"</p> + +<p>"How can I without knowing his name? Eveline has much company and many +admirers; but of all the number, I can fix upon no one to suspect."</p> + +<p>"There it is again! My God! what am I to do?"—and with these words, Duffel +paced up and down in the greatest apparent distress.</p> + +<p>"You surely can trust <i>me</i> with his name?" suggested Mr. Mandeville.</p> + +<p>"True, I can trust you with anything, only that I fear your indignation +will betray me."</p> + +<p>"Never fear; for once I will keep cool at all hazards."</p> + +<p>"I make one solemn condition: you must never, under any circumstances, +reveal the name of your informant to either your daughter or my enemy."</p> + +<p>"Why this restriction?"</p> + +<p>"I have already explained why as far as <i>he</i> is concerned."</p> + +<p>"But Eveline?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I have a different reason for desiring her to be kept ignorant of my +connection with her friend's exposure,"—and as he said this, the fellow +actually blushed and seemed much embarrassed.</p> + +<p>"I do not understand you."</p> + +<p>"Well, you see this friend of hers—I must again ask pardon for associating +her name with his so frequently, be reassured I do it with pain—as I have +already remarked, has ingratiated himself into her good opinion, and +knowing me to be in the way of the accomplishment of his wishes, he has +prejudiced her against me, and done so in such a manner as to induce the +belief in her mind that I am his bitterest enemy, and would use any means +to do him an injury or blacken his character. Hence, if she were to know +that anything came through me, she would at once set it down as false and +slanderous, which would drive her farther from me and nearer to the other, +thereby hastening the very calamity we would avert."</p> + +<p>"I see you are right, having given more attention to the subject than I +have. I will never mention your name in connection with this matter, to +either my daughter or any other, without your permission."</p> + +<p>"Thank you. Leaving all after action on your part to be as your judgment +shall 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."</p> + +<p>"<i>Charles Hadley!</i>" exclaimed the father in astonishment.</p> + +<p>"It is none other than he."</p> + +<p>"I could hardly have believed it of him."</p> + +<p>"Nor I. Such depth of depravity is truly inconceivable to an honorable +mind."</p> + +<p>"I remember now, he has been somewhat familiar with Eveline; but I had no +idea the beggarly dog would dare think of marrying her. I must see to this +immediately."</p> + +<p>"Remember to be cautious for my sake."</p> + +<p>"Don't fear on that ground."</p> + +<p>Thus the interview ended, Duffel having accomplished more by it than he had +expected. The more Mr. Mandeville thought on the subject, the more +thoroughly he became convinced of Hadley's guilt. Did not Duffel's +statement correspond precisely with that of his daughter? and how could it +be so without being true? It was an impossibility. The more he reflected, +the deeper became his conviction of the guilt of Hadley and of the +existence of a plot to defame Duffel. Another idea suggested itself: "Was +his daughter an intentional or an unintentional party to these +transactions? Might not her dislike of Duffel and her preference for Hadley +induce her to seek for some means to accomplish the disgrace of the +former?" While he was weighing this supposition in the balance of his mind, +he chanced to see his daughter <a name="Page_9" id="Page_9"></a>walking with Hadley, and their manner of +conversation and the evident good-will existing between them, led him, in +his bewildered state, to conclude that Eveline was not as free from +implication as she might be. After harboring this thought for a day or two +longer, he charged her with the crime of confederating to injure Duffel, as +already related. Had he known that Duffel's story was made so fitly apt, +simply because he had basely eavesdropped and sacrilegiously listened to +the sanctitude of a conversation at the domestic hearth, how different +would have been the result!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>THE INVALID.</h3> + + +<p>When Mr. Mandeville entered the house, as related at the close of the first +chapter, he found Eveline lying on the floor of her room, in a state of +insensibility. All his efforts to arouse her were unavailing, and leaving +her in the care of the distracted housemaid, he hastened off for the +doctor. When the stunning influence was removed, Eveline was still +unconscious. A burning fever was in her veins, and delirium in her brain. +All night long the doctor remained by her bedside, and when morning at +length compelled him to visit other patients, he left with an expression on +his countenance, which caused anything but a hopeful sensation in the +father's breast.</p> + +<p>Days of anxiety and nights of sleepless watching passed away, and yet the +father, with pale cheeks and heavy heart, sat by the bedside of the +afflicted. No mother had she, that kind parent having several years before +been laid in the cold grave; and the father strove to make up for the loss +as 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 be +light and soft as a woman's, his step quiet, and his manner subdued. He +would leave the room only for a few minutes at a time, and then return with +an air of impatience, but it often happened that for hours together he +would allow no one to share the duties of nurse with him, though the best +of aid was always at hand. And he had a reason for this singular course of +conduct. Eveline frequently raved in her delirium, and words would then +fall from her lips which he would not have others to hear for the wealth of +India. Why? Listen for a few moments:</p> + +<p>"Oh, how dark! all dark! Nothing but clouds! No sun, no moon, no stars! +When <i>will</i> morning come? Who made it dark? Oh, God! that my father, my own +father, should do this!"</p> + +<p>Thus would the unconscious child talk into the very ear of her parent, +often wringing her hands and manifesting the utmost distress. Then her +thoughts would take another direction, on this wise:</p> + +<p>"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 come +to me and lift this great burden from my bosom; and it is crushing the +life-blood from my heart! Hark! don't you hear the drops fall as they are +pressed out? Patter, patter, patter! Well, it will soon be over; they will +see the blood; yes, and <i>he</i>, my once good, dear, kind father; oh, may he +never know that <i>his</i> hand wrung it out and wrenched my heart in twain! +Poor father! he knew not that he was killing me—me his only daughter. May +he never be wiser! Ah, I am going."</p> + +<p>She would sink down exhausted, and lay sometimes for hours in a stupor, +after these paroxysms of excitement, and the heavy-hearted father often +feared she would never rouse again. But a higher stage of fever would +awaken her from the state of lethargy, and then the ears of the agonized +parent would be greeted and his heart pierced by words like these:</p> + +<p>"Oh, hear him, father, hear him! I know he can explain it to your +satisfaction. How can Charles bear such charges? I wonder at his patience +and self-command. Father, father! How unjust! How cruel! Do let him speak! +Convinced! Yes, on what grounds? Whose word is entitled to more credit than +that of Charles? That's it! The name—the name of the base slanderer. I +know it is some villain. Father! how <i>can</i> you deny him the only means of +defense? 'Unpleasant rencounter!' yes, to the vile miscreants, no doubt. +'Confidence!' My life! isn't Charles worthy of confidence, too? His word +alone is worth a thousand oaths of such heartless slanderers as those that +stab in <a name="Page_10" id="Page_10"></a>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 be +right. Ah! I'll tell him how I spurn the accusation! How my soul burns with +indignation that his fair name should be assailed! I am so glad he is +coming; I know he feels deeply the wrong—What!"</p> + +<p>At this point the startled look of the poor girl alarmed the father. She +bent her head, in a listening attitude, as if eager to catch every word +that was spoken by some one in the distance. Ah, too well the wretched +parent knew on what her thoughts were running. Too well he knew where and +when the blow had fallen that smote his child to the dust—perhaps had +opened to her the gate of death. A deep, stifled, half sigh, half groan +escaped from her lips, and she murmured in a hoarse whisper:</p> + +<p>"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! My +own parent to call him 'unworthy!' and then forbid him to speak!"</p> + +<p>At this point a shriek from her lips would lift the father to his feet, the +cold 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 too +plainly of the wreck his cruel words had made, and he trembled lest only +the beginning of sorrows was upon him. How he blamed himself for being so +rash and precipitate; and, as Eveline sunk back in exhaustion, the awful +thought kept forcing itself into his mind:</p> + +<p>"If she dies, I am her murderer!" What a reflection for a parent over an +almost dying child! Who can measure the anguish it created in his breast?</p> + +<p>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—and +he, oh, he might never whisper a word of comfort in her ear! Poor man! For +all this there was no repentance in his soul; it was only regret and +remorse—but oh, remorse how bitter! Not that his belief was changed as to +the guilt and innocence of the parties, for he still had confidence in +Duffel, and was fully persuaded of Hadley's evil intentions. He was glad +that the designs of the latter had been frustrated, but blamed himself for +the manner in which it had been done.</p> + +<p>But the reflections of the unhappy man, whether of reproach, sorrow, or +regret, were ended for the time by another phase in the ever-changing +condition of the invalid. In tones expressive of the deepest wretchedness, +the daughter, once more arousing from the stupor of exhaustion, would +piteously exclaim, in low, sad accents, whose inexpressible woe pierced the +afflicted watcher's heart as with scorpion daggers:</p> + +<p>"Gone! gone!—gone without a parting word or look! Gone, and my aching eyes +shall behold him no more! Gone, and the darkness comes over me! Oh, this +horrid gloom!—this load on my heart! Father! Charles! why do you both +leave me in this dreadful place?"</p> + +<p>"Eveline, Eveline, my dear; your father is here; he has not left you; see, +I am by you; give me your hand."</p> + +<p>"Did somebody call me? Who is there?"</p> + +<p>"It is I, my child, your father. Come with me; let me lead you from this +place."</p> + +<p>"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!—and +father, he has left me too: they are gone, and I shall die here. Oh, what +will 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! I +would so much like to say farewell before I go. It might be some +consolation for him to know when I am gone that I love him still!"</p> + +<p>Every word of these last sentences went to the father's heart. How strong +must be that affection which could still cling to him so tenderly, though +he 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 down +by the bedside and prayed. It was the first prayer he had offered up for +years; but, oh! how earnestly he suplicated that his child might be spared +to him. In his agonized pleading, so great was the commotion in his spirit +and the emotions of his heart, that tears, the first that had bedewed his +eyes since <a name="Page_11" id="Page_11"></a>the death of his wife, streamed down his face. May we not hope +that his prayer was heard? But the horrors of the sick room were not yet +over. Eveline kept sleeping and waking, or rather, she lay in a state of +stupor or raved in a delirium of fever, with occasional intervals of quiet, +which sometimes lasted for hours, and excited delusive hopes in the heart +of the father, that she was better, only to plunge him again into doubt and +fear when the fever fit returned. He arose from his knees, and bending over +his child, imprinted kiss after kiss, "with all a mother's tenderness," +upon her brow and lips. O, how rejoiced would he have been could those +kisses have conveyed to her an understanding of his feelings at that +moment! How a knowledge of his affection would have gladdened her heart! +But, no; for all the return manifested, he might as well have pressed his +lips to cold marble. After a time, the fever returned in violence, and she +resumed her distempered and broken discourse:</p> + +<p>"Never! never! I will stay with you, if you wish me to; but marry Duffel, I +never will! Force me to? No, father, you cannot! You may drive me from your +house; you may turn me off and disown me, but you cannot make me perjure +myself before God at the altar. No, father, I will obey you in all else; in +this I cannot, and will not. If I were to go and forswear my soul in the +solemn rites of marriage, my adored mother would weep over me in sorrow, if +angels <i>can</i> weep in heaven. No, never, never!"</p> + +<p>"My child, my dear Eveline," said the father, tenderly endeavoring to quiet +her, "you need not fear that your father will be so cruel"—and he laid his +hand gently upon her, to assure her of his presence; but it had a contrary +effect from that he intended; she seemed to apprehend violence, and cried +out:</p> + +<p>"Help! help! They are dragging me away to marry a villain! Will no one help +me? Where is Charles? Leave me! help!" She began to scream very loudly, and +Mr. Mandeville knew not what to do. The doctor, however, opportunely came +at this moment, and administered a soothing potion, and she became quiet.</p> + +<p>This was the recurring succession of events in the sick chamber for the +first ten days of Eveline's illness; then there was a change; the violent +symptoms of disease were reduced, and a state of dreamy languor succeeded, +with rare intervals of excitement, and those of the mildest type; but +consciousness did not return, and the father had the satisfaction of +knowing that the secrets of the place were his own. He had now but little +fear that others would learn them, but this gleam of comfort was +overshadowed by the increased apprehensions that his child's sickness must +prove fatal. Indeed, hope had almost fled from his bosom, but he clung with +a death-grasp to the desire for her recovery, if for nothing else, that a +good understanding might exist between them. He could not endure the +thought of her leaving the world under a wrong impression of the <i>motives</i> +by which he had been actuated in the course he had pursued. As his long and +continued watching had worn him down, he now left the bedside frequently to +snatch a little rest, and recuperate his exhausted powers.</p> + +<p>And where was Hadley all this time? No fond mother ever hovered about the +cradle of her sick darling with deeper solicitude, than did he about the +residence of his beloved. He made friends of the nurse and maid, and from +them and the doctor kept himself advised of her condition. Oh, how his +heart ached to be by the bedside of the sufferer! How, at times, his spirit +rebelled at the injustice of the father! But when he was told of his +devoted attention, tireless care, and deep distress, he forgave him in his +heart and blessed him for his devoted kindness to the invalid.</p> + +<p>But where was Duffel? Let the sequel tell.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>DUFFEL—THE SECRET CAVE AND CLAN.</h3> + + +<p>For the first few days of her illness, Duffel came to inquire after +Eveline. Finding that she was likely to remain sick for a length of time, +if she ever recovered, he excused himself from further attentions by +pleading the necessity of a previous engagement, which would probably +require his absence for a week or possibly a fortnight. With apparently the +deepest solicitude for the recovery of Eveline and <a name="Page_12" id="Page_12"></a>of sympathy for Mr. +Mandeville, he took his leave.</p> + +<p>When a little way from the house, he muttered to himself:</p> + +<p>"Well, I am free from the necessity of keeping up appearances here any +longer. Now for the <i>cave</i>!"</p> + +<p>In a short time, he was threading his way through the forest, mounted on a +fine animal. A narrow path lay before him, which he followed for some +miles, and then turned into the untrodden wilderness and wound his way +through its trackless wastes. There were no signs indicating that the foot +of man or domesticated beast had ever pressed the earth in those solitary +wilds; yet Duffel seemed familiar with the place, as was evident from his +unhesitating choice of ways and careless ease. He knew by marks, to others +unseen, or, if seen, their significance unknown, that he was moving in the +right direction. Having traveled several miles in this way, he at length +came 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 at +a 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 with +unerring precision, notwithstanding the forest was so dense and overgrown +with underbrush as to render it almost impervious to sight, and to an utter +stranger a bewildering labyrinth, from whose mazes he might labor in vain +to extricate himself, unless, indeed, he possessed the almost instinctive +tact of the Indian, or the thorough knowledge of the most experienced +backwoodsman.</p> + +<p>Why Duffel was so obscurely careful in selecting his way, will presently be +seen. In the direction last taken, he traveled on until the sun was bending +to the western horizon, when he came to a thicket of bushes and vines, so +compact in growth it seemed an impossibility to enter it, even in a +crawling position, without the aid of an ax and pruning-knife. Glancing +this way and that, as if to assure himself that no one was near, a +precaution that might almost be set down as a useless exhibition of +timidity in that wild out-of-the-way place, so far from the habitation of +civilised man. Duffel, when satisfied that no human eye was upon him, +dismounted, and leading his steed by the bridle a short distance to the +left, paused, looked around him again, and then lifting a pendant prong of +a bush, with a very slight exertion of strength, he moved back a large mass +of vines and branches, which had been with great care and ingenuity, and at +the expense of much labor, wrought into a door or gate of living +durability.</p> + +<p>Through this gate-way he first sent his horse, then entered and passed +through himself, carefully shutting the verdure-hidden door behind him, and +no eye could discover the place where he had disappeared.</p> + +<p>From this entrance, a road, some five or six feet wide had been cut out +into the middle of the thicket, which was a large open area covered with +grass and shaded by bushy trees, of small altitude, with wide-extended +branches. Arrived at this spot, Duffel unsaddled his horse and turned him +loose to crop the luxuriant grass. A dozen others were there before him, +and as it was impossible that they should get there unaided, their riders +were no doubt somewhere near. But this was something expected by the +new-comer, as he manifested no surprise thereat, but appeared well pleased +at the discovery.</p> + +<p>After looking about to see that all was well, Duffel bent his steps toward +a certain point in the environing thicket, and lifting a small bough, +opened another verdant door, but this time of such small dimensions as to +barely admit a single person. A narrow path led away from this +artfully-contrived entrance into the dark and tangled recesses beyond. It +was now growing late; twilight was over the world, but it was quite dark +where the intertwined foliage of vines and branches wove their impenetrable +net above and at the sides of the lonely path, and Duffel was obliged to +feel his way with care. A few minutes' walk, however, brought him to the +border of a stream of some considerable size, the banks of which formed the +boundary of the thicket. Precisely at the spot where he reached the stream, +was a projecting rock, covered with a luxuriant growth of underwood, vines +and flowers, which overhung its outer edge and draped down, like a thick +curtain, to the depth of eight or ten feet. This rock extended some fifty +yards up the stream from the place where Duffel stood, and outwardly <a name="Page_13" id="Page_13"></a>about +an average of four feet. Its peculiar formation, however, was hid from view +by carefully trained bushes at its lower extremity. This care had been +taken to hide a secret passage, which led along the bank, under the +table-leaf rock just described.</p> + +<p>Duffel again took the precaution to cast wary looks about him, in all +directions; then parting the bushes at its opening, he entered the secret +passage under the rock and groped his way along. About midway, he came to a +pillar-like rock, which entirely blocked up the path. Turning sharply to +the left, he felt his way a short distance, and came to an aperture in the +wall-like stone. Here he paused a moment, and bent his ear in a listening +attitude; then gave three distinct raps upon some substance that filled up +the gap.</p> + +<p>"Who is there?" was demanded in a stern voice from within.</p> + +<p>"A friend," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"The pass-word."</p> + +<p>"<i>Death to traitors!</i>"</p> + +<p>"Enter!"</p> + +<p>And a massive door was thrown back, through which Duffel passed and found +himself in a dimly-lighted and damp entrance-way, which pursuing for a +short distance led him to a spacious cave, which was now brilliantly +illuminated by many lights that were reflected from a thousand polished +surfaces of crystalline rock. So soon as he entered, a sentinel-watchman, +whose duty it was to proclaim the names of all new-comers, announced him +thus:</p> + +<p>"Lieutenant Duffel!"</p> + +<p>"Welcome to the Secret Cave!</p> + +<p>"Welcome is a brother brave!" was the greeting he received from a score of +voices whose owners came forward and took him cordially by the hand.</p> + +<p>Most of the band there assembled were rather good looking men; but there +were a few dare-devil marked fellows, whose sinister countenances bore the +imprint of crime and an expression of anything but honesty or goodness; +hard-featured and hard-hearted, they had doubtless committed deeds +entitling them to a familiar acquaintance with the halter.</p> + +<p>Duffel had been in the cave but a short time, when the attention of all was +arrested by the announcement:</p> + +<p>"The captain! Let the brethren of the <i>Secret League</i> do him honor."</p> + +<p>Every one present immediately uncovered his head and stood up, observing +the most profound silence.</p> + +<p>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 the +outer or large cave by a narrow passage between two pillars of rock. A door +was nicely adjusted to work upon one and fasten upon the other of these +pillars. When shut, the most experienced eye, unless by the closest +scrutiny, could not detect its existence, so perfect was the workmanship, +and so exactly perfect in match of color with the surrounding walls of the +cavern. This inner room was set apart for the captain's special use, and no +one dared to enter it, except by his permission or invitation. More of it +hereafter.</p> + +<p>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 military +hat and epaulets which he wore, or omitted to wear, as circumstances or +inclination dictated. As he advanced from the door of his chamber, he was +respectfully 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 it +was an established custom among the members of the Secret Clan to conduct +all their affairs on the most republican plan. In certain cases, the +captain's word was law, and the penalty of disobedience to it, death; but +all the laws, rules, and regulations of the order were passed by a vote of +the clan.</p> + +<p>The captain himself was a full-sized and rather good looking man, with the +exception of a sinister expression of countenance, which instantly conveyed +the impression:—beware of him! Had Eveline been present, she would +instantly have recognized him as the stranger whom she had seen and heard +in conversation with Duffel.</p> + +<p>After he had taken his seat, Duffel was placed in one at his right, and +another of the staff in one at his left hand.</p> + +<p>"Is there any unfinished business before the order to-night?" demanded the +captain.</p> + +<p>"None," replied an individual who acted as secretary.</p> + +<p>"Any reports from committees?"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14"></a>"I have one from the committee appointed to investigate the charge +preferred against Mayhew, of treason to the order. It is brief, as follows: +The committee, on whom was imposed the duty of investigating the charges +entered against Philip Mayhew, beg leave to report, that they have had his +case under strict advisement, and after a careful examination of all the +evidence, and a patient hearing of his own allegations, found him guilty as +charged. He will give the order no more trouble—his tongue is silenced!</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">B. Hubbel</span>, <i>Ch'n.</i>"</p> + +<p>The report was accepted, and the committee discharged. No other written +report was made, and the captain said:</p> + +<p>"The secretary will burn the parchment containing the report just read, in +the presence of all the brethren, that they may know nothing remains on +record, which, under any possible contingency that might arise, could be +used against them."</p> + +<p>The paper was burned, as directed, in accordance with the usages of the +order.</p> + +<p>"What success have the brethren had in the way of <i>business</i> since our last +meeting?"</p> + +<p>"I have taken two horses," said one; "they are both in the stable of the +order."</p> + +<p>"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 the +purpose, in front of the captain. All moneys were placed there for +distribution.</p> + +<p>"Well done, Simon! How did you get the money? No foul play, I hope?"</p> + +<p>"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 the +money in my pocket."</p> + +<p>This brief history of rascality brought smiles to the faces of all present.</p> + +<p>"Here are five hundred dollars," said a third, bringing forward the cash; +"it was won at the 'table.'"</p> + +<p>Twenty others made similar reports, and when all the funds were handed +over, there was more than seven thousand dollars for distribution and +twenty horses in the "stable" of the clan.</p> + +<p>"An unusually profitable month's work," said the captain, when this branch +of the night's proceedings was finished. "I hope the brethren will not +weary in their efforts. What other business have we to transact? Are there +any cases of delinquency to report?"</p> + +<p>"If your honor please," said one of the hard-featured fellows before +mentioned, "I perceive Amos Duval is not with us to-night. Can any of the +brethren give an excuse for his absence?"</p> + +<p>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 relied +on—that, in his opinion, he was a traitor at heart, and would betray the +order at the first opportunity.</p> + +<p>"Are you aware," said the captain, "of the grave nature of the accusation +you have made? Permit me to remind you, gentlemen, one and all, that it is +made a crime by our laws, punishable by death, for one brother to accuse +another falsely."</p> + +<p>"I am well aware of our wholesome laws on this subject," said the +insinuating accuser; "I do not charge Duval with being certainly +disaffected, 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 in +my over-zeal for the good of the order I go too far in this matter, I crave +the forgiveness of the brethren."</p> + +<p>"We appreciate your motives, but advise great care and the possession of +very strong evidence of guilt, by the accuser, ere charges are preferred +against a member of our order. The rule on this subject must and shall be +enforced. Our worthy lieutenant, who often meets with our brother Duval, +will see him and ascertain the cause of his absence, as, also, his feelings +toward the order."</p> + +<p>The captain was evidently not well pleased with the course pursued by these +men in regard to Duval; most likely, he suspected there was a conspiracy +between them, having its foundation on some ill will these desperadoes had +conceived against the absentee. This was really the case, whatever were the +leader's thoughts. The two had sworn to stand by each other, in all times +of need and in all matters of rascality. Duval had unintentionally insulted +one of them, hence the insinuation against him in the order. Perhaps their +case will come up again in the course of our story. So soon as <a name="Page_15" id="Page_15"></a>this matter +was disposed of, the captain inquired:</p> + +<p>"Are there any applications for admission into our order?"</p> + +<p>"One, if you please," replied the secretary. "Abram Hurd wishes to become a +member with us."</p> + +<p>"Has he been adequately examined, as to his qualifications to be numbered +with us?"</p> + +<p>"He has, your honor, and the result is eminently satisfactory."</p> + +<p>"Will the order pass upon the application of Abram Hurd?"</p> + +<p>Voted affirmatively.</p> + +<p>"The tellers will attend to their duty." Two men came forward; each +received a box from the captain. One was empty; the other contained white +and black balls. These boxes were passed to every member; that containing +the balls first.</p> + +<p>"White balls elect; black ones reject," said the captain.</p> + +<p>When the voting was over, the result was announced: "All white."</p> + +<p>"Abram Hurd is then elected to become a member of our order, and will be +initiated at our next regular meeting. Let the brethren bear this in mind. +Is there any other business to be transacted?"</p> + +<p>"None."</p> + +<p>"The order then stands adjourned until the first Friday night of next +month."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>CONSPIRACIES.</h3> + + +<p>After the adjournment of the clan, the members collected together in +various little squads about the cave, and engaged in conversation, some in +a loud, braggadocio, swaggering tone, others in low, murmuring voices, +audible only to themselves, and still others in confidential whispers. Of +those who have figured heretofore in the incidents of this story, we may +mention the hard-featured, desperado-looking fellows who had conceived a +dislike to Duval, as being very earnestly engaged in some matter among +themselves, doubtless of a vile character; it would seem, too, from their +manner, that others than themselves were not to be admitted into their +counsels, or to know the nature of their scheme, be it what it might, for +they kept casting wary glances about on all sides, as if with the intention +of guarding their circle from intrusion, and their words from being heard +by ears for which they were not intended. All the clan, however, were too +busily engaged in concerns of their own, to notice others. This fact was +observed by the ruffians, and they became less reserved and cautious in +their movements. Had one been near them at the closing of their confab, he +would have heard this fragment of a conversation among them:</p> + +<p>"League or no League he's got to die!"</p> + +<p>"Better be careful, or you'll have the cap'n down on you."</p> + +<p>"—— the cap'n!"</p> + +<p>"Beware what you say! that is treason!"</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>"Come, come! be cool and don't make a fool of yourself; it can all be done +without so much bluster."</p> + +<p>But, as we are not so deeply interested in the proceedings of these fellows +as in some other of our characters, we will pass from them and their +villainous plot, whatever it may be, and look after Duffel and the captain.</p> + +<p>These two worthies had drawn aside, and were deeply absorbed in +confidential intercourse. As their conversation is of considerable +interest, we give a part of it:</p> + +<p>"Well, Duffel, how is that affair with Miss Mandeville prospering?"</p> + +<p>"Not so well as I could wish. The truth is I shall have a pretty hard time, +if my suit wins at all."</p> + +<p>"Indeed! I am sorry for that; for I was strongly in hopes of receiving a +little assistance from you in the way of cash. I have been at great expense +the past few months, and need a little aid just now, to finish the +necessary fixtures for our south-western branch. You know it takes a mine +to fit up a cave such as that was and is to be."</p> + +<p>"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 have +consummated the affair; but I am far less sanguine of success now than at +any previous time. Mr. Mandeville favors my suit, but the daughter has +taken a dislike to me and—"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16"></a>"Ho, ho! I thought you were always victorious with the women."</p> + +<p>"So I have been until now, and I am by no means vanquished yet, in this +instance; but I have a rival in the way, one, too, that had possession of +the citadel of her heart, ere I became a candidate for her hand; that makes +a great difference, you know; then, to make the matter worse, I knew +nothing about the state of the case until I had spent a length of time in +wooing, all to no purpose, because of my ignorance. But enough of this. If +worst comes to worst, rivals must be got out of the way."</p> + +<p>"Be guarded there, Duffel; a resort to foul means must never be had until +every other method has been 'tried and found wanting.' Remember that. One +murder will do more against us than fifty thefts or robberies."</p> + +<p>"I know all that, captain, and shall not peril the existence of our +organization, or even the safety of one of its members, except necessity +compels to the act; but I think there will be no need of adopting extreme +measures in the present case. I have a different plan of operations marked +out, which, with your assistance and approval, I will first act upon, and +if <i>it</i> fails, then something else afterward."</p> + +<p>"Well, proceed; I am all attention, and will not fail to render such +assistance as shall be in my power, though you know my time is limited."</p> + +<p>"I shall not draw upon you for much aid; an hour is all the time it will +require for your part of the performance. But before you can appreciate the +merits of my scheme, it is necessary that I should make some explanations. +You remember the conversation we held in old Marshall's garden?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Well, it turned out that Miss Mandeville was in the arbor and overheard a +part of what passed between us."</p> + +<p>"The devil she did!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but only enough to excite her suspicions that there was something in +the wind—nothing definite or satisfactory, so that we may consider +ourselves safe on that score."</p> + +<p>"But, between you and me, Duffel, I don't like these suspicions; they are +apt to lead to something worse."</p> + +<p>"True; but in this instance I think such will not be the result. However, I +must 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 the +circumstances, I think. As I said, Miss Mandeville heard a few words that +passed between us at the time referred to, and when, a short time +afterward, her father urged upon her the propriety of accepting me as a +suitor for her hand, she must needs tell him of this little incident!"</p> + +<p>"Worse and worse!"</p> + +<p>"Not so fast. I know it is bad, and I knew then that something of a +decisive kind must be done in order to relieve myself from the dilemma into +which this little untoward circumstance had placed me. I remembered that on +that occasion you were somewhat disguised, so that in your natural state, +or in any other disguise you might wish to assume, it would be impossible +to identify you as the same individual. Well, after long deliberation, and +the formation and abandonment of many projects, I finally had to settle +upon one, which, in your then appearance, compromised your character to +some degree; but I hope the course I pursued, notwithstanding this +unpleasant part connected with it, will meet your entire and cordial +approbation. Indeed, had I not felt certain of this, I should not have +adopted the measures I did."</p> + +<p>Here Duffel gave the captain a history of the events narrated in chapter +second. When he finished his recital, the captain said:</p> + +<p>"Why, Duffel, you are the very devil at a plot! I had no idea you could act +the part so well—I shall certainly use you hereafter. But now for the rest +of your scheme; if it is half as well matured as the first part, I shall +certainly join you in it with all my heart."</p> + +<p>"Well, you see, I have already deceived the old gentleman, but he must be +kept deceived; it will not do to let first impressions wear off, or all +will be lost. From all that I can learn, he is very tender toward his +daughter since her illness, and it is not unlikely will yield to her +wishes, if she recovers, more than he has done heretofore; but in order to +keep his suspicions of Hadley excited, while he still retains his good +opinion of your humble servant, his mind must be plied and his prejudices +<a name="Page_17" id="Page_17"></a>kept alive, so as to counteract the effect likely to be produced by a +father's feelings for a suffering child. In other words, the growing +sympathy for his daughter, must be met by a countervailing distrust and +aversion toward Hadley. To accomplish this I have hit upon the following +plan."</p> + +<p>Here he drew the captain still further from the others, and, in low and +smothered tones, imparted to him his scheme, which was no doubt a +villainous one, as it drew from his auditor and confidant an exclamation to +this effect:</p> + +<p>"By my soul, Duffel, you are an adept in these matters! I never dreamed of +your being so deep a plotter! The world and your friends, also, have done +you injustice by not giving you credit for so ample a development of such +rare 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?"</p> + +<p>"Taking everything into consideration, I think the best thing you can do +for us all is to go down south, or to St. Louis, and remain for a length of +time, perhaps till I send you word of what is transpiring in this part of +the world."</p> + +<p>"What will be done about our next meeting? You know we have an application +on hand."</p> + +<p>"Let the meeting be postponed; or, if you see fit, I will attend to the +initiation in your absence. Choose yourself between the two measures."</p> + +<p>"I will let you preside at the meeting, then; we have need of a few +additions to our number, when we can find the right kind of fellows; and +from all I can learn, this Hurd is made of the right stuff. See that +everything is done strictly in order."</p> + +<p>"I will attend to that. But had you not better announce this arrangement to +the members present? They are all here yet, I believe."</p> + +<p>In accordance with this suggestion, those of the clan present were notified +of the captain's probable absence at their next meeting, and that +Lieutenant Duffel would act in his place in the interim, to whom all +reports 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 of +things, again drew his superior aside, and said:</p> + +<p>"I have now a request to make of you, captain, which, if compatible with +your wishes and convenience, I hope you will see fit to grant."</p> + +<p>"I shall be most happy to grant anything in my power, be assured of that +fact."</p> + +<p>"I know your good will and generosity are great, or I should not ask the +favor I am about to crave, which is, that you will allow me the use of your +private room here during your absence. I have a particular reason for +desiring this favor."</p> + +<p>"I perceive so by your earnestness. I hardly know how to grant your +request, without delaying my departure."</p> + +<p>"Oh, never mind, then, I can manage to get along without it."</p> + +<p>"No, you shall have it. I mind now of a method by which all necessary +arrangements can be made to-night; and you may find it a very convenient +place to tame some obstinate fair one. Oh, not a word; I understand these +matters. Excuse me for a couple of hours, and I will bring you the key."</p> + +<p>With these words, the captain went to his room, into which he had no sooner +entered, than Duffel sought the presence of the desperadoes, two of +whom—the ones that had taken a dislike to Duval—he engaged in +conversation. When assured that no one was sufficiently near or attentive +to hear what passed between them, he said:</p> + +<p>"My good fellows, I see we are alone, and I should be pleased to have a +little private and confidential conversation with you."</p> + +<p>"We shall be happy to hear anything Lieutenant Duffel may be pleased to +communicate, and feel highly flattered by his confidence," replied one of +them, speaking for both.</p> + +<p>"Thank you. I presume it is not necessary for me to pledge you to secrecy +in regard to any transactions that may take place, either in word or deed, +as you will feel bound by honor to look upon all confidential +communications and proceedings as sacredly and faithfully to be kept in +your own bosoms."</p> + +<p>"You but do us justice in entertaining such opinions, and, without the +asking on your part, we most solemnly pledge our word, even unto death, +that what your <a name="Page_18" id="Page_18"></a>honor may please to say to us shall be kept a most +inviolable secret, which nothing shall extort from us."</p> + +<p>"I have always found you faithful, and have no hesitation in trusting you +again; but this time I have a peculiar request to make of you, one that may +lead to business out of the ordinary line of operations to which you have +been accustomed. Can I rely on you in any emergency?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, to the very death."</p> + +<p>"Are you easily moved by the tears and prayers of persons in distress?"</p> + +<p>"Do we <i>look</i> tender-hearted, your honor?"</p> + +<p>"Well, no; I can't say that you do; but then the looks are not always a +true criterion by which to judge of the heart. A smooth face and a hard +heart may go together, so may a rough visage and warm sympathies."</p> + +<p>"You may rely on us in that particular."</p> + +<p>"Even if the suppliant be a helpless and beautiful woman?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I must confess, I don't fancy meddling with feminines much. What do +you say to it, Dick; shall we pledge?"</p> + +<p>"Dang the women! It allers looked kinder cowardly to me to see men turn +agin' the weak things and abuse 'em; it don't seem nateral, but 'pears like +a feller didn't remember his mother, or his sisters, if he had any. But if +the lieutenant has any work to do, we'll do it, women or no women. Them's +my sentiments, Bill, exactly."</p> + +<p>"Give us your hand on it, then," said Bill. "And now, give us yours, +lieutenant, and the thing's settled."</p> + +<p>With this, they all shook hands in token of agreement, and thus their faith +was pledged. But what a rebuke Dick inadvertently administered to Duffel in +his quaint remarks! How his vicious heart, bad as it was, must have felt +the 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:</p> + +<p>"As you have already heard, our most worthy captain will be absent on +important business for some time to come, and during the period of his +absence the duties of command will devolve on me. I have long been +contemplating a measure, which, if carried out, will be of great and +lasting benefit to our order. In order to conduct the affair to a +successful termination, it may become necessary to imprison a female, a +young lady of great beauty and accomplishments, in this cave. I do not know +that it will require such extreme measures as this, I hope it will not, but +should it become needful to go to this extreme, I shall desire your aid in +carrying her off."</p> + +<p>"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 with +Amos Duval."</p> + +<p>"Of what nature? You know he is a member of the <i>League</i>, and that it is a +crime to lift a hand against him."</p> + +<p>"We know all about that; but Duval is a traitor at heart, and we can prove +him such."</p> + +<p>"Then proceed against him in the order, and I will stand by you."</p> + +<p>"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 against +him."</p> + +<p>Duffel could not but see that there was a discrepancy between the first and +last request of these fellows, though they tried to make them appear as +one, and he knew there was personal enmity at the bottom of the whole +affair. His duty, as a member of the order, made it obligatory for him to +discourage any ill feeling among the members; but he needed the services of +these two rascals, and so forbore to reprove them.</p> + +<p>"I will aid you as far as my duty to the League will permit, provided you +will do me still another service."</p> + +<p>"Name it."</p> + +<p>"There is a fellow standing in my way in the prosecution of a scheme for +the benefit of our order, and I would like to have him removed. I +understand you with regard to Duval; you wish to be revenged upon him for +some injury or insult, and that revenge looks to his death. You need not +say, yea or nay; well, we will stand by each other all around. I will give +you further instructions at another time. Hold yourselves in readiness at +any moment to aid me. Meet me in the forest by the old oak, on the path to +the 'Swamp,' every day, and be always prepared for either of the services I +may require at your hands."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19"></a>"You may rely on us."</p> + +<p>Thus these worthies parted. What a series of villainous conspiracies had +been developed in this one night, in that secret den of iniquity! Will +these murderers succeed in all their plans? Alas! the wicked often triumph.</p> + +<p>The captain soon returned, and placed the key of his room in Duffel's +possession—and then the clan dispersed.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>PLOTS DEVELOPING.</h3> + + +<p>"Charles, Charles! Where is Charles?"</p> + +<p>This name and inquiry were often repeated by Miss Mandeville as she still +lay "between life and death," on her couch of fever, pain and +unconsciousness, and the tones of her voice were so full of sorrow, the +father's heart melted at last, and he began to relent. And when, after a +pause, his daughter would continue:</p> + +<p>"He is gone! gone!—gone forever!—ah, my poor heart!"—in accents more +sadly plaintive than any words that had over fallen upon the parent's ear, +he said to himself:</p> + +<p>"It must not be! Hadley shall be, sent for; she loves him, and his voice +may call her back to consciousness. I cannot bear to think of her leaving +the world in ignorance of her father's good will; better a thousand times +that Hadley should be with her for a few hours. He may not be guilty after +all. Why ought I to believe Duffel's word before his? Yes, and before that +of my own daughter, too? and that without a word of explanation! No, it is +unnatural. I wonder I have been blinded so long! Yes, Hadley shall be +heard, and if he can show a clean hand, Eveline shall no longer mourn over +his absence and my rashness."</p> + +<p>This was going a step farther than Mr. Mandeville had ever gone before: for +he had never been known to recede from a position once taken or to change +an opinion once formed, unless the most positive evidence compelled him to +do so, and then it was a silent acquiescence to the right rather than a +willing change of opinion.</p> + +<p>But a long continuance in the sick room, and the great distress of his +child, had had an effect upon his mind, which no amount of reasoning could +have produced—he was constrained to acknowledge himself in error, and +brought his mind up to that point where he was willing to confess the wrong +he had perpetrated, by "undoing what he had done amiss." This was a great +achievement for one of his temperament—a conquest over self in a very +selfish and stubborn nature—which gave evidence that there was yet an +under strata of good, a foundation to the character of the man, which, +though covered up by the rubbish and rank growth of pride and other +unamiable dispositions, still existed, and was capable of exciting to good +and noble deeds.</p> + +<p>Having once gained the consent of his mind and formed a resolution to +retract, he was not long in taking the initiatory step toward amendment.</p> + +<p>He inquired of the maid and nurse if Hadley had been seen, and learned from +them that he had been in the daily practice of asking after the condition +of 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. No +sooner was Mr. Mandeville put in possession of this piece of news, than he +resolved to meet Hadley at the place of conference himself, and then and +there recall his words and invite him to the house, from which he had been +excluded so unjustly. Verily this was a change!</p> + +<p>Acting upon this resolve, he walked out in the direction of the place where +Hadley was expected to make his appearance. As he leisurely sauntered down +the path and neared the spot, his eye fell upon a piece of paper folded up +in the shape of a letter. He picked the document up and examined it. It was +directed in a bold hand to</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"<i>Charles Hadley</i>, —— ——, ——."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>On the back of the letter and above the seal were the words: "<i>Private and +strictly confidential</i>," placed in such a manner as to catch the eye at a +first glance on either side of the letter. The seal was broken and the +letter bore ample evidences of having been carefully and repeatedly read.</p> + +<p>An irresistable desire to examine the contents of this paper took +possession of Mr. Mandeville, and in spite of the breach of good manners, +and the violation of every principle of honor, he retired to an <a name="Page_20" id="Page_20"></a>obscure +corner of his garden, opened and read so much of the epistle as was +intelligible to him, which ran as follows:</p> + +<p>"<i>Dear Hadley</i>:—According to agreement, as entered into by us at our +conference in old Marshall's garden, I now impart to you the following +information, which you will receive at the hands of one of our most +trustworthy associates. You will please note the contents of this +communication, so as not to fail in the execution of that part of the +transaction assigned to you, and then burn the letter immediately, that you +may prevent the possibility of its falling into other hands, which would +lead to the most disastrous consequences—perhaps to the destruction of our +organization. When taken, bring the horses at once to the rendezvous, with +such other valuables as may come in your possession; and be sure that +everything is done secretly, and in such a manner as to avoid detection. Be +bold and determined in resolution, but cautious and guarded in action. +Yours, —— ——, Capt."</p> + +<p>The captain's name was written in characters, as well as all the body of +the letter, which Mr. Mandeville did not understand, and which were +evidently to be intelligible only to the members of some band of villains, +by whom the signs had been adopted as mediums of communication. At the +bottom of all was a line to this effect:</p> + +<p>"P.S. What will the old man say when he is gone? It will be using him right +for the scaly trick he served you so recently; eh!"</p> + +<p>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 his +countenance with a glow, left it in a moment. A dark frown settled upon his +brow and clouds of blackness over his face.</p> + +<p>All his former prejudice against Hadley returned in ten-fold strength; for +had he not the most positive proof of his villainy? Not a moment longer +waited he for an interview, but with the letter carefully stowed away in a +side pocket for future reference and use, he bent his steps back to his +house, revolving in his mind how to proceed in the present emergency. That +some great scheme of theft and robbery had been planned, with a design to +be speedily executed, was evident from the contents of the letter; but +where and when the act or acts were to be committed, it was impossible to +tell, and consequently, a very difficult matter to decide upon a course of +policy likely to thwart the designs of the rogues. After much reflection, +Mr. Mandeville concluded it was best to lay the case before the magistrate +and take legal advice how to proceed He did so. In a private conference +with that functionary, they talked over the matter. The justice was a +worthy man and a friend to Hadley, and though the evidence was overwhelming +and nearly positive of his guilt, yet he could not find it in his heart to +condemn the young man without a hearing, and was equally unable to get the +consent of his mind to make the matter public, thereby injuring the +reputation of his friend, until he could see and converse with him on the +subject. He advised Mr. Mandeville thus:</p> + +<p>"I think the best thing we can do is to keep an eye on the movements of +this young man, Hadley, as well as upon others who may be associated with +him, if he is the villain he is here made to appear. If we institute +proceedings against him, we have only this letter to rely upon, which is +not sufficient to convict him, as there is no legible name at the bottom of +it, and no witness to corroborate the statements. If he is guilty, +premature action will give him all advantages, and enable him to clear +himself; whereas, by instituting a strict surveillance over his acts, we +may be able to get at the truth of the matter, and can then act +understandingly in the case."</p> + +<p>Mr. Mandeville coincided with the magistrate, and then they agreed to keep +the matter strictly to themselves for the present.</p> + +<p>"Shall I retain the letter?" inquired the justice.</p> + +<p>"No, I wish to use it, first, and will then leave it with you," was the +reply—and thus the matter was settled between them.</p> + +<p>While the events just related were transpiring, and at the very hour when +Mr. Mandeville was consulting the man of law, Duffel was engaged with his +two ruffian associates in a plot of villainy, which, for deep cunning and +calculation, was superior to anything he had yet conceived and carried out, +though it was but <a name="Page_21" id="Page_21"></a>a link in the chain of criminal acts he had forged out +and was about to follow up. The two held their consultation in the +tongueless and earless solitude of a dense swamp, where none could hear +their words or learn the purport of their schemes and give warning.</p> + +<p>"You understand about the horses, do you?" queried Duffel, after he had +been explaining some intended operation, in which horses were to be stolen.</p> + +<p>"Yes, fully," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"Well, the horses will be missed, and, of course, it will be known that +<i>somebody</i> has taken them. I have a measure to propose which will throw +suspicion on the wrong track and relieve us from any fear of being charged +with the theft or even suspected of guilt."</p> + +<p>"That's the sort! do the killing and get the halter around some other +rascal's neck. Let us hear your proposition, lieutenant."</p> + +<p>"You have not forgotten that I mentioned to you in the cave the other +evening, that I might need your services in getting rid of a troublesome +fellow who was in my way. I did not then expect to need your services so +soon, if at all, in this branch of our agreement; but, as the horse +business is agreed upon, and as the fellow may possibly be something of a +hindrance to my plans of operation in the future, I think this will be a +first-rate occasion on which to dispose of him. As I said, somebody will be +accused of stealing the horses, and as it is known that you, gentlemen, +have recently been in these parts, and as suspicion has long since pointed +to 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 this +instance, unless, by some master-stroke of policy, you can fairly show that +you are not guilty. Do you see this?"</p> + +<p>"It all looks mighty likely, certain."</p> + +<p>"Don't it look more than likely? Don't it look just as if it could not be +otherwise?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes; it does look so, that's a fact."</p> + +<p>"Of course you would like to cast the blame somewhere else?"</p> + +<p>"We would, that's certain."</p> + +<p>Well, you can do it. I have already prepared the way, and if you will +follow my instructions to the letter, the thing is done?"</p> + +<p>"Give us our parts and we will act them to the life," said Bill, who had +been spokesman for both, as was usual at such times.</p> + +<p>"Ay," said Dick, "and to the death, too, I guess."</p> + +<p>"Quite likely, quite likely!" rejoined Duffel. "Do you think you will have +the nerve to perform this extreme act Should it become necessary?"</p> + +<p>"Does Lieutenant Duffel take us to be cowards, that he makes such a +white-livered insinuation?"</p> + +<p>"By no means; I only wished to know if you were <i>now</i> prepared for any +emergency that might come up?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, any time and always. Go on."</p> + +<p>"My plan is this: So soon as the horses are in our possession, we must +convey them to the middle of the 'Swamp,' and be back by morning, or noon +at furthest, <i>and show ourselves</i>. If we are about early, say as soon as +possible after the animals are missed, and <i>take part in the search</i>, few, +if any, will think of us as being the thieves, as they are pleased to term +such operators, while we can, at the same time, turn the hunt after the +horses in the direction in which they are not to be found, if we can do so +without exciting suspicions of our aims. Mark that! we must be cautious and +not overdo the thing, or it will be worse for us than to do nothing."</p> + +<p>"We understand."</p> + +<p>"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 +<i>he must not be about</i>. You comprehend?"</p> + +<p>"Perfectly."</p> + +<p>"Well, I have the sheep already prepared for the sacrifice."</p> + +<p>"Who is he, and where will we find him?"</p> + +<p>"<i>Charles Hadley</i> is the man, and you will find him just in the right +place—the dark passage in the road to C——; he passes that point every +night about nine or ten o'clock. You know what to do with him."</p> + +<p>"Would it not be as well to carry him to the save and imprison him? You +know, it would not be murder, then."</p> + +<p>"I had thought of that; but if we take him there, it will not do to let him +out <a name="Page_22" id="Page_22"></a>again, for, if we did, it would be the end of us all; so we should +have to both imprison and murder him in the end, which would be much worse +than to put him out of the way at once, let alone the risk attending the +plan you suggest."</p> + +<p>"Right."</p> + +<p>"You see, then, we will have some one on whom to lay the theft?"</p> + +<p>"Exactly! Huzza for Lieutenant Duffel!"</p> + +<p>"Silence!"</p> + +<p>"I beg pardon."</p> + +<p>"Remember the time, next Thursday night, and don't fail to be at the 'dark +passage' in time."</p> + +<p>"We'll be there, don't fear; and the thing shall be done up handsomely."</p> + +<p>"But what's to be done with the feller's body when he's dead, I'd like to +know?" interposed Dick.</p> + +<p>"Sure enough," replied Duffel; "I had forgotten to instruct you on that +point. Take him to the sink in that black swamp, and be sure to make him +<i>stay under</i>. We want no tell-tale carcasses showing themselves."</p> + +<p>"You need have no fears on that point; once there and he'll never see the +light again, nor the light him."</p> + +<p>"I will now leave you to make such arrangements between yourselves as may +be necessary for the work before you. Leave nothing incomplete, and be +punctual to the very minute in every instance."</p> + +<p>With this parting injunction, Duffel left his villainous companions, who +began at once to prepare themselves for the dastardly business their +superior had allotted to them in his schemes of rascality and black-hearted +crime. This was Monday, in the afternoon, and consequently, but three days +until Hadley was to be waylaid and slain, and immediately afterward +somebody's horses stolen and run off, the crime of stealing which was to be +laid upon the murdered man. This was a plot worthy of the wretch who +conceived it, and, with the aid of villains as unscrupulous as himself, was +about to be put in execution.</p> + +<p>From the moment the command of the "<i>Order of the League of Independents</i>" +(it ought have been named the Order of the League of Murderers and +Horse-Thieves) was vested in him, during the captain's absence, he had +resolved to make the most of his time and authority to bring all his plans +to a crisis and an issue. Hadley was to be disposed of; Mandeville was to +be blinded, his daughter, through him, forced to wed the rascal, or, +failing in this, <i>she</i> was to be forced into measures, by fair means or +foul, of which hereafter.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Friday morning was ushered in amid clouds and storm. The heavens were +shrouded 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 not +retire until some hours past midnight. Having been deprived of so much +rest, during the previous two weeks and more, his slumbers were unusually +heavy, and it was a late hour in the morning when he awoke, and the dismal +weather adding to his drowsiness, he continued to lay and rest after +consciousness had returned. His half-waking, half-dreaming meditations were +broken in upon by a gentle tap at his bed-room door. In a moment he was +wide awake, care for his child having quickened his senses, and demanded if +Eveline was any worse.</p> + +<p>"No, sir," was the reply, "it is only Mr. Duffel, who has called and +inquired for you."</p> + +<p>"Tell him I will be down in a few minutes."</p> + +<p>Wondering what could bring his visitor at such an early hour, Mr. +Mandeville hastily dressed and went into the parlor, where he met and was +saluted by Duffel in the most cordial manner.</p> + +<p>"I reached home at a late hour last night," said the hypocrite, "and felt +so great an anxiety to hear from you and your daughter, I could not wait +for the storm to abate, but hastened at this unseasonable hour to inquire +after her welfare and yours. I hope I have not intruded so far but that you +will pardon my unfashionable call and seeming impatience. How is Eveline?"</p> + +<p>"You are always welcome, come at what hour you may. I can hardly answer +your last question; I think Eveline is better in some respects, but she is +greatly reduced, and when the fever leaves, will, doubtless, be very +weak.—I both hope and fear for her. The fever will run its course, and if +she has <a name="Page_23" id="Page_23"></a>constitution enough to outlive it and recuperate, she will +recover; otherwise the result will be fatal."</p> + +<p>"It is impossible, then, for the most skillful and far-seeing to foretell +the issue?"</p> + +<p>"Quite impossible. Will you now excuse me for a short time? I have not +looked after my stock this morning."</p> + +<p>"With pleasure."</p> + +<p>Mr. Mandeville left his guest around whose mouth a peculiar smile was +playing as he passed out at the door. That smile had a meaning.</p> + +<p>After a brief absence the host returned, and in some consternation +announced that his best horse had been stolen during the night.</p> + +<p>"Is it possible!" said Duffel, feigning the utmost surprise. "What villain +could take advantage of the sickness of your daughter, to plan and execute +such a cowardly act?"</p> + +<p>"I am persuaded there are more than one connected with these thefts; +indeed, I may say, I know there are numbers of thieves infesting the +country. 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 I +have every reason to believe."</p> + +<p>"That will exactly correspond with what I told you in the interview to +which you allude."</p> + +<p>"True."</p> + +<p>"Have you seen him lately?"</p> + +<p>"I have not."</p> + +<p>"Can he be found this morning?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, I perceive your thoughts are running in the same direction as my own. +We will inquire after him."</p> + +<p>The inquiries were instituted, but no Hadley was to be found; he had left +the day previous, but no one could tell whither he had gone, or what had +called him away. When these facts were ascertained, Mandeville and Duffel +exchanged a significant glance, as much as to say: "Just as we expected!"</p> + +<p>The horse stolen was one of great value, and Mr. Mandeville was resolved to +make a desperate effort to recover him; and he was the more fixed in this +determination, because the horse was intended as a gift to Eveline on her +recovery, in case she <i>did</i> recover, and, also, because, as he believed, +the detection of the culprit would expose the baseness of her lover to his +daughter, and cause her to discard him at once from her thoughts.—Full of +these thoughts, he offered a handsome reward for the horse, and a very +large one for the apprehension of the thief. In prospect of obtaining these +rewards, as well as to render a service to community, some six individuals +banded themselves together with the avowed intention of ferreting out the +matter, and immediately set out for that purpose.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>FATHER AND DAUGHTER—DUFFEL.</h3> + + +<p>A few days after the transactions recorded in the preceding chapter, the +fever left Eveline, and consciousness was restored to its empire and reason +to its throne. But alas! what a wreck of her former self she was! Mr. +Mandeville could scarcely restrain his tears while gazing upon her pallid +countenance and wasted form. She was helpless as a child, and so weak it +was feared the recuperative powers were exhausted, and she must die from +prostration; but a day or two of careful nursing, aided by cordials and +tonics, 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 her +father. How lightly his heart beat in his bosom, as the child of his pride +and affection leaned upon his arm, as he gently led her whither she desired +to go.</p> + +<p>She had a little arbor in the garden, the vines about which had been +carefully 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 there +that she and Hadley had spent most of their happy hours. So soon as she had +sufficient strength to bear the fatigue, she requested to be taken there, +and her wish was granted. What a throng of memories came crowding through +her mind as she once more sat in that verdant bower! Every flower had a +tongue and a reminiscence, and the entire place and scene spoke of the past +in language mute but eloquent. How her heart beat with excitement, as the +many associations of other days rushed over her spirit with the lightening +wings of thought, and awakened <a name="Page_24" id="Page_24"></a>emotions of joy and grief. While with the +past she was happy; but when the cheerless present occupied her mind, +sadness filled her heart, while shadows gathered upon her brow, and tears +in her eyes.</p> + +<p>The father saw all this, for he watched the changes of her countenance with +the deepest solicitude. When he noted the saddened expression that came +over it, his heart was heavy, for he divined the cause. How his feeling of +bitterness toward Hadley increased, as he saw the wreck of happiness he had +made; and how he longed to expose the blackness of his character to his +infatuated daughter! He felt certain that his child would cease to regard +him as she had done, the moment she was put in possession of the facts +which so clearly established his guilt. But it would cost her a severe +struggle, and he feared she was yet too weak to sustain the shock.</p> + +<p>At length, however, as he perceived that internal grief was preying upon +her spirits, it occurred to him that the evil resulting from this eating +sorrow, which was brooded over in secret, would be greater in the end than +the quick pang, though it should be sharp and powerful for an hour or a +day. Approaching her affectionately, and with great tenderness of manner, +he said:</p> + +<p>"You are sad, Eveline; you are not happy, I know you are not; and yet you +do not confide your sorrow to me. Is this kind, my dear?"</p> + +<p>"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:</p> + +<p>"May I share my daughter's grief?"</p> + +<p>"Father, father, do not wound my heart afresh! I fear me now it will never +heal!"</p> + +<p>"Eveline, child, you misunderstand me. God forbid that I should add to your +sorrow; my only desire is to relieve and heal!"</p> + +<p>"May I indeed trust in my father? Oh, what a question to ask myself! Yet—"</p> + +<p>"Yet what? Speak fully, and let us for once open our hearts to each other +without reserve."</p> + +<p>"Yet I fear I have had cause to make the inquiry."</p> + +<p>"I fear so too, my dear; but let us now understand each other. I hope much +from such an understanding."</p> + +<p>"What would you draw from me?"</p> + +<p>"The secret of your unhappiness."</p> + +<p>"Do you not know it already?"</p> + +<p>"I surmise the cause."</p> + +<p>"And you think—"</p> + +<p>"I <i>fear</i> it is because you love Charles Hadley."</p> + +<p>"Why do you <i>fear</i> that is the cause?"</p> + +<p>"Because he is unworthy of your love."</p> + +<p>"Oh, do not say so! Is poverty a mark of unworthiness?"</p> + +<p>"No, it is not; if he was only poor I would give my consent to your union +to-day; but I am sorry to say he is wicked as well as poor."</p> + +<p>"What mean you? You surely can allege nothing against one so noble, and +possessed of such pure principles, as Charles Hadley?"</p> + +<p>"Alas, my daughter, he has basely deceived you."</p> + +<p>"Father!"</p> + +<p>"I would not say so on slight grounds, but it is too sadly true."</p> + +<p>"I must have proof, strong proof, ere I can believe that he is false."</p> + +<p>"Could you bear such an exposure?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Then you shall have the evidence of his guilt at once."</p> + +<p>Saying this, he produced the letter before spoken of, and placed it in her +hands for perusal.</p> + +<p>It would be impossible to describe Eveline's feelings while examining the +contents of the letter. At first, the evidence appeared so conclusive and +overwhelming her strong faith in her lover was shaken; but a second reading +and second thoughts restored her confidence, yet she could hardly account +for the change in her feelings and judgment, the evidence was just as +strong as before, and she could not help acknowledging the fact; she only +knew that she <i>felt</i> Hadley was innocent; and she would trust this +intuitive conviction in preference to any anonymous communication that +could be produced against him. But what should she say to her parent? How +could she impress him with her own feelings, or even fix a doubt of +Hadley's guilt in his mind? While she was revolving these things in her +mind, Mr. Mandeville kept his eye upon her, and noted every change of +expression that passed over her face. At length he said:</p> + +<p>"What do you think of that?"</p> + +<p>The question found her still in doubt as to what she should say in defense +of her <a name="Page_25" id="Page_25"></a>lover, but with the query came decision of purpose, and she readily +replied:</p> + +<p>"I think it is a forgery."</p> + +<p>"A forgery?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, so far as Hadley is concerned. I do not believe he has ever seen it."</p> + +<p>"You surely do not believe I would be guilty of such baseness as your words +imply."</p> + +<p>"Oh! no, no; I do not for a moment doubt your good faith and perfect +sincerity; but I think you are deceived. How did you get possession of this +document?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I must confess, not in the most upright manner, or rather, my +knowledge of that portion of its contents which is intelligible, was +obtained ignobly; but I cannot blame myself for the act, since it has +placed such important facts at my disposal."</p> + +<p>Here he related the circumstance of finding and reading the letter, and +then added:</p> + +<p>"You see the whole train of circumstances renders it impossible that Hadley +should not be the one to whom the letter was addressed. I found it just in +the place where he was in the habit of coming, a spot that no one else +frequented, and so secluded as to forbid the idea of a casual passenger +dropping it. Beside, where is there another person of the same name?"</p> + +<p>"I frankly own there is a mystery connected with the subject which I cannot +explain, but that mystery does not convince me of Hadley's guilt."</p> + +<p>"What incredulity! What stronger evidence do you want to convict him?"</p> + +<p>"I desire positive assurance that the letter was actually written to and +for him; at present I do not believe that it was."</p> + +<p>"Love is truly blind!"</p> + +<p>"Love?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"What has that to do with the case under consideration?"</p> + +<p>"It is not worth while for you to disguise the fact that you have loved +Hadley; I know that you do or did, and your own heart knows full well how +much it has suffered through that love. Alas, that I, your own father, +should have caused you so much anguish!"</p> + +<p>"Does my father really say that?"</p> + +<p>"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 upon +my ear while watching by your bedside, I think you could find it in your +heart to forgive me for the unintentional wrong, it was my misfortune, and +not my wish, to inflict upon you."</p> + +<p>"Father, I have wronged you," said she, leaning forward and winding her +arms about his neck. "Forgive me for accusing you of cruelty and unkindness +in my thoughts."</p> + +<p>"You had cause for such accusation, though it was farthest from my thoughts +to injure you. I did, however, once think of forcing you to wed Duffel, and +this is the only real wrong I meditated against you, and I was persuaded it +was for your good; but I see differently now—you shall never be coerced +into a union with any man against your will."</p> + +<p>"Thank you for that assurance; it relieves me from one source of disquiet."</p> + +<p>"I am entitled to no thanks; it is not a parent's prerogative to use +violence in such cases, though I once held differently. And let me here say +to you, that in all I have done my <i>motives</i> were pure. I desired your good +above all else, and that I was endeavoring to procure happiness for you in +the wrong way was only an error of judgment, the incorrectness of which I +now see clearly."</p> + +<p>"How much I have misunderstood you, and how much you have misconceived your +own heart."</p> + +<p>"True; the world, and the opinions of worldly men, had almost buried up the +good that was in me; but the light of Heaven has shone into my spirit, the +fog is dispelled, and I see where I have departed from the right way."</p> + +<p>"Thank Heaven for that!"</p> + +<p>"I hope, now that we understand each other, I may dare to make a request of +you, which you may or may not feel free to grant."</p> + +<p>"Name it."</p> + +<p>"It is this, that you will hold no communication with Hadley until this +matter is satisfactorily cleared up, or until he can show that he is +innocent of the crimes this letter would fasten upon him."</p> + +<p>"If it is your wish I will do so, though I should be pleased to know what +he could say in his own favor. I feel strongly confident he will be able to +prove himself innocent of all and any participation in the <a name="Page_26" id="Page_26"></a>many thefts and +other villainies which have of late become so common. Where is he now?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, there it is again! I have not told you that Tom was stolen some time +ago."</p> + +<p>"Tom stolen!"</p> + +<p>"Yes; he was taken very soon after this letter came into my possession, and +Hadley has never been seen or heard of since!"</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"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 strong +reasons for believing him guilty, as held out in this letter?"</p> + +<p>"I must confess, this last piece of intelligence staggers my faith."</p> + +<p>"You will now begin to understand why I took such decided steps toward him, +as a visitor here, on that memorable occasion which resulted so +disastrously. I had the strongest assurance of his being associated with +bad men for bad purposes, ere I forbid him the house. I only regret that I +acted so precipitately. I hope, however, all will come right in the end."</p> + +<p>"God grant that it may."</p> + +<p>Here their intercourse was interrupted by the announcement that Duffel had +called and inquired for Mr. Mandeville.—They returned to the house, and +the two gentlemen had a private interview to the following effect:</p> + +<p>"How is Eveline?" inquired Duffel.</p> + +<p>"I am happy to say she is very much better."</p> + +<p>"I am truly glad to hear that she is convalescing. What do you think is the +state of her feelings in certain delicate matters?"</p> + +<p>"I am persuaded her good opinion of Hadley has received a shock from which +it will never recover. That letter, in connection with his present +disappearance, was too much for her faith."</p> + +<p>"And well it might be! I do not see how any one could doubt his guilt in +the face of such evidence."</p> + +<p>"Yet I think Eveline does doubt; but that the doubt will soon give place to +full conviction, I am quite sure. Once you can fix a partially formed +belief of crime in the mind, and if the evidence continues, especially if +it accumulates, there is a moral certainty of its producing the effect we +desire in the present instance."</p> + +<p>"How long do you suppose it will take Eveline to forget any preference she +may have had for Hadley?"</p> + +<p>"I do not know."</p> + +<p>"Do you not think the exercise of a little paternal authority would +accelerate the accomplishment of your wishes? I hope you will pardon me if +the suggestion is ill-timed or out of taste; it is made in accordance with +a declaration to that effect you will remember to have made to me a short +time previous to your daughter's illness."</p> + +<p>"I have not forgotten the declaration to which you allude; it was made in +the heat of a moment of excitement; but I am frank to own that it was then +my determination to use parental authority toward Eveline, in case it +became necessary to do so, in order to bend her will to my purposes. This +intention I have entirely abandoned. I have reflected more dispassionately +on the subject; and I now see clearly that my daughter has rights as well +as myself, and that first in importance among these, is the right to bestow +herself in marriage to whom she chooses. I will continue to give you my +influence, but I have already pledged her my word that she shall be free to +make her own selection of a husband."</p> + +<p>"You are right, sir, right. I see wherein we have both erred in our former +views; but then we were blinded, at least I was; for you know love has +always been blind. I must crave your pardon, as I would the forgiveness of +Eveline, were she present, for having entertained so unjust a thought +toward her for a single moment. Be assured, if she cannot be won by +gentleness and love, I shall never consent to make her my wife, though she +is dearer to me than life itself."</p> + +<p>"Very well; I still feel that all will come out right, and that a peaceful +calm of sunshine will succeed the season of storm and clouds; but we must +not 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 it +would be advisable for you to urge your suit to her; her mind is not yet +prepared to receive you with that degree of favor desirable."</p> + +<p>"I shall act in the matter as your <a name="Page_27" id="Page_27"></a>better judgment and clearer perception +shall dictate, and hope for the best."</p> + +<p>And thus the interview ended. How strange that Mr. Mandeville should be so +easily deceived in regard to Duffel! and how debasingly hypocritical was +the dissembling villain! Will he never be overtaken by his crimes?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE "DARK PASSAGE"—THE THEFT.</h3> + + +<p>On the appointed night, the two ruffians, Bill and Dick, repaired to the +"dark passage," according to arrangement, and with daggers and pistols (the +latter only to be used in case of necessity, as the report of firearms +might lead to detection,) awaited the arrival of their victim. About nine +o'clock, the sound of horses' feet, approaching at a rapid gait, gave them +to understand the hour of their deadly work was at hand. Taking their +stand, one on either side of the road, they silently awaited the horseman's +coming.</p> + +<p>It was a dismal place, a low, wet valley, densely shaded and overgrown by +trees, whose thick foliage scarcely admitted a single sunbeam to penetrate +to 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 were +all fully matured, even down to the minute details. They were both to +spring out and seize the horse by the bridle; then, while Bill held the +animal, Dick was to strike the fatal blow to the heart of the rider. Not a +word was to be spoken. As the man entered the passage, his pace was +slackened, and he kept his eye about him, as if in fear of an attack. When +within about a hundred yards of the concealed assassins, Bill whispered to +his companion across the road:</p> + +<p>"Now, Dick, make sure work of it; let the first blow tell the tale, while +it silences his tongue!"</p> + +<p>"Never fear for me; take care of your own part, and I'll do the same by +mine," was Dick's reply.</p> + +<p>In a few seconds, the horseman came abreast of the ambuscaders, both of +whom sprang out at the same moment, and seizing the bridle-reins, checked +the horse so suddenly as to throw him back on his haunches, to the imminent +peril of the rider, who was nearly thrown from his seat. In a moment, the +glittering blade of steel was at his breast. Just then, the moon broke +through 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.</p> + +<p>"By Jove! it's the wrong man!" exclaimed Dick, as he lowered his blade and +looked at Bill inquiringly.</p> + +<p>"So it is!" said Bill; and then, addressing the stranger, continued: "Beg +pardon, sir, for our interruption. We have mistaken you for a notorious +villain, thief, and robber, who was to pass this way to-night, and who, as +the laws are too weak to protect us, we have determined to punish +ourselves. The fact is, these, horse-thieves must be dealt with, and that +speedily, too, or there will be no such thing as safety for our stock. For +our parts, we have resolved to defend our property at all hazards, and +others will have to do the same thing, or keep nothing of their own, for +these thieves are banded together, and they are so numerous, and some of +them so respectable, it is impossible to convict them before a jury; they +swear each other off. Hope you will not think evil of our plans."</p> + +<p>"To tell the truth, gentlemen, (for I take you to be gentlemen in +disguise,) there is too much reality in what you say. I fear we shall have +to take the law into our own hands, for these depredators are becoming so +numerous and bold, there is no telling to what length their wickedness may +run. These thieving operations <i>must</i> be stopped, cost what it may; but it +seems to me this is a bad place to commence the work; it looks too much +like secret murder. When I have recourse to the last resort in defense of +my property it will be upon my own promises, and while the villains are in +the act of crime."</p> + +<p>"That is doubtless the best method in all ordinary cases; but the rascal +whom we were expecting to pass this way to-night is too cunning to be +caught at his work. He is well known to be guilty, and has more than once +been arrested and tried; but always with the same result; his friends have +sworn him clear; and <a name="Page_28" id="Page_28"></a>now, we've sworn he shall go free no longer."</p> + +<p>"Well, be careful, and don't kill the wrong man."</p> + +<p>"We'll take care. Excuse the manner in which our introduction was made."</p> + +<p>"Certainly, gentlemen, certainly; but don't miss your man again."</p> + +<p>"We'll not."</p> + +<p>"Good night."</p> + +<p>"Good night, and a pleasant journey for you."</p> + +<p>The man rode on and was soon out of hearing. He was the more easily +deceived as to the character of his assailants, because he knew that the +sentiments they expressed were held almost universally by the honest +portion of the community, and already several thieves had been shot at, +some of whom were known to have been wounded, though not fatally. The +miscreants knew this state of public feeling, and hence their ruse. When +the man was beyond hearing, Bill said, exultingly:</p> + +<p>"Didn't I wool the fellow's eyes beautifully?"</p> + +<p>"It was well done, Bill, well done—the best job you ever bossed. But say, +do you know the man?"</p> + +<p>"No, not from the devil."</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, it's 'Squire Williams, sure's I'm a living son of my mother!"</p> + +<p>"'Squire Williams?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is. I've known him ever since I had such hard work to get off from +him; 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's +I, it won't do."</p> + +<p>"It's well you come to that conclusion; we don't want over one dead man on +our hands at once. But say, what shall we do?"</p> + +<p>"Wait a while longer for that Hadley, and if he don't come, then go to meet +Duffel."</p> + +<p>This suggestion was accordingly acted upon. After remaining nearly three +hours longer for their victim, who came not, they repaired to the place of +rendezvous, to report to their employer and superior, and finish up the +other branch of the night's business.</p> + +<p>Arrived at the spot, they found Duffel pacing up and down in a state of +impatience and disquietude. So soon as he was cognizant of their presence, +he inquired:</p> + +<p>"How now? What has kept you so late? Is all right?"</p> + +<p>"If your honor will take breath a moment between the questions, we will +endeavor to answer them," replied Bill.</p> + +<p>"Well, proceed. Did you do the job?"</p> + +<p>"No, not exactly as laid down in the bill, but—"</p> + +<p>"What! did you let him go?"</p> + +<p>"Why, no, your honor, we didn't let him go, for the very good reason that +he didn't give us a chance to show him so much mercy."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"You see the fellow didn't come himself, but sent a substitute!"</p> + +<p>"The deuce, he did! How's that?"</p> + +<p>"That's what we can't tell; we only know, that instead of young Hadley, we +came within an ace of killing 'Squire Williams!"</p> + +<p>"'Squire Williams!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir. He came along at the precise hour that should have brought the +other, and it being too dark to distinguish one man from another, or from +old Nick for that matter, we fell on to him, and but for the merest chance +would have finished him."</p> + +<p>Here the enactment of the early part of the evening was rehearsed in full.</p> + +<p>"It is well you got off so easily, and I must give you credit for your +ingenuity; 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 with +the rest of our work."</p> + +<p>"What hour of the night is it?"</p> + +<p>"About one o'clock; and that reminds me of the fact that we will not have +time to take all the stock to-night; we shall, therefore, confine our +operations to a single item—the taking of Mandeville's horse."</p> + +<p>"Mandeville's?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; why not?"</p> + +<p>"I thought your honor was playing for another stake in that quarter?"</p> + +<p>"And if I am?"</p> + +<p>"Why, I just thought it was a queer way of gaining the old gentleman's good +will—that thing of taking his horse."</p> + +<p>"Not so queer as you might think for."</p> + +<p>"Oh! I remember now; excuse me; <a name="Page_29" id="Page_29"></a>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 not +perceive this delicate undercurrent in the plan of affairs. Lieutenant +Duffel against the world, I say!"</p> + +<p>"Silence! Dick, you are familiar with Mr. Mandeville's premises, I +believe?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, tolerably so."</p> + +<p>"Well, I want you to bring Tom here in about half an hour; and do the job +up nicely, too."</p> + +<p>"I'll try, sir."</p> + +<p>"You must <i>do</i> it. Be quick; it is going to rain soon, and we must get him +away before the tracks will show; but don't so much as disturb the sleeping +grasshoppers by your noise."</p> + +<p>"All right."</p> + +<p>"Go now, and be here again in the shortest possible time. Bill and I will +arrange matters for future operations while you are gone."</p> + +<p>Dick hastened away to do the bidding of his master, and Duffel communicated +to Bill the following piece of intelligence:</p> + +<p>"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 on +the subject. I learned that Hadley received intelligence that his mother +and uncle were both sick and not expected to recover.—They live in +Philadelphia: the uncle, his mother's brother, a bachelor, by the way, with +whom she is living, is reputed wealthy, and, it is said, has willed his +property to young Hadley. The news of these events was brought to him +yesterday, and he made immediate preparations to go east, but did not +expect to get off until this morning. I presume, however, he must have +started yesterday in the after part of the day; but be this as it may, I +wish you and Dick to follow after him, and don't fail to finish him somehow +and somewhere. If you could only manage to get ahead of him and waylay him +at some point in the mountains, it would be the best place for you to do +the deed and conceal the commission of the act."</p> + +<p>"Yes, if he should be alone."</p> + +<p>"Which will most likely be the case, at least a portion of the time. But +should no such opportunity occur, or should you fail to get beyond him on +the way, you must watch for him in the city; follow him as closely as his +shadow, and in some dark alley, or at some unseasonable hour, put him out +of the way."</p> + +<p>"Exactly."</p> + +<p>"You understand that this <i>must</i> be done, do you?"</p> + +<p>"If Lieutenant Duffel says so."</p> + +<p>"Well, I do say so, most emphatically. I am more anxious than ever to have +him settled, since this new phase of affairs has come up."</p> + +<p>"I understand; but when are we to start?"</p> + +<p>"Early in the morning. We will find out as soon as possible whether he +started yesterday; then you must show yourselves for a little while, as was +before determined; and as soon afterward as possible be off. Be sure to get +on the right track, and don't lose it."</p> + +<p>"Never fear on that head. We will follow him as the lion does his prey."</p> + +<p>"Well, I leave the matter with you; see that you acquit yourself as a good +soldier. Give Dick such instruction as may be needed.—Here he comes."</p> + +<p>Dick rode up on the horse he had stolen, and they all immediately repaired +to the swamp, where the scheme of villainy had been planned, in the middle +of which the horse was concealed for the present, as they were unable to +take him further then without incurring great risk of detection.</p> + +<p>The next morning after mingling awhile with the indignant crowd of +citizens, who were collected together on hearing of the theft, and pouring +out invectives on the "villain of a thief" in no measured quantity, the two +ruffians, Bill and Dick, set out on their errand of death? Learning that +Hadley had started the previous afternoon, they followed after him on two +of the fleetest horses in the possession of the clan.</p> + +<p>It might be well enough to remark, that in those early days most of the +traveling was done on foot or on horseback.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + + +<p>On the evening of the second day of their pursuit, Dick and Bill found +themselves <a name="Page_30" id="Page_30"></a>in the immediate presence of their victim, they having reached +the same inn at which he had already put up for the night. The meeting was +unexpected to them, and at first they feared it might frustrate their +designs; but as they had taken the precaution to throw off their usual +habiliments and character, and to assume the dress and address of +gentlemen, Hadley did not recognize them, though the impression fastened +itself on his mind, that he must have seen them and heard their voices +before, but where and when he could not remember.</p> + +<p>The villains, from his musing manner, half suspected that he was trying to +call to mind who they were, and one remarked to the other that they had +better go out and see after their horses; but it was more for the purpose +of consulting about the affair they had in hand than for the good of their +beasts, that they wished to leave the house. When assured that they were +beyond hearing distance, said Bill to Dick:</p> + +<p>"Well, we have treed the game at any rate."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but I don't see as it signifies much if we have, for we can't keep +him treed, nor bring him down neither, in this place."</p> + +<p>"But we know where he is, and that is something."</p> + +<p>"I take it, it's but little. What can we do with him?"</p> + +<p>"Why, we can get ahead of him and select our place for the next meeting, +and then—"</p> + +<p>"How do you know that? We can't tell which road he will take."</p> + +<p>"We'll find out, though."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"By asking him."</p> + +<p>"And exciting his suspicions. Yes, a pretty way of doing, certain."</p> + +<p>"Never do you mind; leave that to me; and if we don't know all we want to +know by morning, you may call Bill Mitchel a fool; and the fellow won't +suspect anything, either."</p> + +<p>"Well, go ahead, but don't make a fool of yourself, nor spoil the job we +have in hand, neither."</p> + +<p>"I'll take care for that; only you be cautious, and don't say too much, and +when you do speak, throw off your rough manners and talk and act like a +gentleman. I am afraid you will forget yourself, and instead of being Mr. +Richard, will act the part of ruffian Dick."</p> + +<p>"Never do you fear; 'ruffian Dick' knows what he's about, and you'll see +how handsomely he can act 'Mr. Richard' to-night."</p> + +<p>"Very well."</p> + +<p>With this understanding between them, they returned to the inn, which, by +the way, was a very primitive establishment, not only in construction, but +also in the character of the entertainment.</p> + +<p>Bill worked his card so as to draw Hadley into conversation, and +incidentally, but designedly, remarked that they (himself and his +companion) had passed through C—— two days before.</p> + +<p>"Indeed!" said Hadley; "I am well acquainted in C——. Did you hear any +news there?"</p> + +<p>"Well, no, not in C——, but a little way beyond the town a horse had been +stolen the night previous, which caused considerable excitement in the +neighborhood."</p> + +<p>"How far beyond was it?"</p> + +<p>"About five or six miles, I should think."</p> + +<p>"Did you learn any of the particulars?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, pretty much all of them, I think."</p> + +<p>"I know pretty much everybody in that region, and it may be that it was +some of my friends from whom the horse was stolen. What was the owner's +name, if you heard it?"</p> + +<p>"Mandeville, I think; yes, Mandeville."</p> + +<p>"Mandeville! I know him well. Has he any idea who took the horse?"</p> + +<p>"I think he <i>suspects</i> some one for the theft—a young man that had been in +the neighborhood, but disappeared the same night of the theft, and no one +knew where he had gone."</p> + +<p>"In the neighborhood," repeated Hadley, musingly, as if thinking aloud. "It +must have been the stranger; and yet I thought he was gone some time ago."</p> + +<p>"I don't think it was a stranger; they told us his name, but I do not know +whether I can call it to mind or not. Let me see, I think it was Hardy or +Hartly, or some such name."</p> + +<p>At this juncture, Dick caught Bill's eye, and gave him a look, as much as +to <a name="Page_31" id="Page_31"></a>say: "What the d——l do you mean?—Are you going to excite his +suspicions and send him back home to clear himself from imputation?" And +Bill as plainly replied by looks: "Never do you mind. I'll fix it up +right."</p> + +<p>While these magnetic looks were exchanged between the murderous reprobates, +Hadley was engaged in trying to think if there was anybody by either of the +names mentioned in the vicinity where Mandeville lived, but he could +remember no one. All at once the thought struck him that he himself might +be the person accused, and the bare idea that such <i>might</i> be the case sent +the blood to his heart and a cold shudder through his frame.—He was pale +as marble, for a moment, and the rascals saw it. Mastering his emotions, he +inquired calmly:</p> + +<p>"The name you heard wasn't <i>Hadley</i>, was it?"</p> + +<p>"No, that wasn't it. I heard his name mentioned, but they said he had +started for Philadelphia the day before the theft."</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>"Perhaps the name was Huntly?"</p> + +<p>"That's it!" said Bill; "that's the name; I remember it now."</p> + +<p>"I should hardly have thought him capable of such a crime."</p> + +<p>"Just what the people said, exactly."</p> + +<p>"And to take advantage of the sickness of Mandeville's daughter, at that; I +can hardly believe it of him."</p> + +<p>"You talk precisely as his neighbors talked."</p> + +<p>"I do not believe he is guilty; no, I am sure he is not. There are others I +would suspect a thousand times of such an act before I would him."</p> + +<p>"Well, I am sure I can't tell as to that. But, to change the subject, may I +be so bold as to inquire which way you are traveling?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly, sir; I am on my way to Philadelphia."</p> + +<p>"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?"</p> + +<p>"No, I go by way of Pittsburgh."</p> + +<p>"Do you tarry long at Pittsburgh? We may have to go there before we +return."</p> + +<p>"No sir. My mother is very sick at her brother's house in Philadelphia, and +I shall hasten to her with all dispatch."</p> + +<p>"Then, I perceive, we shall have to part company."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry for that, as I should be pleased to have companionship on my +lonely journey."</p> + +<p>Having found out all that concerned his purpose, Bill changed the +conversation, and all of them being fatigued with hard riding throughout +the day, the three soon retired for the night. Bill and Dick roomed +together, and when alone the former said:</p> + +<p>"Didn't I do it up about the right way, Dick?"</p> + +<p>"Better than I expected; but, —— me, if I didn't think you'd got on the +wrong track once."</p> + +<p>"I knew what I was at all the time; but I saw you were scared."</p> + +<p>"Well, what's to be done next?"</p> + +<p>"We must get ahead of him, and do the thing up while he is crossing the +mountains, as Lieutenant Duffel suggested, and as I told you before."</p> + +<p>"We can do that easy enough; but what do you think; shan't we make Duffel +side with us in the Duval affair for putting us to so much trouble?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and that is one reason why I wish to get through with this job as +soon as possible. We must get back in time for the League meeting somehow."</p> + +<p>"We'll have to ride like the d——l, then; for the meeting is on Friday +night week."</p> + +<p>"Well, we must be there if it is next Friday night, and we must finish our +work before we go."</p> + +<p>"I'm with you."</p> + +<p>"And then, if Duffel don't assist us to fix Duval, or at least, if he don't +let us have our own way in the matter, we will raise Hadley's ghost before +his eyes, and threaten to 'blow' on him."</p> + +<p>"He'll do it."</p> + +<p>"He shall do it."</p> + +<p>"Well, as that's settled, let's go to sleep."</p> + +<p>"Yes, for we have a hard day's ride before us to-morrow."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The shades of evening were gathering over the rugged steeps and deep dells +of the Alleghanies, as two horsemen, leaving the summit of the mountains, +descended <a name="Page_32" id="Page_32"></a>to a deep, dark valley, shaded and environed by a dense growth +of pine and other wood, on the eastern slope leading to the Atlantic. As +they entered this dismal looking spot, one of them broke the silence by +remarking:</p> + +<p>"This is the place."</p> + +<p>"Shall we rob him after he is dead?" inquired the other.</p> + +<p>"Certainly. He has a pile about him; and it was for this I was trying, when +he accused me of attempting to rob him, and resenting the accusation +brought on the quarrel, and with it the insult. Yes, I must have his life +and his money, too."</p> + +<p>"I'm with you. But hold! What's that? Horses' feet, as I'm alive. He's +coming; we must be quick to our place of concealment."</p> + +<p>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 at +the side of the road in ambush, to await the arrival of their victim.</p> + +<p>They had only a few minutes to wait, when other two horsemen made their +appearance, and took their stations exactly as they had done, but about a +hundred yards further up the mountain.</p> + +<p>"What the d——l does this mean?" inquired one of the other.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, unless some others have an eye on the gold, as well as +ourselves."</p> + +<p>"That's it, I'll warrant. Good! They may do the murdering, and we'll rush +up in time to secure the booty, by frightening them away. Then we can take +the body to the next tavern, and tell how we came upon the robbers and +murderers, just as they had finished their work.—Good! Let us get our +horses nearer at hand, and be ready to dash upon them."</p> + +<p>While the first two villains were preparing for the new phase the affair in +which they were engaged had taken, as they supposed, the two who had +arrived last busied themselves in making ready for some damnable work which +required darkness and that secluded spot to hide it from the sight of man. +We will look after them.</p> + +<p>"Well, here we are at last," said Bill to Dick, for it was these that had +arrived last. "How soon will he be here, think you?".</p> + +<p>"In a few minutes. When I last saw him, I don't think he was to exceed half +a mile behind us."</p> + +<p>"He is coming now. Be sure of your aim."</p> + +<p>"Better take that advice yourself."</p> + +<p>"I intend to, for I don't want any botch work of the job."</p> + +<p>"Think those men have got ahead far enough?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, they were more than a mile ahead of us, and they will ride like Satan +was after them through these wild glens."</p> + +<p>"Yonder's Hadley!"</p> + +<p>"Prepare! put your pistol close to his heart when you fire!"</p> + +<p>"All right; do the same."</p> + +<p>And the other two concealed villains were equally ready for action.</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they will not use pistols," suggested the other.</p> + +<p>"Then, as soon as they strike or spring upon him."</p> + +<p>In a few seconds, Hadley came abreast of the villains who were lying in +wait for him.</p> + +<p>"Now!" said Bill in a hoarse whisper, and the two at once sprang upon the +lone rider, and fired the contents of their pistols into his breast. He +fell from his seat, with a deep groan. The murderers were about to rifle +his pockets, when they were arrested in their work of robbery by the +approach of the other two horsemen, and seeing their danger, hastened to +mount, 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 look +after the slain man and their booty.</p> + +<p>"By heavens, it's not the man!" they exclaimed in a breath, as they knelt +by the side of Hadley.</p> + +<p>"As I live, it is our acquaintance of yesterday! Poor fellow, he deserved a +better fate."</p> + +<p>"He did, indeed. Let us return his kindness by seeing that he is decently +buried; we owe him this much at least."</p> + +<p>"So we do. If I had known it was him he should not have died in this way."</p> + +<p>"Shall we go back or forward with him?"</p> + +<p>"Forward; it is nearest that way to a hamlet."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33"></a>"Does he breathe yet?"</p> + +<p>"No; he is quite dead."</p> + +<p>Gathering up the body of Hadley, they bore it along in silence toward the +nearest habitations of men, some five miles ahead.</p> + +<p>The two had proceeded with their burden but a short distance, when they +were suddenly startled by a groan from the wounded man, who they had +supposed was dead. They laid him down carefully, and one of them produced a +flask, from which he poured a little brandy on his lips, and the stimulant +penetrating his mouth, revived Hadley, and this, with the aid of other +restoratives, soon brought him to consciousness. Seeing he was not dead, +his companions now dressed his wounds as well as they could, under the +circumstances. It was soon perceived that they were not of a very dangerous +order. One bullet had struck a button and glanced off, leaving only a +bruise on the breast; the other had penetrated the chest, but not in a +fatal direction. The fall from his horse had stunned Hadley; there was also +a mark on the side of his head, indicating that the horse had struck him +with his foot, adding materially to the effect of the fall. After his +wounds 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 to +proceed on his journey. His escape was almost miraculous, and seemed a +direct interposition of Providence. On the previous day he had assisted the +two men out of a difficulty before a magistrate, where they were accused of +the crime of setting fire to a man's house on the previous night. It so +happened that they were not guilty of the act as charged, but had passed +the night in question at the same inn with Hadley, who, fortunately for +them, heard of the affair, and went before the magistrate and testified to +the 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, though +they 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 had +become offended.</p> + +<p>Had not this train of circumstances led to the result we have chronicled, +there would have been but one fate for Hadley, <i>death</i>; for even if the +ruffians had left life in him, ere the lapse of three hours he would have +been devoured by wild beasts, a pack of which, howling dismally, and +thirsting for blood, crossed the road where he had lain, and licked up the +few drops that had run from his bosom!</p> + +<p>Bill and Dick were pursued, but escaped without the slightest clue to their +whereabouts or identity being ascertained.</p> + +<p>Perhaps we had as well remark, at this point, that Hadley's departure was +known to but two personal friends and their families, in the Mandeville +settlement, 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 been +gone long enough to reach his destination, for he believed Duffel was bad +enough at heart to stop short of no wickedness to carry his ends, and felt +fearful he might send some of his minions to waylay him. How nearly he +guessed the truth! He, however, gave another reason for wishing the fact +kept among his friends and though they thought a little singular of the +request, they acted as desired.</p> + +<p>Duffel overheard a part of the conversation between him and a young +friend—hence his knowledge of Hadley's movements. Mandeville did not know +anything about the matter until some time afterward, and this ignorance led +him to suspect Hadley of the theft, as already recorded.</p> + +<p>He and Duffel agreed to keep their suspicions to themselves, until they +could get at some tangible evidence to prove Hadley guilty. This exactly +suited Duffel's purpose, as it gave him just the time and advantage he +desired, in order to perfect his own schemes.</p> + +<p>How easily a few words would have exonerated Hadley in the eyes of +Mandeville: and had he made a confidant of the magistrate in this second +instance, those words would have been spoken, to his enlightenment, and the +great relief and joy of his daughter. But, by an unfortunate combination of +circumstances, the reverse was the case.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + + +<p>When Duffel learned that Mr. Mandeville would not interpose parental +authority to compel his daughter to acquiesce <a name="Page_34" id="Page_34"></a>in his wishes for her in +regard to marriage, he set his scheming wits to work for the purpose of +devising some means whereby to accomplish his ends. As we have already +said, Duffel had taken a fancy to Miss Mandeville, with whom he was better +pleased than with any other lady of his acquaintance. He called his passion +<i>love</i>, 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 him +civilly, he saw plainly that she had an aversion for his society, and that +it cost her an effort to treat him with politeness, even though it was +formal; so, as we were saying, he endeavored to hit upon some more +successful mode of furthering his wishes.</p> + +<p>"If Bill and Dick were only here," he thought to himself, "the matter could +be easily come at; but, as it is, I don't see my way exactly. I should not +like to trust every one, even of the League, with my secret, much less with +the 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 all +without that; and it is not the pleasantest thing in the world to have a +murder laying on one's conscience. But then, I thought other means would +succeed: 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 at +heading his sulphurous majesty, and all others that oppose me."</p> + +<p>In this mood, Duffel found himself when the duties of his office, in the +absence of the captain, required his presence at the cave, to preside over +the League at the regular meeting, as already known to the reader. The +night of the meeting came, and found him undecided as to the course of +action to pursue. Time was short; the captain might return any day and +resume command; and what was to be done must be done soon.</p> + +<p>In this state of uncertainty, he repaired to the cave, with the vague and +indefinite hope that his associates in crime might be there also. Arrived +there, he began pacing up and down in a state of uneasy and restless +disquiet, looking expectantly At every new-comer, but with the same +result—disappointment. It was but a few minutes until the hour for +business, and he retired to the captain's room to make such preparations as +were necessary for the occasion.</p> + +<p>When he returned, the members present were all masked, a rule of the order +making this a duty at initiating meetings, and he could not tell whether +Bill and Dick were among the number or not.</p> + +<p>The business proceeded until the question was asked:</p> + +<p>"Is there any one who, having knocked at the door of our order, is now +waiting for admission?"</p> + +<p>"There is, your honor, Abram Hurd, who has been found worthy of a place +among us."</p> + +<p>"Is he present?"</p> + +<p>"He is in waiting, your honor."</p> + +<p>"Let him be conducted into the presence of the order."</p> + +<p>It is not our intention to enter into all the details attending the +ceremony of initiation into the order, as we apprehend that a few of the +leading features in the process of villain-making will be more entertaining +and acceptable to the reader.</p> + +<p>When the candidate for admission entered the cave, he found himself +<i>vis-a-vis</i> with fifty masks, of all shapes, forms and appearances; some +horrible, 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 was +ushered, a wilderness of confused images before him. He was taken through a +course introductory to the more serious parts of the formula of induction +into the order, which were intended to increase the first bewildered +impressions on entering the cave, and was then led up in front of the +captain, who addressed him thus:</p> + +<p>"Abram Hurd! by your presence here, I am to understand that you desire to +become a member of our order?"</p> + +<p>"I do."</p> + +<p>"Have you considered well before taking this step? The duties of members +are often laborious, and their performance attended with the most imminent +danger! We want no unwilling hands; are you ready to incur the risks?</p> + +<p><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35"></a>"I am."</p> + +<p>"Suppose the requirements exacted at your hands should cause you to look +the penitentiary in the face, have you the courage to do so?"</p> + +<p>"I have."</p> + +<p>"But further yet; should the good of our order require you to take the life +of a fellow-being, would you, in obedience to the commands of your +superior, perform that extreme act?"</p> + +<p>"I was not aware that <i>murder</i> was included in the catalogue of duties +imposed upon members of the order."</p> + +<p>"Nor do I say that it is; I only wish to know if you are willing to go <i>any +lengths</i> for the preservation or advantage of the order, in case of +necessity? You will mark the difference between murder and killing in +<i>self-defense</i>. With this explanation, are you willing to take the required +obligation?"</p> + +<p>"I am."</p> + +<p>"With the understanding, then, that you may have to face imprisonment or +death and obligate yourself to do all that shall be required of you for the +<i>good</i> of the order, even to the taking of life, including all other acts +that are held criminal among men, are you still willing to proceed?"</p> + +<p>"I am!"</p> + +<p>"I must furthermore inform you, that if you falter in the discharge of any +duty imposed upon you, or manifest the least disposition to betray the +order, your life will fall an immediate sacrifice for such delinquency. Are +you prepared for this?"</p> + +<p>"I am!"</p> + +<p>"Will you take upon yourself these obligations in the form of an oath?"</p> + +<p>"I will!"</p> + +<p>"The oath is a most solemn and binding one; perhaps you may consider it +horrible, and we want no faltering."</p> + +<p>"I will take it."</p> + +<p>"It involves life and death."</p> + +<p>"I am prepared if it does."</p> + +<p>"You cannot release yourself from its binding force; it is for life; and +whether you abide with us or not, it binds you to secrecy. No +after-thought, no change of feeling, no repentance can unchain its iron +links from your soul. Are you still resolved?"</p> + +<p>"I am!"</p> + +<p>"Let me here advise you, that one more step will place you beyond the pale +of retreat. Consider well what you are about to do. Until the oath is +administered, 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 will +leave you as we found you; but once you have taken upon yourself the +obligations of the oath, all is fixed and immutable. Are you yet willing to +take this last step?"</p> + +<p>"I am!"</p> + +<p>"Enough! you are worthy to become a member of our order. Lay your right +hand upon your heart, your left upon the Book, and receive the oath."</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The Oath</span>.</p> + +<p>"I, Abram Hurd, calling heaven, earth and hell to witness, do most solemnly +swear, in presence of these, my fellow-beings, and into the ears of the +spirits of the invisible world, that I now take upon myself the obligation +of a member of the <i>Order of the League of Independents</i>, as laid down in +the rules ordained for the government of said Order, and explained to me +this night; and I also obligate myself to obey the officers of the League +who shall be appointed over me for the good government of the same, in the +performance of all and singular the duties that shall be required at my +hands; and I furthermore obligate myself to advance the interests of the +Order to the utmost of my ability, in all things and in all ways, even to +the taking of property and life, if need be; and in so doing will use all +the means of aid in my reach, including fire, steel and powder. And I most +solemnly swear, in the presence aforesaid, of the visible and invisible +worlds, that I will faithfully keep the secrets of the Order, and of all +the members of the same that shall be intrusted with me, and no torture of +body or mind shall extort them from me. And I hereby bind myself, in the +same solemn manner, and in the same presence, that I will defend the +members 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 be +required—that I will stand by them one and all in every emergency, and, if +occasion require, will not hesitate to give false testimony in courts of +justice, to clear them in suits at law, or in criminal <a name="Page_36" id="Page_36"></a>prosecutions, +choosing rather to brave the penalties of perjury than violate this my most +solemn oath. And as I faithfully perform this my oath to the Order, in +whole and in part, may I prosper; but if I willfully fail in anywise, to +fulfill all that I have herein obligated myself to perform, may the heavens +become black above me, may the earth become thorns and thistles, and a +curse to me in body and in soul; may my life be devoid of peace, and +harassing care be my portion, with blight and mildew on all my hopes, and +all that my hand shall touch; may my friends desert me, and my own blood +rise up and curse me; may I become an outcast, among men, a wanderer and a +vagabond on the face of the earth, a prey to fear, and to the lashings of +conscience: and, finally, when death comes, may he send me from the +tortures of this life, to those of endless perdition hereafter."</p> + +<p>After taking this horrible and blasphemous oath, the initiated was required +to sign a compact with his own blood, when he was duly pronounced a member +of the Order, which might truly be termed hellish. This done, the captain +said:</p> + +<p>"Brethren of the Order, remove your masks, and welcome your brother!"</p> + +<p>In a minute the fifty masks were cast aside, and Hurd looked around him in +amazement, for in that company were more than a dozen of his acquaintances +and neighbors, who passed in society—most of them—for honest men; but +most of all was he surprised to see <i>Duffel</i> there, in the character of +first officer.</p> + +<p>All came and shook him by the hand, and to their friendly greeting he could +reply to many:</p> + +<p>"Why, A., B., C., D., are you here? and here's 'Squire F., and Constable +H., as I'm alive!" and such like expressions of recognition.</p> + +<p>When the masks were removed, Duffel had the satisfaction of seeing Bill and +Dick among those present, and so soon as the League adjourned, he drew them +one side, and began a confidential conversation with them; but fearing that +they might be overheard, before entering upon the secrets of their own, he +conducted them into the captain's room.</p> + +<p>This room was a curious structure. Its walls were solid rock, naturally of +a brownish-gray color, but had been painted in a tasteful style of art, +with graceful nymphs, winged cupids, vases of flowers, and many other +embodiments of fancy, or representations from nature. The effect on the +beholder was pleasant and cheering at first view, but a more critical +observation would lead to the conclusion that there was too much of the +voluptuous in the design and execution of the penciling. In one corner of +the room was a door which opened into an inner room of small dimensions, in +which was a downy couch, and all the paraphernalia of a luxurious and +elegant bed-room. It was a place that contrasted very strangely with the +misery and crime it had sheltered—with the tears of unavailing agony that +had been wrung from eyes that sparkled above once happy hearts—alas! no +longer the abode of peace, hope or joy. Ah! had those walls the power of +speech, what tales of horror they could rehearse! what anguish reveal! what +eloquent pleadings for mercy disregarded! what silencing of hope in +despair! But they reveal not the secrets of the place, which are known to +but One, from whose eye no dark dells or earth-emboweled caves can hide the +transgressor; and the tears, the sighs, the blood—aye, the <i>blood</i>—of +that solitary cavern are all known to Him, are all put down by the +recording angel in the archives of heaven. But we digress.</p> + +<p>When the three confederates were securely to themselves, Duffel inquired:</p> + +<p>"How did you succeed in that affair. Well, I hope, as you are so soon +back."</p> + +<p>"Yes, better than we expected. We passed Hadley and awaited him in the +mountains. Two pistol balls were sent through his heart, and in less than +an hour his body was devoured by howling and hungry wolves, from a ravenous +pack of which we escaped ourselves with difficulty, so fierce had a taste +of blood rendered them!"</p> + +<p>It will be noticed that Bill drew largely upon his imagination in this +brief account of their adventures, and that he never once hinted at the +real truth of the matter, and how they were driven away, and had to flee +for their lives. He knew that his story had the characteristics of +probability; 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 be +certainly dead.</p> + +<p>"So far good," replied Duffel; "but <a name="Page_37" id="Page_37"></a>are you sure the act was undiscovered +and undiscoverable?"</p> + +<p>"Quite sure, your honor; it was dark at the time, and no one near, and +therefore impossible that any one should know of the transaction."</p> + +<p>"Very well, I am pleased with your promptness and dispatch in the execution +of this plot. You shall have your reward for the diligence and faithfulness +of your labors. But just now I have another affair on hand, in which I +shall need your aid."</p> + +<p>"We are your men."</p> + +<p>"I know I can rely upon you, and that is the reason I have chosen you from +among all the other members of the League to assist me."</p> + +<p>"And you shall never regret the choice. What is the nature of the work you +would have us perform?"</p> + +<p>"I have heretofore spoken to you concerning its principal feature. It +relates to a lady, and you may remember what was formerly said in regard to +the matter."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, perfectly well."</p> + +<p>"Well, I wish the young lady to be taken—kidnapped—and brought to this +place. Can I rely upon you to do the deed?"</p> + +<p>"We have already pledged ourselves to that effect."</p> + +<p>"So you did, I had forgotten. I shall soon need your services, if all +things proceed as present appearances indicate that they will. When +everything is ripe for action, I will inform you of particulars, and give +you the necessary instructions. Till, then, meet me every day in the +'swamp,' for I may wish your aid at any moment."</p> + +<p>"All right; we'll be there."</p> + +<p>And thus the conference of the villains ended.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>THE INTERVIEW—THE PLOT—THE ABDUCTION.</h3> + + +<p>Before proceeding to extremities, Duffel resolved to try the effect of +smooth words and persuasive eloquence on the mind of Eveline. For this +purpose he called upon her with the express intention of urging his claims +to her hand in a personal interview. She received him, as she had been +accustomed to do of late, with cold politeness. Had he been a real lover, +actuated by pure motives, he would have been deterred from prosecuting his +suit, or even mentioning the object of his visit, for he could not but +perceive that he was not warmly received. But he had resolved upon a course +of action, and was determined that nothing should influence him to turn +aside from the line of conduct he had marked out for himself. After a +little conversation on commonplace matters, he attempted to introduce the +subject uppermost in his thoughts, but finding no encouragement, addressed +his companion thus:</p> + +<p>"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 smiles +for others, but on me you never bestow a gladdening look; and yet, of all +the world, I most long for a smile, for the privilege to talk to you as a +friend."</p> + +<p>"I hope I have always treated you with kindness; it has certainly been my +intention to do so."</p> + +<p>"No, Miss Mandeville, not with <i>kindness</i>, pardon me, but it has only been +with cold civility. I am sure that if you only knew how my heart yearns for +a gentle and hopeful word from your adored lips, how it bleeds and recoils +within my bosom when your cold words pierce it as with an arrow, you would +certainly relent."</p> + +<p>"The heart, Mr. Duffel, is not master of its own emotions; they come +unbidden often, and not unfrequently remain when we would gladly have them +depart."</p> + +<p>"May I trust that in those words there is hope for me—that you would +really banish old memories and old prejudices, and receive me as my heart +continually pleads to be received?"</p> + +<p>"I am not aware that any such changes as those of which you speak have +taken place in my mind or memory. I have no old and dear memories that I +wish to banish; and I believe my feelings toward you have not materially +changed."</p> + +<p>"Oh, what crushing words! Surely your heart cannot be so hard as to drive +me away in despair, when my spirit is bleeding at the wounds your cruel +words have made."</p> + +<p>"As I was saying, when you were so impetuous as to interrupt me, a few +moments ago, we cannot bid our feelings go <a name="Page_38" id="Page_38"></a>and come as we would. The heart +will not love this one or that, at the dictates of cold, calculating +intellect, and the more it is urged to do so, the farther it is from +yielding, especially when harsh means or commands are used to bend it. If +you have permitted your feelings to rest upon me as you say they do, it is +your misfortune, not my fault; and because I cannot reciprocate your +feelings and wishes, you have no right to task me with cruelty or +hard-heartedness; and I hope you will not forget this in any future remarks +you may have to make on the subject."</p> + +<p>"Pardon me, my dear Miss Mandeville, if, in the bitterness of my +disappointment, I have spoken harsh or unguarded words. When we are in deep +distress and anxiety we are apt to say and do things that we should not. It +was farthest from my design to wound your gentle heart, or say one +ungenerous word to you, the best beloved of my friends. Should you ever +have the misfortune to endure the pangs of unrequited love, which may +Heaven forbid, you will know how to feel for me, and to appreciate my +situation."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it would be well for you to cease conversing on a subject so +painful."</p> + +<p>"Ah, there it is. Great sorrows are uppermost in the mind, and though every +word brings a tear to the eye, and sends a pang to the heart, we <i>must</i> +talk about them."</p> + +<p>"I was always impressed with the idea that such griefs as lay hold upon the +soul, were too deep for utterance."</p> + +<p>"Yes, when the last ray of hope is gone, and the night of despair settles +upon the soul. But, oh, must I go out into that unillumed darkness, forever +shut out from light and hope? Is there no hope that I may some day call you +more than friend? that in time, even though it be years in the future, I +may be able to awaken emotions of tenderness in your heart?"</p> + +<p>"I think I have answered that question often enough and plain enough. I do +not know why you wish to put me to the unpleasant necessity of repeating +that answer. But if I have, by any misconception of the use of words, and +the meaning of language, failed to be sufficiently definite in my speech, +please now, once for all, understand me distinctly. I cannot bid you hope +for any change in my feelings toward you so far as love is concerned. I +never can look upon you as an accepted suitor for my hand, nor will it ever +be in my power to love you."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you may think differently hereafter."</p> + +<p>"Never!"</p> + +<p>"Then my purpose is fixed. You shall not wed another! You, too, shall feel +what it is to be disappointed. You love Charles Hadley. Ah, I knew you did! +but mark me, you shall never wed him—<i>never</i>! I would sooner imbrue my +hands in his blood, than that you should! But he is a guilty culprit, a +wandering fugitive from justice, and will never dare return."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Duffel, I have heretofore borne your persecutions with patience; I +will do so no longer. <i>You</i>, sir, are more guilty this day than Charles +Hadley. Look at the blood spots on your hand."</p> + +<p>"What! ha! said the villain, taken aback by the bold remark.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you may well flush and turn pale when your crimes stare you in the +face!"</p> + +<p>"Crimes? Who dares to accuse me of crimes?"</p> + +<p>"I do, sir!"</p> + +<p>"You will repent it, madam."</p> + +<p>"I do not fear your threats any more than I regard your hypocritical +protestations of esteem."</p> + +<p>"I will make you fear, then," and with the words he left the house in a +rage.</p> + +<p>While together, Eveline and Duffel were both defiant, though they felt +internal fear of each other, she at his threats, and he in alarm lest she +should know something of his secret villainies; and when alone each gave +way to the feelings uppermost in the mind; she after this manner:</p> + +<p>"God grant that no harm come to Charles from this wicked plotter! And yet I +fear he has already contrived to do him mischief. How he was agitated when +I threw out the accusation. Oh, my God! if his hands really are stained +with innocent blood! Charles is no where to be found; what if he has fallen +by the hands of his enemy? What a terrible suspicion! Would to Heaven I +knew the truth!"</p> + +<p>But the more she thought the more she feared, until the subject became so +painful she tried to banish it from her mind.</p> + +<p>Infuriated and alarmed, Duffel raged on this wise when alone:</p> + +<p>"It's all over now! this palaver about love and money! I shall never win my +<a name="Page_39" id="Page_39"></a>way to the old man's purse in that manner; but I'll try my skill at taming +that 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 so +startled!—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 too +much on hand just now to be set upon by spies; and so the sooner I get her +out of the way the better. Once in my power I'll see that she tells nothing +to my hurt.—Oh, but won't I have a glorious time!—But enough of +anticipation; I must be up and doing lest the captain return and spoil all +my calculations; so now for my precious rascals, Bill and Dick—and +then!—" And with this he started for the "swamp."</p> + +<p>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 until +they should come. As was customary with him under such circumstances, his +thoughts commenced running on schemes of villainy; and he became so deeply +absorbed in fitting out the details of his present all-absorbing operation, +as to be scarcely conscious of anything else, either as regarded time or +place. At length his corrugated brow relaxed, a kind of sardonic smile of +joy spread over his countenance, and he exclaimed in gleeful elation of +spirit:</p> + +<p>"I have it! By Jove! it's the crowning cap on the climax! I have been +afraid of the consequences until now, for I know old Mandeville will raise +earth 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!"</p> + +<p>At this moment Bill and Dick made their appearance, and he immediately +opened business with them.</p> + +<p>"Well, you are here at last! I have been waiting on you this half-hour!"</p> + +<p>"If it please your honor we are here at the appointed time. You must have +some urgent business to be done that you are in such haste?"</p> + +<p>"I have. The time has come that I shall need your service in the matter on +hand. Miss Mandeville is in the habit of visiting the spot I pointed out to +you, daily. To-morrow her father is going to C—— and there will be no one +at home but the daughter and the house girl. You must be in waiting as +agreed upon. You, Bill, must cautiously approach her and represent yourself +as the friend of Hadley, for whom you must be the bearer of a message. If +that does not succeed, then you must have recourse to the other means, as +already arranged. So soon as you get her fairly in your possession and +secured, bear her to the cave, with all dispatch, by the secret route. I +will meet you on the way."</p> + +<p>"All right. We understand the plan, and will take good care that it be +properly carried out; but afterward we shall expect your aid, or at least +your non-interference in a little affair of our own."</p> + +<p>"Oh, certainly. Go ahead; but don't make a fuss about it. Who is she?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, dang the women, we don't meddle with them; it is with Duval that we +have an account to settle."</p> + +<p>"Be careful there! Remember your oath to the order!"</p> + +<p>"We do; but he is a traitor, and if you expect us to work for you in such +life-taking business as we have lately been engaged in, you must let us +have our way in this instance."</p> + +<p>"Very well; if you will be cautious and commit no others but yourselves I +shall not oppose you."</p> + +<p>"We'll take care on that point."</p> + +<p>"Remember to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Never fear. She shall be yours before the setting of the sun."</p> + +<p>Again the villains parted; but Duffel was not well pleased with the demand +the ruffians had made of him, until a new thought struck him, and he said +to himself:</p> + +<p>"That will do. I will get all I want out of them; and then to save trouble +and <i>to be sure of my own secret</i>, I will have them arraigned before the +Order for killing a member, and they shall suffer the penalty, <i>death</i>. I +will then be free from fear. Capital! Everything is working to suit my +purposes!"</p> + +<p>Exulting wretch! would to heaven the vengeance of an angry God could +overtake you, ere your schemes of fiendish crimes and dark murders are +completed. But, alas for the innocent, crime is yet in the ascendant!</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40"></a>In a pleasant grove, a part of the old forest yet standing near to the +dwelling of the Mandevilles, sat Eveline, beneath the shade of a friendly +tree, in a spot rendered sacred to her by endearing associations and holy +memories, musing on the past with heart cheering pleasure, on the present +with sadness, and the future with hope. So absorbed had she become in her +own meditations, time fled unheeded, and the world was forgotten—forgotten +all, save only two beings, the loved and absent Charles—with whose +well-being or misfortunes her own fate was strangely blended—and herself; +but of herself in the single light in which the mysterious ties of love +united her to him.</p> + +<p>How long she had thus remained absorbed in her own reflections she knew +not, when her attention was drawn from her own thoughts to outward things +by the approach of a very neatly dressed gentleman, who, addressing her in +the most respectful manner, inquired:</p> + +<p>"Does Mr. Mandeville live in this vicinity?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," she replied, at the same time rising to her feet. "That is his +residence yonder, which you can just distinguish through the surrounding +trees."</p> + +<p>"A beautiful place!—May I be so bold as to inquire if you know whether I +will find him at home to-day?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir, he is not at home."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I might still presume on your kindness, and inquire if he has not +a daughter that is or has been afflicted, and if she is already +convalescent, or is likely so to be soon."</p> + +<p>"His daughter has been very sick, but has recovered."</p> + +<p>"Would she—? But perhaps you do not know her history? Has she any friend +now absent, from whom she would be pleased to hear, do you know?"</p> + +<p>"What is the object of the question, sir?"</p> + +<p>"I hope you will excuse me, if I should presume too far; but I am the +bearer of a message from one who esteems her above all the world beside, +and—"</p> + +<p>"How! do you know Charles Hadley?" she inquired, with deepened interest.</p> + +<p>"Ah, I perceive you are not unacquainted with the history of the young +lady. Perhaps I am addressing Miss Mandeville in person?"</p> + +<p>"Your supposition is true, my name is Mandeville. But you have not answered +my question yet."</p> + +<p>"Pardon me, fair lady, for my seeming rude neglect. Yes, I know Mr. Hadley +well, and a better man does not live. He is my near and dear friend."</p> + +<p>"Do you say so much? Then it is from him you have a message?"</p> + +<p>"It is."</p> + +<p>"Oh! tell me, is he well?"</p> + +<p>"He is, but is longing to hear from you, to see you, to know that you are +still spared by the hand of death."</p> + +<p>"You speak as though he were near. Is it indeed so?"</p> + +<p>"It is, fair lady; he awaits your presence, or such word as you may be +pleased to send him, a short way from here, in the denser portion of the +forest, not wishing to transgress your father's commands contrary to your +wishes, or to expose himself to the displeasure of your parent, lest it +bring trouble and disquiet to your own heart. But please read the note he +commissioned me to bear to you; it probably explains the matter better than +I can, as he only confided to me such facts as were essentially necessary +for me to know, in order to an intelligent performance of the part he has +allotted to me as his friend."</p> + +<p>Saying this he presented a letter, which Eveline received with a +joy-beaming countenance, and read with a wildly-throbbing heart. It ran as +follows:</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Dearest Eveline</span>: For some weeks past, I have been in a distant +city, at the urgent call of duty, to attend the bedside of a sick mother. I +left while you were yet very ill, and bore with me the heavy fear that you +might never recover to bless me with a kind word or gentle look. So +terrible has been the suspense, and so deep the anxiety of mind under which +my spirit has labored, I could only perform my duties to a beloved mother +by resolutely bending my energies to the task, and with the first hour of +assured convalescence hastened to learn your fate. Oh, best beloved, may I +not hope to see you again? I have learned that you are better, and the +first great burden is removed, but I so long to behold you once more,—to +hear you speak—to know that I am not forgotten. But you know I dare not +come to you without incurring your father's deep displeasure; and I have +been <a name="Page_41" id="Page_41"></a>in doubt and perplexity how to act. This note will be borne to you by +my 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 do +in this matter as your own better judgment shall determine. If you cannot +come, send me a note, even though it be but a line, that I may have some +precious token of remembrance to gaze upon. I am but a short distance from +your home, and a few steps will bring you to me; if you come, place +yourself under the guidance of my friend. Leaving you to act as prudence +and your own heart shall dictate, I remain, impatiently,</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"Yours, most faithfully,</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"<span class="smcap">Charles</span>."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"P.S. Do permit me to entreat you to come if you can. I have a thousand +things to tell you, and some of them are cheering. I have not time to write +more now."</p> + +<p>As we have said, Eveline read this letter with the wildest emotions +thrilling through her heart. A tumult of joy was in her bosom—joy more +exquisite than had gladdened her spirit since the hour when her young heart +knew that its deep love was reciprocated. Hadley was near her—he had been +falsely accused, and instead of the vile criminal he was represented, he +was a loving and dutiful son, fleeing to the bedside of a sick mother! What +a consolation to her heart! Without a moment's hesitation, she resolved to +see him, and turning to the gentleman, from whom she averted her face, +while reading, to conceal her feelings, she said, deeply blushing as she +did so:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Hadley wishes me to see him, and directs me to place myself under your +guidance. Will you be so kind as to show me the way to him?"</p> + +<p>"With the greatest pleasure; for I know he will be but too happy to behold +you. Pardon me, if, in my zeal for my friend, I should say aught that may +be out of place."</p> + +<p>He led the way into the deeper recesses of the forest, and she followed +him. All this had been done in a moment, as it were, and without time for +the slightest consideration. Under other circumstances, or with a little +reflection, Eveline might have acted differently.</p> + +<p>The two had proceeded a quarter of a mile or more, when Eveline, in passing +a large tree, was suddenly seized by rude hands, and ere she had time to +scream, a covering was placed over her mouth, and her hands secured. In +these operations her recent guide took an active part, and when they were +completed, he said:</p> + +<p>"You shall not be injured by us, fair lady, and we only regret that we are +compelled, by the force of circumstances, to put you to the inconvenience +of a journey on so short a notice. You must go with us; but we will deal +tenderly with you so long as you are peaceable and quiet; but you must +beware how you attempt to make any noise; for we will not suffer ourselves +to be betrayed by such means."</p> + +<p>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 fair +prisoner could move.</p> + +<p>To attempt a description of Eveline's feelings at this hour would be a vain +task. In a moment, she was brought down from the pinnacle of hope to the +depths of despair; for she saw in all this that had passed the hand of +Duffel, her avowed enemy; and, indeed, as the reader has doubtless already +concluded, she was in the hands of none others than Bill and Dick, who were +bearing her off to the cave.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + + +<p>When Mr. Mandeville returned home in the evening, he found the maid in +great trouble on account of Eveline's long continued absence, and he +himself became alarmed on learning that she had not been seen since early +in the forenoon. He knew that she often recreated in the grove, and, after +finding her in no more likely place, he proceeded thither. No Eveline was +there, and no voice answered to his repeated calls; but in his search he +found two billets of paper, and hastening to the house, for it was too dark +to read them in the woods, he eagerly perused them.</p> + +<p>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 setting +out on her at first hopeful but sadly terminated errand; its contents are +already known <a name="Page_42" id="Page_42"></a>to the reader; and the other read as follows:</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Mr. Mandeville</span>:—Being aware of your dislike to me, and having +learned that you charge me with a crime of great magnitude—no less than +that of stealing your horse, (of which, permit me to say, I am as innocent +as yourself,) and feeling assured, from these circumstances, that there was +no hope for me ever to gain your consent to wed Eveline, I have taken the +only alternative left me in the premises—that of persuading your daughter +to elope with me. She has consented; and ere you read this note, will be my +wife. I hope you may find it in your heart to pardon us for taking this +step, as it appears to us the only way in which our ardent wishes can be +accomplished; but if you cannot pardon me, at least forgive Eveline, who +has had a hard struggle between filial affection, duty and regard, and the +strong pleadings of her heart; though her deep love at last conquered.</p> + +<p>"But as we feel certain you will be highly exasperated at the first on +receiving this intelligence, we have deemed it best to absent ourselves for +a time. You will not be able to find us, if you choose to institute a +search, until such time as we please to show ourselves; hence you need not +put yourself to the trouble of looking after us. So soon, however, as you +feel a willingness to receive us as your children, we will gladly return to +you. To ascertain your feelings on this subject, we will voluntarily open a +correspondence with you at some period in the future, perhaps in a month, +when you can communicate to us your wishes and commands.</p> + +<p>"With sentiments of high esteem, and deeply pained feelings that I am +compelled to take this step, I am, my very dear sir,</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"Your obedient servant,</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"<span class="smcap">Charles Hadley</span>."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Mandeville read this letter a second time to assure himself that its +contents were what they seemed, and when satisfied on this point, he stood +mute for a brief space of time, as if to fully take in the astonishing +truth that Eveline, his only, his beloved child, had so far forgotten her +duly and her promise, yes, her solemn promise, as to leave her home and +<i>his</i> care, for the love of a stranger! At last the great reality seemed to +enter his soul in all its crushing force, tearing from his heart the +affections that had clustered around his only child for years, from his +bosom the hopes of a lifetime, and leaving him a desolate, smitten, +soul-chilled being, with all the beauty and brightness of life departed!</p> + +<p>Oh, ye children of affectionate parents! beware how you crush the hearts +that have "nourished and cherished" you as only parents' hearts can do! God +will smite the undutiful child with a curse! Bear and forbear, even if the +commands of those appointed over you should seem to be unjust. Remember +their labor, and toil and suffering in your behalf, and spare, oh! spare +them in their old age, when their bodies are ripening for the grave, and +their spirits for the skies. Let not their gray hairs go down to the +chambers of the dead in sorrow, nor their failing strength be suddenly +brought low by the anguish <i>you</i> have inflicted upon their spirits; but +spare them as you would be spared!</p> + +<p>Several minutes elapsed before Mr. Mandeville could collect his scattered +and stunned thoughts together. The blow was so sudden, the shock so +terrible, they almost prostrated him. He walked up and down the room, with +paleness on his cheeks, and a load in his bosom. The only evidence he +manifested of the great grief that was consuming him was an occasional +groan, which came up from the great deep of his heart, as though they were +forced out by some unseen or over-mastering power. He was like the tall oak +of the forest when blasted by the fiery thunderbolt! What a sad picture!</p> + +<p>At length the exclamation burst forth from his lips, as though the +overcharged heart would relieve itself in words:</p> + +<p>"Oh, my God, pity me!" and he clasped his hands, and pressed them upon his +laboring breast, as if to still its tumult. Then came another groan, +accompanied by a deep, soul-desponding "Oh!"</p> + +<p>And the strong man was calm. But such a calmness! It seemed as if years of +suffering had stamped their impress upon his brow, and in his face, in +those brief moments of agony! Ah, how true it is, that the soul may grow +old in a day!</p> + +<p>After a time he again took up the letters and perused them.</p> + +<p>"How artful!" he mused to himself, as he read the one to Eveline. "Every +<a name="Page_43" id="Page_43"></a>word is written with studied care, and every sentence conceals a +temptation. Then the last, the postscript, so much to tell her, to excite +her curiosity, as well as operate upon her affections!—The villain! But +she ought not to have yielded to his solicitations; even in her great love +I 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 the +accusation was proved false. But she is gone—<i>gone</i>! Oh, what desolation +in the thought! And I am left alone and forsaken in my woe! Ungrateful +child! may heaven reward you as you have dealt by me! No, no, God forbid! +Heaven be merciful to her! But on <i>him</i>, on the miscreant who is at the +bottom of all this undutiful conduct, of all the pain it inflicts, may the +fierce lightning of God's vengeance descend in burning wrath, and as a +consuming fire! God of heaven! thou who beholdest the anguish of a stricken +parent's heart, smite him with a curse; aye, pour out upon his forsaken +head the vials of thy hot anger! Give him no rest to his soul, day or +night, until the hour of reckoning shall come!"</p> + +<p>Amen! Let that prayer enter the ear of Him who sitteth upon the Throne; and +may He commission the angels of wrath to bear the curse, and heap it upon +the head of the guilty author of all this wretchedness, and of the +unutterable pain inflicted upon <i>another</i> heart!</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Bill and Dick proceeded with their prisoner through the denser portions of +the wilderness for two or three miles on foot, when they met Duffel, who +had prepared horses for their flight, as it was a good long way to the +cave. The villain approached Eveline, and said:</p> + +<p>"I hope you will pardon the seeming rudeness which necessity compels me to +manifest toward you in the present emergency. I hope soon to find you a +pleasant resting-place, where I shall have leisure and opportunity to make +explanations and amplify on this brief apology."</p> + +<p>To this insulting speech Eveline made no reply, but she cast a defiant and +piercing 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 one +glance of her eye an unconquerable resolve to meet him as a foe, and <i>never +to be vanquished</i>; the victory he had flattered himself as being nearly +won, he now saw afar off, unless the most beastly violence should be +resorted 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 Bill +and Dick in the rear, the whole party pushed forward for the cave, where +they arrived a little past the middle of the afternoon without any serious +adventure.</p> + +<p>Duffel placed his captive in the Captain's room, with the bed-room to +retire to at her pleasure.</p> + +<p>"I trust," said he, "you will find this a comfortable place; and be assured +I shall strive to do all in my power to make your stay here as agreeable as +possible. Books you shall have whenever you desire them; there are a number +in the case yonder, and any others you may wish for shall be procured. The +length of time you will remain my guest depends upon your own choice, with +one 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 be +delayed; I regret to leave you so soon; I hope you will pardon me, and I +will endeavor to make amends in the future for any apparent neglect at the +present. 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 lock +the door of egress and ingress to this room, so that you may rest in +perfect security that no one can harm you. And now good evening, for I must +be off, and may pleasant dreams attend your slumbers."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Eveline had sustained herself with the most determined and heroic fortitude +during all the trying scenes of the day, and until Duffel was gone. By a +great effort of the will to seem calm, she had kept herself from betraying +any 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 of +endurance had been subjected, caused a reaction to take place; <a name="Page_44" id="Page_44"></a>she was +overwhelmed by the flooding tides of thought and despair that rushed in +upon her. What a day of calamity it had been! What a night of rayless +darkness was before her!</p> + +<p>She knew that she was in the hands and at the mercy of an unscrupulous +villain, who was incapable of performing a noble or magnanimous act, but +base enough to resort to any means in the use of which to carry an end, or +gain a point. She but too well knew the fate before her, if no means of +resistance 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 had +time to reflect, to collect her thoughts, and form resolves, she began to +grow calm. There was a strength in firmness of will which could surmount +many 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.</p> + +<p>It might be supposed that she would feel little like sleep under the +circumstances by which she was surrounded; but having overheard part of an +aside conversation between Duffel and his confederates, in which he +mentioned meeting them at some place designated, and about something to be +done on the morrow, she felt assured of what she could not have been +certain on his own word merely, that he had business which would detain him +until the next day, and, consequently, would not return to molest her for +the 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 there +was one gave her a feeling of greater security,) then knelt down and +offered up a fervent prayer to heaven for protection, for shielding care +and final deliverance; after which she laid down, and composed herself to +rest. Her slumbers were peaceful and undisturbed, attended with pleasant +dreams; and she awoke, in the morning, as she supposed—for the light of +day never visited the dark recesses of her abode, which were lighted by +artificial means alone—much refreshed, with her spirits quite restored to +their former elasticity.</p> + +<p>She went out into the other room, and selected a book for perusal; it +chanced to be a work on metaphysics, and after poring over its abstruse +pages for some time, she became drowsy, and finally fell into a dreamy +sleep. In her fitful slumbers, she was visited by a dream or vision of +extraordinary vividness, which made an indelible impression upon her mind, +because she felt personally interested in the characters that appeared +before her, and by alluding to the scenes, she might alarm the guilty soul +of her persecutor; so, at least, she hoped and believed; with what reason +we shall see hereafter.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>After leaving the cave, Duffel hastened back to Mr. Mandeville's as fast as +his fleet steed could bear him. It was after dark before he drew up in +front of that gentleman's house, his horse covered with sweat and foam, and +well-nigh exhausted. It was his wish to be there before the father should +institute any search for his missing daughter, that he might succeed in +throwing the blame upon Hadley, in case the letters dropped for the purpose +of implicating him should not have fallen into the hands of the parent; and +with this view he had a story already made up, to the effect that some one +had seen the fugitives in their flight. As was his custom, he paused on the +outside of the house to listen, hoping by that means to obtain a knowledge +of affairs, and of the feelings of Mr. Mandeville relative to his +daughter's desertion or abduction as the case might be. He soon heard the +hurried footsteps of that gentleman, as, in his deep distress, he paced the +floor—heard, also, his broken exclamations and heavy groans, and the only +sentiment all these things awakened in his callous soul was expressed in +the unfeeling words spoken to himself, in thought:</p> + +<p>"The old man takes it hard."</p> + +<p>It was a very extraordinary thing for Mr. Mandeville to express his +thoughts aloud, but he did so on this occasion, and Duffel heard his +comments on the letters, and his execration of the writer, as also his +reflections upon his daughter's conduct; then there was a crumpling sound +like that of paper, as though the sheets were crushed in the hand of the +reader. All this was music to the crime-stained soul of the guilty +listener, who exulted in <a name="Page_45" id="Page_45"></a>the success of his scheme, and felt additional +assurance of ultimately triumphing in all his undertakings. But when the +spirit-bowed father, in his hopeless agony, called down the curse upon the +head of the author of the wrong, and appealed to Heaven for vengeance, the +villain cowered as if truly smitten with a bolt; and the bare thought that +the fate prayed for <i>might</i> be his, sent a cold chill to his heart and +forced out great drops of perspiration on his brow. He trembled in every +limb, like one in an ague fit, and it was some seconds before he could +regain command of his faculties. At last he felt something like himself +again, and not wishing to hear anything more of the same kind, he knocked +at 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 that +countenance, and behold the ravages made in a short hour by the pains of +soul <i>he</i> had inflicted.</p> + +<p>"Are you sick, Mr. Mandeville?" was his first inquiry.</p> + +<p>"No, sir; but worse, much worse than sick."</p> + +<p>"Indeed! How is that?"</p> + +<p>"Eveline is gone!"</p> + +<p>"Gone?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, gone forever!"</p> + +<p>"What!" and the miscreant evinced the utmost surprise and astonishment. +"You do not mean to say she is dead?"</p> + +<p>"No, no! Would to God she was! I would a thousand times rather have +followed her to the grave! But read, read, and know for yourself what has +happened." 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, and +sat in mute but agonized grief.</p> + +<p>Duffel read the letters with secret delight, repeating to himself at every +particular place where it suited him best, "Glorious!" and at the close of +all, "I must reward Bill for this. He's a perfect gem of a devil for such +work."</p> + +<p>But to Mandeville, in well-feigned amazement, he exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Charles Hadley!"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the afflicted parent, lifting his bowed head, "of all the +world, <i>him</i>! a criminal and vagabond, who had fled from justice to hide +himself from the face of man! Oh, my God! to think that she would forsake +home, friends, a good name, and trample upon a parent's love for such a +villain!"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it is not yet too late to save her?" suggested Duffel.</p> + +<p>"How? what?" ejaculated the other, catching at the words as a drowning man +would at a straw.</p> + +<p>"I say it may be possible that the marriage-rites have not yet been +performed. This may be written for a blind to prevent pursuit."</p> + +<p>"No, no; I cannot doubt its truth, and would not have a hope raised in my +heart to be crushed out again by despair. Beside, whither should I go in +pursuit of them?"</p> + +<p>"I see you are in hopeless despondency, but I do not feel like giving over +without a struggle—I have too much to lose in Eveline. Shall I try to +rescue her?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! yes, if you wish to do so."</p> + +<p>"And if, by any means, I can circumvent this Hadley, and prevent their +union, I have your consent to make her my wife?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly."</p> + +<p>"And will you interpose parental authority in my behalf?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, after this I will."</p> + +<p>"I have still one request more to make, and that is, that you will permit +me to act in my own way, and according to my own judgment in this matter."</p> + +<p>"Do so; I have no advice to give."</p> + +<p>"Very well; I am to understand, then, that if by <i>any means</i> I can rescue +Eveline from Hadley, she is to be my wife?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>In a few moments he was galloping away at full speed, as if to impress his +recent host with the idea that he was in great haste to be after the +fugitives.</p> + +<p>Mr. Mandeville had been too deeply absorbed with his own feelings to pay +very strict attention to what Duffel was saying; but the words <i>by any +means</i> now rose vividly up in his mind, and like a flash came the thought—</p> + +<p>"He may intend to <i>murder</i> Hadley!"</p> + +<p>Starting to his feet, he hastened out for an explanation; but Duffel was +already gone, and turning back, he entered his <a name="Page_46" id="Page_46"></a>dwelling with the +expression in his thoughts—</p> + +<p>"Let him die: it matters not!"</p> + +<p>Ah, had he known the true state of the case, and the devilish import of +those words in the mind of the abominable wretch who had uttered them, how +suddenly would he have aroused himself to action. But now he cared not.</p> + +<p>"If," thought he, "Eveline is so ungrateful, if she thinks so little of a +father's love, let her go! Why need I seek to force her to stay with me +when she prefers the society of another? Oh, if I had not loved her so +tenderly, I could endure this trial better. But why mourn and lament? No, +rather let me forget her, as she has forsaken me."</p> + +<p>But he could not forget her with all his resolving, and we will leave him +with his sorrow.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE INTERVIEW.</h3> + + +<p>Faithful to his wicked intentions, Duffel presented himself before Eveline +on the day succeeding the one in which she was placed in confinement at the +cave, and having no choice in the matter, she was obliged to become a +participator in the conversation he was pleased to introduce and force upon +her. She was seated on an elegant sofa—for the apartment was luxuriously +furnished—when he entered; and with all the assurance of an accepted +friend, he walked up and took a seat by her side. She was reading at the +time, and when he entered she barely raised her eyes from the pages of the +book, as if to assure herself who it was that intruded, and then, without +further notice or any sign of recognition, continued to peruse the work in +hand. This unexcited, cool and self-possessed conduct was not what the +villain seemed to expect or desire; he hoped to find a suppliant in tears, +instead of a calm and apparently unconcerned woman; he was prepared for +such a subject, but for the one before him he was not, and he was at a loss +how to proceed; indeed, just at that moment he was the most uneasy of the +two. But he must do something, and so opened the interview on this wise:</p> + +<p>"You seem to be deeply absorbed in the contents of that book, Miss +Mandeville, and I am pleased to see you so well entertained in this rather +solitary abode."</p> + +<p>As this remark did not positively require a reply, Eveline continued to +read without opening her mouth; Duffel bit his lip in vexation, but after a +pause of some duration continued:</p> + +<p>"I am very sorry to interrupt you when so agreeably employed, but necessity +often compels us to do things abhorrent to our feelings; and as I have some +important communications to make, which it is best for you to know +immediately, 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 you +the latest intelligence from your father and former home."</p> + +<p>At these words Eveline for the first time raised her eyes to the face of +the villain, as if to ascertain the expression of his countenance, and +learn whether he was in a serious or mocking humor. He went on:</p> + +<p>"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 very +undutiful to leave him in his old age without even a parting word."</p> + +<p>At this unfeeling recital, Eveline cast upon the heartless wretch a look of +indignation, and her dark eyes fairly shot fire; he quailed under the +scathing rebuke of those orbs, as he had often done before, but was +chagrined that he had been unable to draw a single word from her lips, and +mentally resolving to bring her to the speaking point, he proceeded:</p> + +<p>"But sorry and indignant as he was at <i>your</i> conduct, he was far more +deeply exasperated at Hadley."</p> + +<p>"Hadley!" repeated she, in the first moment of surprise.</p> + +<p>"Yes; that very loving letter he addressed to you fell into your parent's +hands, together with another one from the same writer, directed to himself +wherein Hadley asks forgiveness for himself, and especially for you, fair +lady, whom he represents to be in deep distress, that love irresistibly +draws you to him and away from home."</p> + +<p>"Villain!" ejaculated Eveline, with flashing eye.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47"></a>"Be careful of your words, my dear; you are not now in your father's +house, and it may not suit my purpose to allow you the use of such +epithets, as applied to myself."</p> + +<p>With this remark, Eveline at once turned to her book and commenced reading +again, as much as to say:—"Have the conversation all to yourself, then!" +and the miscreant so understood and interpreted the act, and felt that he +was outgeneraled by the superior tactics of his opponent, notwithstanding +the immense advantage he was master of in the contest.</p> + +<p>"Nay, fair lady," he said, "I did not intend to cut you off from the +privilege of speech, but only to advise you to be a little careful in the +use of terms and epithets."</p> + +<p>"Sir, if after forcing a conversation upon me on your own terms, and at an +advantage of your own choosing, you are too cowardly to hear what I please +to say, you must talk to yourself. When I speak at all I select my own +words. I do not belong to that class of contemptible poltroons, who slink +behind others to hide themselves and their crimes, basely exposing the +innocent to the censures and punishment that should fall upon their own +guilty heads. No, sir; woman as I am I would scorn to stoop to such a low +depth of infamy to screen myself from any position, even from death itself; +and if you, with all this littleness of mind and cringing cowardice of +soul, expect to intimidate me by any menaces, all I have to say is, you +have 'reckoned without your host.' And permit me to tell you that there are +no words in any language half adequate to express my contempt of you as a +man, or my abhorrence of your acts as a criminal, of whom, thus far, the +gallows has been shamefully cheated."</p> + +<p>This bold speech fairly took the rascal out of himself. He ground his teeth +in rage and seemed on the point of committing some desperate deed, but +those unquailing and flashing eyes were fixed upon him with a look that +seemed to burn into his innermost soul, and penetrate its dark recesses of +guilt. He was again conquered by that look; there was a magnetic power +about it he could not withstand; and swallowing his rage as best he could, +replied after this manner:</p> + +<p>"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 them +home with force, and under some circumstances I might feel like +retaliating; but here, as my guest, I shall not presume to do so; it will +accord much better with my wishes to proceed with the matter in hand,—As I +was saying, your father fully believes that Hadley has persuaded you to +leave home and elope with him, and he is so shocked by your want of filial +affection, 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 home +of your childhood for a horse-thief and a vagabond, he cares not to seek +after you, but says you may go."</p> + +<p>At the first, Eveline felt like weeping, and for a moment buried her face +in her hands; but then she felt it would not do to give way to feelings of +tenderness and sorrow in her present situation, and choking down the great +grief that swelled up in her bosom on her father's account, she suddenly +assumed a commanding attitude, and addressed the calculating human fiend as +follows:</p> + +<p>"Inhuman monster! how long do you expect thus to dare the vengeance of +heaven? You have stained your soul with crimes that would darken the pit of +night; you have committed robberies, and thefts, and <i>murder</i>! Ay, start +and turn pale when your crimes stare you in the face, you have done so +before, and you will again. You thought there was no eye to witness your +plotting deeds, no ear to hear your murderous plans except those of your +vile confederates, but you see I am aware of your crimes."</p> + +<p>"Who told you these things?" he demanded, breaking in upon her discourse.</p> + +<p>"That is a question I shall not take the trouble to answer; it is enough +for you to understand that <i>I know what you are</i>, and that long-delayed +justice will overtake you, perhaps, sooner than you deem it possible your +secret acts can be brought to light; for you seem to have forgotten that +there is One, whose eye never slumbers, whose ear is always open to the +prayer of the distressed and to the voice of the blood of the innocent, +which crieth from the ground as did the blood of Abel."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48"></a>"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 produced +little more effect upon <i>your</i> auditory than do the polished words of a +fashionable divine upon <i>his</i>; all very fine, but fancy sketches are not +apt to effect as much with sober, common-sense people, as is the truth."</p> + +<p>This was said with something of returning assurance, Duffel having tried to +work himself into the belief that all was guess-work on the part of +Eveline, so far as her accusations were concerned. She saw this, and in a +moment the remembrance of her dream that morning flashed across her mind, +and she determined to try the effect a reference to the scenes which passed +in review before her mental vision would have upon him:</p> + +<p>"Sir, your assumed assurance would soon leave you if you were in a +court-room, and the evidence of your guilt, as I have it, detailed by +witnesses. When your secret conference with those vile instruments—not yet +so vile as yourself—whom it has pleased you to use as tools, were made +known before a court and jury, your brazen impudence would depart, and the +specter of a gibbet in the distance—and but a short distance, too—would +pale your unblushing cheek and palsy your false tongue, skillful as you may +have been in casting blame upon others by deceptive and lying words. When +it was proved that <i>you</i> stole my father's horse; that <i>you</i> are +responsible for the absence of Mr. Hadley; that <i>you</i> pointed the knife and +the pistol at his heart, and then mendaciously represented him as the thief +and kidnapper who is found in your own person; then, sir, would you vail +your face and go out no more among men, but upon your forehead, as <i>now</i> +upon your soul, would be the brand of <i>thief</i>, <i>robber</i>, <i>murderer</i>! Ay, +well may you cower! well may the cold sweat force itself out upon your +brow! Did it never enter into your debased mind that the villain who is +degraded enough to sell himself to crime for a little sordid dust, will, +for a larger sum, betray his employer? Do you suppose that when <i>you</i> +meditate vengeance upon your tools, they will idly await your pleasure and +plans, and lift no hand in their own defense?"</p> + +<p>At this point Duffel actually sprang to his feet, the great drops oozing +from every pore! How had his secret thoughts become known to her?—thoughts +that no mortal ear had ever heard him utter?</p> + +<p>"Girl! girl!" he shouted, "who and what are you? demon, witch or spirit?"</p> + +<p>Then he paused a moment, as if to collect himself, and decide upon a course +of action. Becoming a little more composed, he continued:</p> + +<p>"If you are in league with hell, then are we of one family if you have not +belied me, and I shall take it upon myself to strengthen the affinity by—"</p> + +<p>"Sir!" she said, with a commanding look which awed him into silence, (for +his superstitious feelings were already in the ascendant, and he began to +<i>fear</i> her) "I have no connection with the household of his Satanic +majesty, <i>nor do I intend to have</i>, albeit you have intimated to the +contrary."</p> + +<p>"Don't be too sure of that," he interrupted. "You must know that when I set +my heart upon a measure, I never allow myself to be defeated in its +accomplishment; and just now the darling object I have in view is a union +with yourself."</p> + +<p>This was <i>said</i> with much of his usual assurance, though the expression of +his face gave indications of internal uneasiness, and a trembling of soul, +which belied the ostensible bravery put on for the occasion.</p> + +<p>"You speak as though there was but one will in the world, of which you were +the fortunate possessor; permit me to disabuse your overweening confidence +and selfishness on this point. I have no wish to pass words with such an +unmanly representative of mankind as you, sir, but let me assure you it is +my very calm and fixed determination to show you that all your intentions +cannot be carried out."</p> + +<p>"We will see, then," he said, with something of aroused indignation, "whose +will 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 are +entirely and completely in my power."</p> + +<p>"I forgot nothing, sir: I am in the hands of One, before whom you are as a +grasshopper; and His justice does not always slumber."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49"></a>"Turning parson again! It is all very well; but just now that high +authority seems to be engaged in some one else's behalf, and, much to my +satisfaction, has left you to take care of yourself. I, on the contrary, +having an immediate interest in your welfare, have undertaken to care for +you; and inasmuch as your very powerful ally has given you into my hands, I +esteem it my interest and privilege to find a home and provide for you."</p> + +<p>These words of derision were spoken with mock politeness, and the manner of +the speaker indicated that much of his wonted assurance had returned.</p> + +<p>"May that God you impiously defy, whose attributes you daringly and +deridingly blaspheme, let fall upon your guilty head the just punishment +for your crimes; I ask for you no greater curse—Heaven knows that will be +dreadful enough!"</p> + +<p>"There, that will do! We have had enough preaching for one day; let us now +proceed to business. I was just remarking how completely you are in my +power, and a glance at your situation will at once reveal to you the fact +that I have you where I can compel a compliance with my wishes; but I do +not propose to use force, unless compelled to do so by your own obstinacy +and willfulness. I have already, on former occasions, spoken to you of my +deep and unquenchable love for you, and it is not my purpose to repeat the +declarations made at those several interviews farther than to say, that my +feelings toward you remain unchanged; I regard you too highly to permit +another 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. In +this respect I do not claim for myself any superior excellence; my love is +human in kind, it only differs from others by being stronger in degree; and +the deeper the love, the more ardent the desire to win the beloved. This is +my 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 I +was irresistibly driven by this strongest passion of the human heart."</p> + +<p>Seeing the direction he was giving the conversation, Eveline took up her +book and commenced reading. Duffel was exceedingly vexed, but this time he +was not to be balked in his designs, and so took the book from her hands, +saying as he did so.</p> + +<p>"I beg pardon, but now I <i>must</i> and <i>will</i> be heard. I have already +informed you of your father's feelings toward yourself and Charles Hadley: +I have now another piece of intelligence to communicate to you; and that +is, that your parent gave you to me in case I should be able, by <i>any +means</i>, to save you from a union with Hadley."</p> + +<p>"It is false! My parent gave me his solemn promise never to interpose his +authority to compel me to marry against my will."</p> + +<p>"Very well: you at the same time gave him your word never to see Hadley +until he was cleared of the crime imputed to him; he believes you have been +unfaithful on your part, and that he, therefore, is no longer bound to +observe the compact entered into between you."</p> + +<p>"Again you are guilty of misrepresentation. My father's word was pledged to +me before he had even asked me not to see Mr. Hadley, and there was, +consequently, no compact between us, but a voluntary promise on either +side."</p> + +<p>"Which you violated by going to meet Hadley, as you supposed."</p> + +<p>"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 knowledge +absolves me."</p> + +<p>"As you please on that point; for it matters but little, and does not +change the view taken of the subject by Mr. Mandeville, who, as I said, has +given you to me on the one condition of preventing a union between you and +Hadley; <i>and I am at liberty to act just as I see fit</i> in order to +accomplish this end. Don't you see that I have everything my own way, and +your father's sanction, also, to any measures I may adopt?"</p> + +<p>"What you say <i>may</i> 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 <i>do</i> know, and that is, that you have not yet obtained <i>my</i> +consent to your proposed measures, and being of age, I have the legal right +to make such disposition of my hand as I may see proper; and be assured<a name="Page_50" id="Page_50"></a> I +will never bestow it upon <i>you</i>! Sir, I would prefer to wed the vilest +wretch in the Penitentiary of any State before you."</p> + +<p>"You may repent the use of such words, fair lady; and, indeed, but for my +merciful feelings toward you, ere this you would have been glad to beg the +boon I now offer and you reject."</p> + +<p>"Infamous villain! never!"</p> + +<p>"We shall see."</p> + +<p>"And we <i>shall</i> see!"</p> + +<p>She fixed upon him that look from which he had so often shrunk before, and +again he quailed beneath it.</p> + +<p>"From what you have already said," he replied, avoiding her gaze, "I am led +to suppose you suspect me of crimes in the eyes of the law, which it would +not be pleasant for the world to know. This is an additional reason why I +cannot permit you to leave this place except as my wife; for I am not +prepared just yet to enter the court-room. I am persuaded that one of your +strongest reasons for refusing to marry me, has its foundation in a former +preference, and is kept active by the hope of a union with the object of +that preference; if so, permit me to say to you that Charles Hadley is +<i>dead</i>!"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps, but I must have better evidence of the fact than your simple, +unsupported word, or I will not believe it. <i>I know you bargained to have +him killed</i>, but I hope God overruled your wicked intentions."</p> + +<p>"Your hope is vain, and I will bring you the necessary witnesses to-morrow +to prove my words; at present I will state the fact, and add; for your +benefit, that, whether true or false, your destiny is the same, and from it +you cannot, shall not escape. I will now lay down the unalterable decree of +fate, which you may as vainly attempt to avoid, as to pluck down the stars +of heaven, or to blot out the sun from the firmament!"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps."</p> + +<p>"I give you one week in which to con the matter over in your mind; if at +the end of that time you willingly consent to become my wife, well and +good; if not, then I will make you mine whether you will or not!"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps."</p> + +<p>"Girl! don't presume too far on my patience. I warn you it is not the most +enduring in the world."</p> + +<p>"I am not so sure of that. Cowards are generally very patient when there is +no danger at hand."</p> + +<p>"You will repent this, girl!"</p> + +<p>"And you, sir! what will you do when the rope dangles in your face?"</p> + +<p>"Kiss my pretty wife and commend her to the compassion of her friends."</p> + +<p>"You will never have a wife, sir. God in His infinite mercy, will spare all +my sex from such a fearful calamity."</p> + +<p>"Enough words for this time. To-morrow I will bring the witnesses of +Hadley's death, as I promised you; and this day week I will receive your +final answer to my last offer of a peaceable marriage."</p> + +<p>So saying, he left the room and the cave.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>THE EVIDENCE—DUFFEL THWARTED.</h3> + + +<p>It would be difficult to tell which of the two, Eveline or Duffel, was most +uneasy, or least alarmed, during the progress of the conversation recorded +in 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 outward +manifestation of fear, having firmly resolved to withstand his every +attack, 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, and +contemplated the hopelessness of her situation, a tide of emotions, long +suppressed, swept over her spirit, and yielding to her feelings, she bowed +her head, and wept.</p> + +<p>When Duffel was alone, he called up all that had passed, and as he dwelt on +the revelation of his plots as made to him by Eveline, he came to the +conclusion 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 the +secrets known only to themselves.</p> + +<p>"I'll teach them a lesson!" he said, "and once clear of these fellows I +will never trust rascals again. I wish they would, hurry and make way with +Duval;<a name="Page_51" id="Page_51"></a> I would then have them! However, I must have an interview now, and +use them awhile longer."</p> + +<p>He proceeded to the "swamp," where his associates were to meet him. They +were already in waiting when he arrived, and without ceremony or +circumlocution, he accosted them as follows:</p> + +<p>"So, then, you have turned traitors, have you?"</p> + +<p>"<i>Traitors!</i>"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and been developing my secrets."</p> + +<p>"If any tongue but yours should dare make the accusation, it would be +silenced forever," replied Bill, in much excitement. "Who dares to make +such a charge against us? We demand to know, and his lying lips shall be +sealed with his own blood!"</p> + +<p>"There, that will do. It was only a woman that intimated to me that you +were unfaithful; and I thought then, as I think now, that it was all +guess-work with her."</p> + +<p>Here he narrated so much of the interview with Eveline as related to +themselves, and concluded by asking if they had held any private +conversation that she could by any possibility have overheard.</p> + +<p>"Not a word, your honor; we did not so much as make a sign by which she +might suspect us or you."</p> + +<p>"Very well, I am satisfied; but it seems she either knows or suspects +something, and we must be more than ever on our guard. What I wish to say +to 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 you +to accompany me to the cave to-morrow, and confirm my statements. You need +not implicate yourselves, but give the facts as you saw them transpire."</p> + +<p>"All right we'll be there; and I guess we can fix up the right kind of a +story for the occasion."</p> + +<p>"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 his +stock. You understand?"</p> + +<p>"Perfectly. We will try, but it's getting to be rather a dangerous business +of late. Since Mandeville's horse was stolen, the men have taken it into +their heads to defend their property. Only a few nights ago, two of our men +went over with the intention of taking Thompson's fine bay; but he was on +hand, and shot one of them through the arm; and they were glad to get off +without the horse."</p> + +<p>"Indeed! that's bad news, for we must make a raise somehow. I don't want +the captain to come back and find we have done nothing in his absence."</p> + +<p>"Well, we will do the best we can; but it is about time we were leaving +this part of the country, at least for awhile. I don't think we can effect +much, and we run great risks of being detected."</p> + +<p>"Do you think suspicion rests on any of our members?"</p> + +<p>"Well I can't say as to that. People are beginning to suspect everybody +they don't know, and some that they do. If a man hasn't any particular +occupation, he is pretty certain to be suspected of getting his living by +dishonest means."</p> + +<p>"We must get away from here. I will be ready to look out some other +location within the next fortnight. In the meantime, do the best you can, +and all that you can; but be very cautious. Remember to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"We will be there, be assured."</p> + +<p>With this the villains departed.</p> + +<p>Eveline continued to weep for some length of time and then, arousing +herself, she summoned all the courage of which she was master, and braced +herself to meet the fate in store for her, be it what it might.</p> + +<p>In passing through the room, her eye fell upon a strip of paper, which lay +in such a position as to indicate that it had been brushed from a table +which was sometimes used by Duffel to write upon. She listlessly took it up +and glanced over it, when her eye caught a few lines penciled upon it. +Seating herself, she examined the writing more closely, and in a moment +became interested. On the paper were some characters, the meaning of which +she could not comprehend, though she recognized them in a moment, as being +the same in form and character as those on the letter which had fallen into +her father's hand, purporting to be from some one to Hadley, as related in +the former part of this story, and in connection with these were clearly +traced the following words:</p> + +<p>"And then Bill and Dick! They are first rate fellows in their way, and have +been very serviceable to me; but I don't think it is best to have too many +confidants.<a name="Page_52" id="Page_52"></a> I must get rid of them in some way, either by fair or foul +means. Then I shall feel safe and at ease."</p> + +<p>These few lines, it seemed to Eveline, had been written unintentionally, as +a man would unconsciously "think aloud;" and she was persuaded in her own +mind, that Duffel knew not of their existence, or he would have destroyed +them. And this was the fact. He had written a letter to the captain on the +day previous to Eveline's abduction, the first draft of which was now in +her hand. This paper was on the table at his side, and after finishing the +letter, he sat for some moments in deep thought, the burden of which was +his own situation. His pencil was in his hand, and in the course of his +secret communion, the words we have quoted were spoken to himself, and +recorded with the pencil—his mind the while too completely absorbed in the +current of his reflections to note the act or be aware of the mechanical +action of his hand.</p> + +<p>It instantly flashed across her mind that this document might be made +serviceable to her, if, on the morrow, unperceived by Duffel, she could +find an opportunity of slipping it into the hand of one of his +confederates. She turned it over, and wrote on the other side:</p> + +<p>"I found this paper in the room where I am confined. You will know whether +or 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 willing +to desert his service, and aid me to escape out of his hands, and from this +place, you shall be abundantly rewarded, and I will ever be your debtor.</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">E. Mandeville</span>."</p> + +<p>She then folded the note into as small a compass as possible, and placed it +about her person for future use.</p> + +<p>The next day, Duffel visited the cave in company with Bill and Dick, whom +he introduced into the captain's room for the purpose already named.</p> + +<p>"You have not forgotten our conversation yesterday, Eveline," said he, "nor +have I my promise. In these gentlemen you have the witnesses of Hadley's +death, which, for your own good, I have taken this pains to establish +beyond a doubt. My friends will now speak for themselves."</p> + +<p>Bill at once addressed himself to her as follows:</p> + +<p>"It is with much pain, fair lady, that we are before you as witnesses of +the sad occurrence referred to by Mr. Duffel; but as circumstances have +placed 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, a +short time since, and being somewhat belated, were urging our passage +through a dark and gloomy valley, in some apprehension, when we suddenly +came upon two villains, who had just slain a man, and were about to rob +him. We rushed to the spot before their work was completed, and they fled +from the scene of murder in the greatest alarm. We dismounted, and found +that the individual was Mr. <span class="smcap">Charles Hadley</span>, with whom we had been +acquainted some years before. He was not yet quite dead, and spoke a few +words about his mother and some other lady; but his articulation was so +indistinct and his words so broken, we could not gather the import of what +we supposed to be his dying messages to those of whom he spoke. He expired +in a few moments, and we then hastened to the nearest hamlet for +assistance. I would fain stop here, lady, for the rest of the recital is +very shocking; but I have been requested to tell all, and must do so. It +was something over an hour before we, with some four or five others, who +had accompanied us, returned, when, oh, horror! what were our feelings on +beholding a pack of hungry wolves devouring the body of Mr. Hadley! We +lighted torches and drove them away, but nothing remained of the dead man +but his bones! God grant that I may never witness another such a sight!"</p> + +<p>Eveline, who was much shocked at this story, lest it <i>might</i> 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 made +appear as though she was about to faint, seeing which, Duffel stepped up +with the intention of supporting her. She sprang from him, and, in great +apparent agitation, seized Bill by the arm, and demanded of him if what he +had said was the actual truth, and at the same time pressed the note in his +hand, giving him <a name="Page_53" id="Page_53"></a>an intelligent look. He very dextrously transferred the +little billet to his left vest pocket, as though he was simply laying his +hand upon his heart to give greater solemnity to his reply, and said:</p> + +<p>"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 have +made."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Dick, thus appealed to, "the sad story is but too true; I wish +for your sake it was not."</p> + +<p>This was said with some feeling, and it had more effect upon Eveline than +even the horrid recital given by Bill, but she felt the necessity of +crushing down all tender feelings, and with a masterly effort succeeded in +doing so, then replied:</p> + +<p>"You will pardon me, gentlemen, for having seemed to express a doubt on the +subject of your narrative; we are apt to judge persons by the company they +keep, and knowing your friend here," (pointing to Duffel,) "is very much +given to telling falsehoods, I thought it possible you might have formed +that detestable habit through his example; I trust, however, it is not the +case."</p> + +<p>Duffel boiled with internal rage at this remark; but suppressing his anger, +he conducted his allies out of the room, gave them some directions, and +then returned to impose his unwelcome presence and conversation upon +Eveline, who had no means of avoiding him, but was compelled to hear his +words.</p> + +<p>"I hope," said he, "you are now satisfied of the truth of my declaration, +that Hadley is dead."</p> + +<p>"He may be; but I say now, as I said before, I do not <i>know</i> that he is; +but admitting that he <i>is</i> dead, what difference does it make?"</p> + +<p>"Why not much, it is true, and I think I took the liberty of saying so +yesterday. I only wish, by proving the certainty of this event, to show you +the folly of continuing longer to set your affections upon him, provided +you have been doing so heretofore."</p> + +<p>"And suppose I should cease to remember him, what would that avail you?"</p> + +<p>"I would then hope to be able to convince you of my own deep love, and in +so doing of exciting a kindred sentiment in your own bosom."</p> + +<p>"Have you the presumption to believe that I could be brought to such a +state of degradation of feeling, now that I know who and what you are, when +I rejected you under far more favorable circumstances? If you have, let me +at once tell you, that in this instance, as in many others, your vanity has +led you to entirely over-estimate your ability to please. Perhaps some of +my sex might be silly enough to listen to your well-turned speeches, but I +can assure you the less you speak to me of <i>love</i> the better."</p> + +<p>"People often change their minds."</p> + +<p>"So they do; but I think you have pretty good reason to believe that <i>I</i> am +not particularly liable to be charged with that failing."</p> + +<p>"Well, no, I believe I cannot charge you with that weakness; but I am sure +you are very obstinate for one of your sex, which is not usually adjudged +to be among the amiable characteristics of a lady."</p> + +<p>"A lady that has no mind of her own is no credit to the sex; but I am sorry +to say there are too many of that class, at least we might readily suppose +so by the easy manner in which they are taken captive with soft, silly +nonsense, and smooth, flattering words. If you admire such, the best thing +you can do is to go and make love to them; you will progress much faster +than you do here."</p> + +<p>"There now, by my troth, I like that! I wouldn't give a cent for a girl +that had no spirit about her. If you keep on at such a rate, I shall be +more madly in love with you than ever! Come, be a good girl, and give us a +little more of that kind of spice!"</p> + +<p>"You like it, do you? Very well, I will change the key a little then, just +a little, and let you have a peep at yourself. You pretend to entertain +sentiments of regard for me; but you know, and I know also, that it is my +father's wealth of which you are enamored."</p> + +<p>"No, I swear to you, I love <i>you</i>!"</p> + +<p>"And I know that is a false oath. You base hypocrite! do you think for a +moment 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 that +a 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 <a name="Page_54" id="Page_54"></a>in your character. You are false to your +friends, you cajole your enemies, and prey upon community. You <i>know</i> this +is a true picture of yourself, only that 'the half has not been told;' and +yet you have the unblushing audacity to talk to me of <i>love</i>!"</p> + +<p>"Yes; and what is more, I am going to wed you."</p> + +<p>"Sir! never dare to utter such a word in my presence again!"</p> + +<p>"Ha, ha, ha! That <i>is</i> rich, any how! Ha, ha! A weak prisoner to dare a +mighty captor in that way! You certainly must forget where you are, my +pretty little defiant beauty! Why I could just as easily compel a +compliance with my wishes, as make you a listener to my discourse."</p> + +<p>"Not quite, sir; you might possibly find yourself slightly mistaken should +you attempt too much, and I give you fair warning to beware what you do!"</p> + +<p>"Ha, ha, ha! Why, my love, I could conquer you with one hand."</p> + +<p>"You had better not try it, sir!"</p> + +<p>"I certainly would make an effort had I not already allowed you a week to +make up your mind. But to show you how completely you are in my power, I +will just plant a kiss on your ruby lips—"</p> + +<p>"Never, sir; <i>never</i>!" said she, with flashing eye. "Dare to touch me with +your polluted hand, and you die on the spot!"</p> + +<p>"Ha! what's that I hear? Talk of killing, do you? Well, we shall see."</p> + +<p>And he took a step toward her, with the intention of carrying out his +threat.</p> + +<p>"Stop, sir!" she said; and there was that in the tone of her voice which +arrested 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 in +contact with mine! I would sooner press mine to the slimy carcass of a +decaying animal, than permit them even to touch yours! and I would far +rather inhale the atmosphere from putrid flesh, aye, from the vilest +carrion, than that your foul breath should enter my nostrils! This, sir, +will give a faint idea of the utter detestation, the inexpressible +loathing, I feel for you."</p> + +<p>"By heavens! you shall repent of this in sackcloth and ashes! Detest and +loathe as you please, you <i>shall</i> feel my lips upon your own! and that +now!"</p> + +<p>With this, the infuriated villain stepped forward and made a pass, +intending to encircle Eveline in his arms, but she eluded his grasp, and +placing the sofa between them, drew from the folds of her dress a small +dagger, and pointing it at his heart, said:</p> + +<p>"One step, one movement toward me, and your life pays the forfeit!" and she +pressed the point of the weapon against his breast.</p> + +<p>The cowardly wretch was taken aback, and the moment he felt the instrument +touch him sprang away, as if the sharp steel was truly entering his flesh.</p> + +<p>"Base coward!" she, in her excitement, hissed between her teeth in the most +contemptuous manner. At his discomfiture and these words, his rage knew no +bounds; he was beside himself with anger, and but for the weapon which she +held, would have wreaked his vengeance upon her at once in the most beastly +manner. As it was, his cowardice did not permit him to make the attempt, +and he contented himself with pouring out his wrath in words:</p> + +<p>"You incarnate child of h—l! I'll make you weep in sorrow and shame for +this! 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 in +suspense. You have called up a thousand furies in my breast, all clamorous +for revenge, and I will not resist their cries! No, it will be manna to my +soul to see your proud spirit humbled, or behold you a suppliant for mercy +at my feet!"</p> + +<p>"<i>Never!</i>"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; you may talk, and by my dalliance I have learned you to become +insolent; but now I am done with temporizing. I throw down the gauntlet, +since you have entered the lists, and will compel you to accept the +challenge."</p> + +<p>"No, sir, I accept it freely! Don't talk of compelling <i>me</i> to do a thing."</p> + +<p>"I'll show you what I'll do! I'll bring tears into those flashing eyes, and +prayers from that venomous tongue! Yes, I will! I have engagements ahead +for two days, and after that you shall have no peace day or night, until I +have forced you to become my wife! I wouldn't marry you at all, but that I +have sworn to you to that effect, and I will keep my word."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55"></a>"You have uttered many false oaths before; they are so common I do not +regard them."</p> + +<p>"Your boasting will soon be done! If need be, I have fifty men under my +command, upon whom I can call for assistance, and not one of them will dare +to disobey my orders."</p> + +<p>"Poor, contemptible poltroon! Fifty men against one feeble woman! Verily, +you have a brave set of fellows under a brave commander! But you dare not +call 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 men +with your secret, especially as they all know you have a superior in +command, to whom <i>you</i> are amenable."</p> + +<p>"Who told you this?"</p> + +<p>"Find out as best you can. Perhaps I might suggest to you the possibility +of having already made friends among the members of the Order."</p> + +<p>"Order! Who the d——l told you there was an Order?"</p> + +<p>"Well, find out."</p> + +<p>"I will, then!"</p> + +<p>"And you will not!"</p> + +<p>"Then there's treason in the League, and I'll ferret it out."</p> + +<p>"Do so, by all means!"</p> + +<p>She was gaining the victory again, and he changed his tactics.</p> + +<p>"I care but little who you may have in league with you, so long as you are +here in my power. No one can enter this room without my consent, and in it +I am safe even from the attack of an army without. Here you are my +prisoner; you think you are safe in the other apartment with the door +locked and bolted on the inside, but you are not. There is a secret passage +to the room, of which you are in total ignorance. I can avail myself of it +at any moment: and you will some time be compelled to sleep. Don't you see +I have you, now?"</p> + +<p>This was sheer folly; for it was evidently his best policy to have kept the +knowledge of the secret passage to himself if he expected to avail himself +of it; but he was for inflicting all the pain he could, and this he fancied +would be a deep thrust.</p> + +<p>"I thank you, villain, for this timely piece of information; and be assured +I shall not fail to be prepared for your reception, should you dare to +intrude into my presence while there."</p> + +<p>"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 your +destiny is fixed. You shall never leave this cave, except as my wife. This +is your fate, and you may as well make up your mind to it at once. I will +have no more words with you at present, but will leave you to reflect on +what I have said, with the hope that a little calm thought will show you +the folly of resistance, the certainty of your fate and the wisdom of a +peaceful acquiescence therein."</p> + +<p>Saying which, he left the cave, as much vanquished as victor, though with a +firm resolve to carry his purpose, even if he had to disable her first, by +shooting her through the arm, with a pistol, in order to overcome her!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3>BILL AND DICK—HORSE-STEALING—ANTI-THIEF LEAGUE.</h3> + + +<p>On leaving the cave, after the interview with Eveline, Bill and Dick +resorted to a place where they were in the habit of holding consultations +on their own affairs, arrived at which, Bill produced the note which +Eveline gave him, from his pocket, and at once perused it. A dark scowl +gathered on his face as he read, and when he had mastered the document, an +exclamation broke from his lips to this effect:</p> + +<p>"Infernal villain and coward!"</p> + +<p>"What now?" queried Dick, not a little surprised at his companion's violent +language.</p> + +<p>"What do you think?"</p> + +<p>"That's a pretty question to ask! as if I could know anything contained in +that paper, when I've never seen it except in your hand."</p> + +<p>"This rascal, for whom we have been working these three months, wants to +get clear of us, so soon as he has obtained from us all the aid he +desires."</p> + +<p>"What, <i>Duffel</i>?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Duffel."</p> + +<p>Dick stood a moment, as if in doubt <a name="Page_56" id="Page_56"></a>whether to believe Bill's words or +not; at length he inquired:</p> + +<p>"How do you know this?"</p> + +<p>"Why, here it is, in his own hand-writing."</p> + +<p>That he wants to betray us?"</p> + +<p>"No—yes—that is, he wants to get us out of the way!"</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"By fair means or foul; he don't seem to care which. But I will read his +words," and Bill read the billet to his accomplice.</p> + +<p>"So he's afeard of us!" commented Dick. "Well, it ain't much wonder that he +is. Ef I had as many crimes to account for as he has, and others knew of my +guilt, I'd be skeered, too."</p> + +<p>"See here, Dick, what the d——l does he mean by wanting us to hurry off +that affair with Duval?"</p> + +<p>"Fool! can't you see nothin'? Why, he wants us to kill a member of the +Order, and then have us shot as traitors!"</p> + +<p>"Egad! plain enough, truly. Well, Mr. Duval, you may pass this time; we'll +pitch into higher game. What do you say, Dick?"</p> + +<p>"Say? Why, that this friend of ours will have to git up mighty airly in the +mornin', ef he finds us nappin'."</p> + +<p>"Let me tell you, it is no very pleasant fix, this, that we are in. Duffel +fears we will betray him, and is resolved to prevent it by having us +killed. That's the 'long and short' of the matter; and he has fifty men at +his 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 we +to help ourselves?"</p> + +<p>"Well, we can't be tried till the next regular meeting of the League, and +it 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 charge +of murder."</p> + +<p>"Yes, give him over to justice, and who is to prove him guilty, unless it +be ourselves, and then we would have the whole League down upon us in quick +time! a pretty way, indeed, to get rid of him. True, we might kill him at +our next meeting in the 'swamp' and then be hung for it, which would be a +poor recompense for our trouble and bad pay for taking the life of such a +dastard. No, I am for revenge—a revenge that will thwart his designs, and +save us from his power at the same time."</p> + +<p>"But how are you going to accomplish so much? that's the rub."</p> + +<p>"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 willing +and 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—"</p> + +<p>"Well that'll do for the present. I want to know, before you go any +further, how you are to git the gal out without the <i>key</i>, which, I take +it, Duffel is very careful to secure about his own person?"</p> + +<p>"Key! the deuce!" replied Bill, taken aback, for a moment, by the query. "I +hadn't thought of that, but it's no difference; my plans are not alf made +out in the details yet; but this is no bar to them; for I'd like to see the +lock that Bill Mitchel can't make a key to fit, if he has a fair chance. I +can make a false key in a day that will open the door to the captain's +room. So that difficulty is settled."</p> + +<p>"And now for the rest of your plan."</p> + +<p>"Well, when we get all ready, I'll just drop a note to some of the +vigilance men, and tell them when and where they can find Duffel taking +care of a stolen horse. This will save us from the malice of any of his +confederates, as they will not suspect us, and place Duffel in the hands of +the officers of the government; and he will not get away soon, I'm +thinking!"</p> + +<p>"So you expect to have Duffel captured about the same time you are +liberating his gal. Well, that's pretty sharp; I think you have not wasted +your time in Duffel's service, and after all, ought to thank him for giving +you such good lessons in plotting. But you have left one loophole yet, for +all that."</p> + +<p>"What is it?"</p> + +<p>"I've been tryin' to think what you will do with the gal when she's brought +out of the cave. She'll have to tell where she's been, and that'll fix all +of us."</p> + +<p>"I have that matter all settled. It won't do to take the girl home, that's +certain; and this is my plan for action on that score: You see I have been +thinking this matter over in my mind before to-day. I didn't know but we +should have a split with Duffel on the Duval affair, and I was <a name="Page_57" id="Page_57"></a>preparing +for 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 mountains +of Virginia, to which it has been my determination to retreat, should +anything go wrong here. Well, I intend to take this young lady along with +us to that cave."</p> + +<p>"Dang the women! I don't like to be bothered with 'em. Ef you are goin' to +that place, why not let the gal go home and 'blow' all she's a mind to? It +wouldn't hurt <i>us</i>, ef she did let out the secret."</p> + +<p>"It might, though. Some of the members of the League might chance to find +us hereafter, and inform on us out of revenge."</p> + +<p>"But we can swear the gal to keep still about who let her out."</p> + +<p>"Pooh! do you suppose she would or <i>could</i> do it?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, I think it's more'n likely she'd keep her tongue out of +gratitude. She's no common gal, that, and you may put a peg there."</p> + +<p>"Ah, that's it exactly. She's no common girl, as you say; and I have been +envying Duffel his good fortune ever since she has been in the cave. The +truth is, I was smitten by her charms the first time I saw her, and was +half tempted to play Duffel false then; and now that I can serve myself and +disappoint him at the same time, I shall not be slow to avail myself of the +opportunity."</p> + +<p>"I don't like this business of runnin' off women, nohow you can fix it. It +allers looked mean and cowardly, somehow, and I despise meanness and +cowardice above all things."</p> + +<p>"Well, that is a pretty speech to come from you, anyhow! as if you had not +been engaged in mean acts half your life, for which you would have to +swing, if the law should once get his clutches upon you."</p> + +<p>"I know I have done some <i>bad</i> things; of <i>mean</i> acts I have performed but +few, and the meanest of these was helping to carry off this very gal to the +cave; and it was by far the most cowardly. Two men to one woman! It's +actually a disgrace, and I never think of it without feelin' little!"</p> + +<p>"I am willing you should think as you please about the matter, so you give +me a little help in the affair."</p> + +<p>"I don't know about that; I am tee-totally opposed to meddlin' with women, +and I don't think it's manly."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but in this instance we are compelled, as it were, to take the girl +with us. That changes the case, you know, very materially."</p> + +<p>"I'm not so sure as we need to take her. I believe she'd keep our secret ef +we'd let her go."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't; and so we differ. But that is not the question. Go she +must—go she <i>shall</i>! Will you assist me?"</p> + +<p>"Why, I reckon I'll have to; it wouldn't hardly be fair to refuse a friend +after helpin' an enemy. I'll stand by you."</p> + +<p>"That's a good fellow! Well, so much is settled. To-morrow Duffel will be +away, and I will take the impression for the key. By Jove, won't it be rich +when he finds that he has been robbed and the bird is flown!"</p> + +<p>"I think he'll conclude this partic'lar part of God's footstool is likely +to become a leetle too hot for him."</p> + +<p>"Yes; and about the time he begins to prepare for leaving, he'll find +himself taken care of in a way he doesn't dream of."</p> + +<p>"And there will be one coward less at large in the world."</p> + +<p>"And he will be paid for his treason to his friends."</p> + +<p>"But how are we to manage him till the time for action comes?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, we must be friendly as ever; he is not quite done with us yet, and we +must seem to enter into his plans as fully as ever we have done, and, above +all, give him no cause to suspect anything is wrong, or that we have any +idea of his intentions toward us."</p> + +<p>"Then we must go after them horses to-night?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly; I would not miss the opportunity, because, if we succeed in +taking the horses, they will be under our care, and we can use them for our +own purpose."</p> + +<p>"Sure enough. But if we don't get them, what then are we to do?"</p> + +<p>"Why, we will take some from the stable."</p> + +<p>"I don't like that much. Ef it is found out, as it will be when we are +missed, we shall have the enmity of the Order."</p><p><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58"></a></p> + +<p>"I know, and have prepared for such an emergency."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"I will let you know in good time. We must away, now, to meet Duffel in the +'swamp.'"</p> + +<p>Thus terminated the interview between these bad men. Had Eveline dreamed +that such would have been the effect of her revelation to them of Duffel's +purpose, she would have burned the paper sooner than have placed it in +their hands. From one snare she falls into another, and there appears to be +no end to her misfortunes.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Night was upon the world. In peaceful slumbers the innocent reposed, while +the wicked, the thief and robber, stole out upon errands of vice and crime.</p> + +<p>'Squire Williams, though in common a follower of that old proverb:</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"Early to bed and early to rise,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Make a man healthy, wealthy and wise;"</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>was, on this evening, up until past eleven o'clock, in social chat with a +neighbor, who had "dropped in to spend the evening" with him. During the +conversation between them, the subject of most engrossing and universal +interest in that community, that of horse-stealing, was amply discussed.</p> + +<p>"What do you think is best to be done?" inquired the neighbor.</p> + +<p>"Well, others may do as they please; but I intend to <i>defend</i> my property," +was the 'Squire's reply.</p> + +<p>"Just the conclusion I have arrived at; and I shall not be surprised if we +are called upon very soon to put our resolves into practice."</p> + +<p>"Have you heard anything new?"</p> + +<p>"Well, no, I haven't heard anything, but I've seen a little, and that, I +take it, is about as good."</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, it might be better, if it was good for anything at all."</p> + +<p>"I do not know how good it is, but my suspicions were excited."</p> + +<p>"It is quite an easy matter to have our suspicions excited these exciting +times, and on this very exciting subject. There is Mr. Mandeville, has been +made to believe that one of the best young men who ever lived, is guilty of +stealing his horse first, and his daughter afterward."</p> + +<p>"You don't mean to say that he suspects Mr. Duffel of such crimes?"</p> + +<p>"No; he judges a thousand times better man than Duffel; for, between you +and me, I have my doubts about this Duffel. I have seen him on two +different occasions in company with a couple of, to say the least, very +suspicious looking characters."</p> + +<p>"You don't say so!"</p> + +<p>"Yes; and what is more, he was evidently on good terms with them, though he +did not appear to wish me to think so, and passed the matter off +indifferently. I might not have thought so much of the circumstance were it +not for the fact that he does not attend to business at all, and yet lives +in a better style and more extravagantly than any other young man in the +country. I tell you a man can't live these times, and spend money as he +does, without having an income much greater than his."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he is making inroads on his capital."</p> + +<p>"That may be, too, though I do not know that it is the case; but I <i>do</i> +know that he is absent from home much of the time, occasionally for days +together, and nobody can tell where he is."</p> + +<p>"I have noticed the fact of his absence myself."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Mandeville was here to-day, and gave me a history of his troubles. It +appears that this Duffel was in love with his daughter—or, as <i>I</i> suppose, +with his money—and had proposed to him for her hand, which he was willing +to bestow, but the daughter was not. She had placed her affections upon +another, and, in my belief, a far worthier object, and to the importunities +of both her father and Duffel, she gave a firm and constant refusal. The +parent forbid her favorite the house, and he believes that it was through +his persuasions that Eveline left her home, of which you, of course, have +heard."</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, I heard the fact, but none of the particulars."</p> + +<p>"Well there are no particulars, except that Mr. Mandeville found a couple +of notes, purporting to be from her lover, one addressed to herself and the +other to him, in the former of which he persuades her to meet him at a +certain place, and in the latter informs the parent of their elopement and +asks forgiveness. Now it strikes <a name="Page_59" id="Page_59"></a>me that these notes or letters were +placed there by design, and that they are both forgeries. I know the +hand-writing of the young man he accuses, and though the manuscript of the +two 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."</p> + +<p>"Why, then, is the daughter gone?"</p> + +<p>"I believe she has been kidnapped!"</p> + +<p>"<i>Kidnapped!</i>"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do!"</p> + +<p>"But who would do it? Who would <i>dare</i> to do it!"</p> + +<p>"Who so likely as the true lover's rival?"</p> + +<p>"Heavens! you don't believe <i>Duffel</i> would commit such a crime?"</p> + +<p>"I do; but mind, this is to go no further until I can find <i>proof</i> to +sustain my belief. I am going to keep a strict watch upon the movements of +this fellow, and I think I shall be able to find out where he keeps himself +a part of the time during his absence."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing more nor less than that there is a secret gang of thieves and +villains of all kinds, whose head quarters are somewhere in this region of +country, and that I intend to ferret out their hiding-place."</p> + +<p>"I am with you in that work with all my heart!"</p> + +<p>"Very well. Here, then, is a paper I wish you to sign. It is a pledge. The +villains have banded together to prey upon us, and I am for banding +together to frustrate their plans and bring them to justice. This is simply +the form of agreement we enter into among ourselves, and it binds us to use +all honorable efforts, to further the cause in which we engage, and to +expose the guilty wherever and whenever we can find them, even if the +offender should be our nearest kin."</p> + +<p>"I'll sign it, sir, with a hearty good will!"</p> + +<p>"It further obligates us to aid each other to the utmost of our ability in +recovering stolen property, in case any of us should meet with such a +misfortune."</p> + +<p>"All right, that's a good feature, I'm one of you, heart and hand!"</p> + +<p>"Then you may sign, understanding, however, that all which passes between +us, as members of this body, is to be kept an inviolable secret. We +administer no oath, depending solely upon the honor of our members, all of +whom are expected to be honorable and honest men, whose word will be better +than the most terrible oath of a criminal."</p> + +<p>The document was signed, and the 'Squire continued:</p> + +<p>"Now, I wish you to consider all that has or may pass between us this +evening as strictly confidential. At the last meeting of our body it was +made the duty of every member to protect his property, and to shoot down +all 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, to +fire upon them."</p> + +<p>"Indeed! is it supposed that the rascals are so bold?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly they are! Why, it was but two or three nights ago that two +thieves went into the pasture to take old Marshall's horses, supposing he +was too aged and infirm to thwart them, even if he should learn their +designs; they went early in the evening, before people usually retired to +rest; they caused a disturbance among the horses, which called out a couple +of neighbors who chanced to be there, who went to the pasture and demanded +of the thieves what they wanted; when they had the insolence to reply, that +they came after the horses and were going to have them. With this the men +fired upon them, but only with the intention of frightening them away; but +they were not so easily scared, and continued to follow up after the +horses, which were not easily caught, especially by strangers. Seeing this, +the men reloaded their rifles, and, taking the best aim the darkness would +allow, fired again; this time with the desired effect, as it was believed +one of the villains was wounded."</p> + +<p>"I had no idea they were getting so bold!"</p> + +<p>"No doubt they are numerous, and numbers beget confidence, you know. But we +must teach them a lesson or two they will not soon forget."</p> + +<p>"By the way, George Gordon came home from a hunt a day or two ago, with a +wound in his arm. Do you think it possible he could have been one of the +thieves that night?"</p> + +<p>"The truth is, I don't know who to trust nor who to suspect. I have no +<a name="Page_60" id="Page_60"></a>doubt there are numbers of seemingly honest people who belong to the +secret gang of thieves. I should hardly have believed it of Gordon; but +there is no telling. How does he account for the wound?"</p> + +<p>"He says his gun accidentally went off while he was leaning upon it with +his arm over the muzzle."</p> + +<p>"Guns are not apt to play such scaly tricks as that; and we had better +watch him."</p> + +<p>"By-the-way, I heard a report yesterday, to the effect that Thompson had +shot, or shot at, some thieves the other night."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and you will hear of more shooting; mark that! And if the thieves do +not cease their operations, you will hear of some of them being shot dead +pretty soon!"</p> + +<p>At this point in the conversation, a trampling among the horses in the +pasture attracted the attention of the 'Squire.</p> + +<p>"Thieves, now!" he exclaimed; and taking down a couple of rifles, he gave +one to his neighbor and retaining the other himself, the two sallied forth +to ascertain what was going on. It was a starlight night, and they could +see some distance tolerably clearly. No sooner did they come in full view +of the field in which the horses were, than they espied two thieves +attempting to coax the 'Squire's favorite horse to them. The animal, +however, had always been shy of strangers, and would never suffer itself to +be caught by one even in the day-time. It was a noble animal, and the +thieves, as well as the lawful owner, had set their hearts upon it. They +would approach as near as prudence dictated, and then hold out corn and +salt to entice the beast; it would come near, but the moment they made the +least motion to catch it, would wheel about and let fly at them with its +heels in such a manner as evinced to the thieves that it was best to keep +at a respectful distance. They were yet unwilling to go without him, and +made repeated attempts to win him over to their way of thinking, but he was +entirely too honest to be wheedled into such bad company.</p> + +<p>The 'Squire watched their operations until he thought it was about time to +stop the play, and then fired near, but not at the rascals, at the same +time calling out to them that they had better leave in short meter if they +wanted to get away alive. Supposing that he was alone and his gun empty, +they returned an insolent answer, to the effect that they would leave +shortly on a couple of his horses; and turned to try their hand at taking +some of the others in the pasture. To such a bold pass had the thieves +arrived!</p> + +<p>"Aim <i>at</i> the rascals, and fire!" said the 'Squire to his companion; and +they did so.</p> + +<p>"By jing, Bill, we'd better be moving, I believe. That ball took a lock of +hair off by my ear!"</p> + +<p>"The devil it did!"</p> + +<p>Everything being still at the moment, the 'Squire heard this scrap of +conversation between the thieves, and called out:</p> + +<p>"Yes, you <i>had</i> better leave, or I'll put the next ball through one of your +hearts!"</p> + +<p>"Do it, then, and be ——!" said one of them; and leveling a horse pistol +at the 'Squire he fired, the ball from which struck the fence close by. +This climax of insolence aroused the 'Squire fully. His gun was just +reloaded, and taking the best aim at one of the miscreants, both of whom +were now retreating rapidly, he fired. The fellow clapped his hand to his +face, but continued to run. They were soon out of sight.</p> + +<p>The incidents here related are strictly true; but the truth is not half +told. 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!</p> + +<p>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's +pasture, as Duffel suggested, or to get his horses as they themselves +desired.</p> + +<p>So soon as the thieves were gone, the neighbor remarked to the 'Squire:</p> + +<p>"This reminds me of what I was going to say in the early part of the +evening, but was led from the subject by the turn our conversation took."</p> + +<p>"I remember, now, you mentioned having seen something, which excited your +suspicions that all was not right, in some quarter."</p> + +<p>"Well, it was two men, very dare-devil looking fellows, whom I have seen +prowling about on several occasions, looking <a name="Page_61" id="Page_61"></a>out, as I thought, for +chances to steal; and if I am not greatly mistaken, these are the same +men."</p> + +<p>"No doubt of it at all.—This night's operations have convinced me more +than ever of the necessity of strong measures; and the next time I see +thieves at their work, I will not stop to scare them, but the first fire +will be to wound or kill!"</p> + +<p>"I think I shall act on the same principle."</p> + +<p>"I advise you to, and all other honest men. I am satisfied nothing else +will do."</p> + +<p>With this they parted, each going to his own home.</p> + +<p>It may be well enough to explain more fully than has yet been done, that +Bill and Dick acted in two capacities, one of ruffians, the other as +gentlemen. Bill was equally at home in either character, and could act the +latter quite <i>a la mode</i>. Dick was rather out of his element when it came +to the gentleman: he was a little awkward, and by no means at his ease; but +give 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 he +was better than either Bill or Duffel.</p> + +<p>It was at Dick that the 'Squire aimed the last shot, and the bullet grazed +his cheek, doing him no serious injury, however, though it drew the blood +and left a scar.</p> + +<p>The two villains notwithstanding that they were foiled in their attempt +upon the horses, prepared for the prosecution of the rest of their schemes +on the morrow with great energy. But leaving them for the present, we will +turn to other scenes and characters.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3>EVELINE—THE ANTI-LEAGUE.</h3> + + +<p>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 her +situation came upon her, as she strove to penetrate the future, in all its +crushing force; and she would then weep for a time. But there was a +firmness about her character and a strength of determined resolution in her +purposes, which braced her spirit and filled her bosom with feelings such +as only have birth and nourishment in heroic souls. She looked her intended +fate in the face, with the fixed purpose to meet and conquer it, or perish +in the attempt.</p> + +<p>In Duffel's absence, she had, on several occasions, searched the rooms of +the cave in which she was confined, to see if there was no secret passage +which communicated with the outer world. Her search had proved unavailing; +but instead of the outlet she was seeking, she found a small, jewel-hilted +dagger in a rich and costly case. It struck her at once that this weapon +might prove of great value to her, and with much care she concealed it in +the folds of her dress, where it was made fast. It was this dagger that +served her so excellently in the interview with Duffel, recorded in a +preceding chapter.</p> + +<p>During the interview just referred to, it will be remembered how admirably +she sustained her part, and how triumphantly she thwarted Duffel in all his +villainous calculations, and especially in his attack upon her person. +After the wretch was gone, and she found herself alone, a train of sad +reflections came crowding in upon her mind. Was Hadley indeed dead? she +thought—and then the circumstantial narrative of the two accomplices of +her captor arose fresh in her mind.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my God!" she exclaimed, "can it be that ravenous beasts fed upon his +flesh? that those arms upon which I have leaned, and which I hoped would +protect me, were torn from his body? that those lips which have smiled so +sweetly and spoken so hopefully and tenderly, and that noble face and brow +were gloated over by howling and bloody jaws! No, no; it cannot be! God is +just! and the wicked shall not triumph."</p> + +<p>She tried to drive the horrible picture from her thoughts, and after a time +succeeded; for she felt the necessity of self-control in her trying +situation, and bent all her energies to that point. Then she reflected upon +all that had transpired that day, and she felt that with Duffel there was +no mercy. But she was not overcome by the thought. If worst come to worst, +she resolved that death should save her from the spoiler.</p> + +<p>As these reflections occupied her mind, she remembered the declaration of +the <a name="Page_62" id="Page_62"></a>villain concerning the secret communication between the two apartments +in which she was imprisoned. Until now it had been a source of no small +consolation to her, that, in case of an emergency, she could retreat to her +own room, and there abide in safety. But now this small comfort was taken +from her, and she felt how completely she was in the power of her +adversary. This feeling, however, did not crush her spirit; for she had +already brought herself to the sublime point of martyrdom, and was prepared +to die for virtue, rather than yield, <i>in any case</i>, to become the victim +of sin, or to the wishes of the base wretch who hoped to conquer her.</p> + +<p>Life is sweet, and it will never be surrendered by one who has a correct +appreciation of its Author, until every consistent effort has been made to +preserve it. Hence, Eveline determined to use every means to save herself +before having recourse to this last resort.</p> + +<p>As she was reflecting upon this matter, the suggestion came, that, perhaps, +she might find this secret passage between the two rooms, and possibly be +able to fasten the entrance way to her apartment on the inside, and thus +bar the miscreant out, who would dare intrude upon her privacy. Acting upon +the supposition that this idea was not beyond the pale of possibility, she +commenced a diligent examination of all that part of the wall of the outer +room which extended as far as the inner one; but she could find no +resemblance to a door, no crack in the solid rocks, no spot on the floor +which gave the least indication of what she sought. All was apparently an +unbroken mass, through which no mortal or living thing had ever passed. She +began to think that, after all, Duffel might possibly be deceived himself, +or else was only trying to frighten her. Determined, however, if there was +such a communication as he spoke of, to find it, if it could be found, she +went into the other room, and commenced the same minute search, having +first locked and bolted the door, so as to make certain of not being +discovered or interrupted, unless the intruder should come by the secret +way. After the closest examination of the wall, with her eyes, to no +purpose, she commenced trying the efficacy of touch, pressing her fingers +over every portion of the surface of the room; but, as no appearance of +what she was laboring to find rewarded her search, she began to despair of +success.</p> + +<p>"If there is such a passage," she thought within herself, "it is so guarded +that none may find it, save the possessors of the secret: and my only hope +is in sleepless watchfulness. How long I shall be able to live without +sleep, God knows."</p> + +<p>In this manner the night was passed—night in the outer world; for to her +the night and day were alike, and she could only guess as to which +prevailed above her. She sat down to collect her thoughts and form, if +possible, 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 had +been crowded from her mind for the past few hours by the pressure of other +things.</p> + +<p>"Oh, if I but knew how it would affect them!" she said, as she suffered her +thoughts to dwell upon the subject. "They will certainly see the folly of +trusting in Duffel, and the imminent danger they are exposed to in his +service; but will they, can they help me? I will hope even if it is vain to +do so. It is a fearful thing to be compelled to throw one's self into the +hands and upon the mercy of such bad men; but God can overrule the evil +intentions of the wicked, and very bad men sometimes perform noble and +generous deeds."</p> + +<p>Ah! had she known that at the very moment she was thus endeavoring to +console herself, Bill was taking an impression of the lock to the door of +the outer room, for the purpose of taking her to another prison, farther +from home and hope than the one she was now confined in, how the little +hope from that source would have died in her bosom!</p> + +<p>After remaining for some length of time in a state of attempted repose, her +mind, the while, completely absorbed in contemplating her own situation, +she finally concluded to go out into the other apartment, and make another +effort there, to find the entrance, if such there was, to her own room.</p> + +<p>She had not been thus employed long, when a knocking at the outer door +attracted her attention. She listened a moment, and then, supposing it to +be Duffel, <a name="Page_63" id="Page_63"></a>was about to retire to the inner cavity and bar him out; but +just as she started to put this resolve in execution, her steps were +arrested by hearing her own name called in a voice not like Duffel's. She +instantly paused, and the call was repeated:</p> + +<p>"Miss Mandeville! If you are present and hear me, please step to this door +and look into the keyhole. It is a friend, who will aid you, that is now +addressing you."</p> + +<p>With a beating heart, she quickly reached the door, and from the place +designated drew a small, compact roll of paper. On it were traced some +lines by one who was evidently a highly accomplished penman. She hastened +to examine the purport of the billet, which read as follows:</p> + +<p>"Your appeal to us for assistance was not made in vain. We are fully +satisfied of Duffel's wicked and base intentions toward us, and are +resolved to thwart them. You shall be brought out of this den, and behold +again the sunlight of heaven. By the day after to-morrow we will have our +arrangements completed, when you may expect to hear from us again. Hold +yourself in readiness to leave this place at any moment. Is this +satisfactory to you, fair lady?"</p> + +<p>There was no name to this; but it needed none to tell Eveline from whom it +came. She knew it was from Duffel's accomplices, and rejoicing in the +success of her plan, she replied to the inquiry at the close with alacrity:</p> + +<p>"Yes, my good friends, this is eminently satisfactory. May God bless you, +as you help me."</p> + +<p>"Thank you for the confidence you place in us! we will endeavor to reward +your expectations by delivering you from this dismal prison, at the very +earliest moment possible. Will you now be so good as to burn the little +strip of paper, lest by some unfortunate accident it might betray us to our +mutual enemy, and thereby frustrate our plans?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, I will burn it immediately."</p> + +<p>"Thank you. Keep up your courage, and be of good cheer."</p> + +<p>"Accept my warmest gratitude for your generous aid, gentlemen; and be +assured you shall not go unrewarded for the great service you render me."</p> + +<p>"We ask no pay. The service you speak of will be most cheerfully and gladly +rendered; and in your enlargement and the defeat of Duffel, we shall be +more than a thousand times rewarded for the small efforts we shall be +compelled to put forth in your behalf. And now adieu!"</p> + +<p>"Adieu, gentlemen, and may Heaven bless you, in your efforts on my behalf."</p> + +<p>It would be impossible to describe the feelings of Eveline at the close of +this interview, separated though she was from her expected deliverers by a +door of adamant. She did not take time to think into whose hands she was +about to fall; in her gratitude and enthusiasm she forgot that they were +ruffians, and clothed them in garments and with the glory of heroes, who +for her sake risked their lives! Oh had she seen the blackness of heart +which lay at the bottom of their seeming heroism and noble deeds, how her +poor heart would have grown sick, and her bright hopes gone out in midnight +darkness!</p> + +<p>She retired to her room, bolted herself in, again read the note, then +burned it, and gave herself up to the enjoyment of the first delicious hope +that 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 her +desponding spirit! Two more days, and she would be free from her fiendish +persecutor, and could fly to her parent, to pour the balm of consolation +into 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 of +hope she must so soon be hurled!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>We may as well remark here as at any other point, that the arrangements of +the order with regard to the cave were these: One of the number was always +expected to be within its precincts, to admit members who wished to obtain +entrance, either to escape the pursuit of officers of justice, or to +deposit booty. If by any possible chance this guarding sentinel should be +called away, without being able to give warning of his departure from the +post assigned him, he was to leave the key in a designated spot, where any +member might find it in case of need. As Bill did <a name="Page_64" id="Page_64"></a>not wish any one to know +what he was doing at the door, he very generously offered to take the +sentinel's place for a half-day, and permit him to go out and breathe the +fresh air. The offer was gladly accepted; and Bill succeeded, to his entire +satisfaction, in getting an impression of the lock, while on duty in the +sentinel's stead.</p> + +<p>There was, also, in a far corner of the outer cave, or rather, in an +apartment by itself, a kind of kitchen, where food was prepared. It was +from this place that Duffel supplied Eveline with nourishment, taking her +meals 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 the +captain's room for her to partake of when and as she saw proper; for she +would touch nothing that he brought, in his presence, nor would she have +done so at any other time, could she have lived without food; it was only +to be preserved from starvation, that she forced herself to eat in that +cheerless abode.</p> + +<p>In another part of the cave, separated from the main room partly by natural +and partly by artificial means, was a kind of magazine, where powder, lead +and arms were kept. To this the men had access at any time, and always +resorted when in need of weapons or ammunition. With this brief +explanation, the reader will be able to understand how things were managed +by this band of freebooters, as, also, some of the succeeding portions of +this story.</p> + +<p>As we said, Bill left the cave and went out to see Dick, who was stationed +along the passage-way in the bank of the stream, to impart to him the +success of their operations thus far, and to finish the details of some of +their arrangements for the future. The two worthies remained in +conversation some two or three hours awaiting the return of the sentinel; +and then Bill, becoming impatient, left the cave in Dick's care, and +hastened away to get his key made. A portion of their conversation while +together will be given hereafter, when a third party will be introduced as +a listener; a party who at <i>once</i> became most deeply interested in their +plans, and caught every word with the greatest eagerness, and with such +emotions as may be supposed to agitate a human bosom only in cases where +life and death are pending in the balances.</p> + +<p>Will the contest be villain for villain? and life against life? We shall +see! 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 brother +murderer? Let us not anticipate.</p> + +<p>Before proceeding with the direct thread of our narrative, we will again +glance at the action of the "Anti-Horse-Thief League," organized, as +already intimated, to put down the bold land-pirates, whose depredations +upon property had become so unbearable the honest portion of community had +no alternative left but to "become a law unto themselves," and by direct +and combined action clear the country of the host of desperadoes with which +it had become infested and overrun. Many of our aged readers will remember +those exciting times; perhaps some of them can call to mind the very hour +when <i>they</i> were forced to take their rifles in hand and go forth to defend +their property.</p> + +<p>On the very night that Bill and Dick made their ineffectual attempt on +'Squire Williams' horses, two others of the "Horse Thief League," as the +gang of thieves were christened by the honest portion of community, went on +a similar excursion into a different neighborhood, some five or six miles +away, and met with a still warmer reception from the farmer whose stock +they endeavored to remove without his consent, than did Bill and Dick in +their 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 his +own 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 accounted +for on strictly honorable grounds; but people understood the matter; and +when, the second day, his remains were borne to the tomb, people shook +their heads, but kept their lips compressed. If his children could grow up +honest men, the crime for which their father died should never be imputed +to them, or cast reproach upon their after lives. Then, too, it would not +do to speak too plainly about a man's being killed, as it might lead to +unpleasant consequences in after years, perhaps; for men were acting +<a name="Page_65" id="Page_65"></a>unlawfully in thus defending their property with arms.</p> + +<p>These things caused still more active and energetic measures to be adopted +by the Anti-League. A vigilance committee was appointed, consisting at +first of three, and afterward of five men, who were to serve one month, and +then be relieved by other five, each member taking his turn, until all had +served. The duty of this committee was to keep a constant watch upon the +movements of all suspected characters; and when a horse was stolen, to +follow up the thief until, if possible, the offender was taken and the +horse recovered. 'Squire Williams volunteered to serve on this committee as +one of the first five, and four others joined themselves with him. For +himself, without naming his suspicions to any one, he kept an eye upon +Duffel's movements, resolved, if he was guilty, to prove him so, by the +collection of such facts as would convict him in a court of justice. The +neighbor who was with him on the night of the attack became his companion +on 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; so +that while Duffel was busy making his arrangements with the members of the +Thief League, in anticipation of a speedy removal of the head quarters of +operations to another part of the country, and while Bill and Dick were +busy with their plans of villainy, having in view the defeat of Duffel and +the possession of Eveline, the committee were also busy, endeavoring by the +most active and vigilant efforts, conducted at the same time with great +celerity, to circumvent the villains; not that they knew the particular +plots and counter-plots that were going on among the common enemy, for of +these they were ignorant; but they were determined to hunt them up and stop +their depredations.</p> + +<p>Thus it will be seen that the elements are at work; and from the determined +character of all the operators and their great desire to have things done +speedily, we may expect stirring times.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3>HADLEY.</h3> + + +<p>It will be remembered, that after his recovery from the wounds inflicted by +Bill and Dick, as recorded in a former chapter, Hadley proceeded to +Philadelphia. When he reached that city he found his mother and uncle both +very sick, and in need of constant care and attention. She had no kind +daughter to sit by her couch and smooth her pillow; and he had no +affectionate wife to bathe his fevered brow with her soft hand, and by such +gentle attentions as no one else can bestow, alleviate his pain. Hadley +endeavored, to the best of his ability, to fill the place of daughter to +one, and of wife to the other, in his assiduous efforts to watch over, aid +and comfort them; and though he did not possess all that sweet softness of +manner and voice that belongs especially to woman, and though he could not +perceive, with the quick intuition of the other sex, yet by constant +attention he was enabled to ease many a pain and throw comfort into many an +otherwise sad and lonely hour.</p> + +<p>At first his mother was in need of the most attention, and was hardly +expected to live from one day to the next; but he soon had the satisfaction +of seeing her disease yield to nature and treatment, and she began to grow +better. 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.</p> + +<p>Between the uncle and nephew there had existed a coldness for some years, +which was caused by the following circumstance:</p> + +<p>In his youth the uncle was the companion of an estimable young man, between +whom and himself there existed the warmest friendship and sincerest +attachment. They were indebted to each other for many kind acts, and thus +became mutually endeared one to the other. At length they were separated, +by the uncle going to the West Indies on business, expecting to be detained +a length of time, perhaps for years, which proved to be the case. While he +was away the friend of his younger days met with that fate so <a name="Page_66" id="Page_66"></a>common to +mankind—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 the +house of his friend a joyful wife and a beautiful, smiling daughter, a +child of seven years, with a sweet disposition, and a heart to love +everybody.</p> + +<p>To this young child, Mr. Scofield—James Scofield was the uncle's +name—soon became very deeply and fervently attached, as did also the child +to him; He saw that the father had found a nearer and dearer friend than +himself, and he was glad in his heart to witness the happiness which +reigned in the peaceful home so sweetly cheered by love. Many persons would +have been jealous of the wife's ascendency in her husband's affections; but +instead of envying the wife, or feeling ill toward her, he came to love her +as a friend, not only for her own sake, but, also, because she made his +friend such a kind and amiable companion; and in the endearment of their +little girl, who soon learned to be his pet, he was repaid for any +exclusive companionship from her father that he might have monopolized had +he remained, like himself, a bachelor.</p> + +<p>Four years after his return from the Indies, Mr. Scofield was called to the +bedside of his dying friend. In their last interviews he was charged with +the guardianship and care of the young girl, conjointly with the mother, +who was also recommended to his friendship, with the injunction ever to be +to her as a brother and a counselor. These trusts he accepted, with a +promise to be all to the dear ones he left behind that his friend could +wish; and this promise he faithfully kept. No friend, brother, father, or +husband could have been more attentive to the wants, or more solicitous for +the welfare of those entrusted to their protection or dependent upon them +than he was. He endeavored to anticipate their desires and necessities—of +advice and friendship, not of goods, for the friend was in good +circumstances, and had left them with plenty of means to live well and +comfortably all their lives—and in all things to be to them the kind +friend they needed.</p> + +<p>A warm attachment existed between them. Many thought—and idle gossips +whispered it about—that the widow was soon to console herself for the +great loss she had sustained, by taking Mr. Scofield as a second husband; +but no such idea ever entered <i>their</i> minds. Her heart was buried in the +grave 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 taking +her to the altar, the angels came and took her to their homes, beyond the +reach of blight or death; and since then his thoughts often wandered away +to the regions of perfection; and with the memory of his loved one in +heaven, he never coupled a thought of a second love on earth.</p> + +<p>It was not long that the widow and her husband's friend remained in +ignorance of each other's feelings; the secret he had kept from all others +he confided to her; and in mutual explanations and confidences, they soon +came to understand each other; and thenceforth their intercourse was +unrestrained and cordial. What knew or cared they for the busy tongue of +rumor? Nothing. Secure in each other's esteem, with a high rectitude of +purpose, they continued their good offices to each other, careless what the +world might say, so they gave no cause for vicious tongues to speak evil of +them.</p> + +<p>We need hardly say that with such intimate association, Mr. Scofield +learned to love little Ida as a father loves his own child. Had it not been +for the judicious watchfulness and careful training of her excellent +mother, she might have been spoiled by his petting. As it was, no child +could be gladder to see a parent than she was to see her friend. She would +bound away to meet him; and when seated, would climb upon his knee while +young, and when older seat herself by him and listen to the stories he +would tell her, or play in his locks with her childish fingers.</p> + +<p>About a year after his friend's death, Mr. Scofield's only sister lost her +husband; and, at his earnest solicitation, she and her little boy came to +live with him.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hadley was not wealthy, though she could not be called poor, as her +husband had left her a small property, which, by careful management, would +school Charles and keep them both until he should arrive at manhood, when, +by his own exertions, he could carve out a fortune for himself.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67"></a>Mr. Scofield soon learned to love Charles very dearly, for he was an +amiable and affectionate boy, and always strove to be kind and dutiful to +his uncle. It was one of the brother's first acts to introduce his sister +to his friend's wife; and they were not long in forming a warm attachment +for each other; so much so that Mr. Scofield became almost jealous of each +of them for cheating him out of so much of the society of both. He might +have become quite jealous had it not been for the fact that while the +mothers were entertaining each other, he was left to entertain the +children, who, of course, were soon almost constantly together, and were +not long in becoming as familiar and affectionate as brother and sister.</p> + +<p>It was not long until Mr. Scofield conceived the idea of a marriage between +these two children when they should arrive at proper age; and this finally +became the darling wish and object of his life.</p> + +<p>It does not come within the scope of this sketch, to dwell upon particulars +in regard to the affairs of these two happily situated families, and so we +pass over the intervening years, until Charles, at seventeen, was sent to +College. About the same time Mr. Scofield was called away to the West +Indies on business, and by his advice, the two widows were to live together +during his absence.</p> + +<p>He had never breathed his intentions concerning the young people to any +one, and he hoped no interference would be required, but that the constant +association of the two would naturally result in an attachment like the one +he so anxiously desired to spring up between them.</p> + +<p>Charles made rapid progress at college, and in three years graduated with +honor. During these three years he had seen his uncle but once, as his +India 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 over +three years in arranging it, which, was finally done by closing it up and +removing his funds nearer home.</p> + +<p>He was very proud of Charles as a student, and often prophesied great +things for him; but he was sorry to be able to perceive no signs of an +attachment like that of lovers existing between the young folks. Still he +was hopeful. They might love and not know it themselves; if so, it would +require something to awaken them to a consciousness of the fact. He +resolved on trying an experiment. Meeting Ida alone, he said:</p> + +<p>"Do you know, my dear, that I am about to send Charles away?"</p> + +<p>"No. Where is he going?"</p> + +<p>"Where there is a possibility we may never see him again."</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't say so, uncle!" (She had learned to call him uncle.) "What would +we do without him? Do send some one else, and let him stay!"</p> + +<p>The uncle thought he saw the evidence of a deep affection in her evident +distress, and, as this was his object, he replied:</p> + +<p>"Oh, I had only thought of sending him to the West Indies; but if you +insist so hard, I suppose I shall have to find some one else to go."</p> + +<p>"There, that's a good, dear uncle, as you always are. Oh, I am so glad +Charles will not be sent away from us!"</p> + +<p>With secret delight—for he felt sure she loved his nephew as he +wished—Mr. Scofield next sought Charles, to see if an interview with him +would result as satisfactorily to his wishes as with Ida. He was +disappointed; Charles evidently loved Ida, but it was only with a brotherly +affection. He waited a few weeks longer, and then spoke plainly to his +nephew on the subject that lay nearest his heart. He told the young man how +much he desired to see him and Ida united, and hoped if he did not already +love her, that he would try to do so. As Charles had formed no attachment +at that time, he readily consented to converse with Ida—ascertain whether +her affections were engaged to him, and if so, to reciprocate them, if +possible. 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.</p> + +<p>"I had never thought of that," she said; "but if it is his desire and yours +also, that we should be united, I think I could live happily with you."</p> + +<p>This was said in a matter-of-fact way, that, more clearly than anything +else, showed her want of that peculiar kind of love which sanctifies +marriage. Charles saw this, and replied:</p> + +<p>"I have no doubt, Ida, but you would make one of the best of wives; but I +should fear to wed you, when neither of us loved more ardently than we do."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68"></a>"Why would you <i>fear</i>?"</p> + +<p>"That either or both of us might afterward see some one that we could love +as those are expected to, who enter into the solemn obligations of the +marriage covenant. The heart is not master of its own emotions; they come +and go, regardless of our calls and commands, and we may not count upon +being able to control them. How wretched it would cause either of us to be +united to each other, while a third party was loved, I leave you to +determine for yourself. I have been so accustomed to regard you as a +sister, it seems strange to think of you in any other light; and I hope +this little passage between us will not mar the freedom of our +intercourse."</p> + +<p>"I am sure I do not intend that it shall; and I think in consenting to +become a nearer companion to you than even a sister, I have given ample +assurance of my esteem and regard."</p> + +<p>"We will then continue to be friends, and I will go at once and communicate +our decision to my uncle."</p> + +<p>When Charles related to Mr. Scofield what had transpired between himself +and Ida, he saw that his uncle was deeply disappointed and dissatisfied.</p> + +<p>"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!"</p> + +<p>"Why, uncle!" replied Charles, in utter astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you have!" continued the old gentleman, "and I am provoked at you. I +have always intended to make you my heir, but I shall not do it now, at +least, not until you consent to wed Ida."</p> + +<p>"Ida does not wish to marry me."</p> + +<p>"She'll not object, I know she will not. I have set my heart upon the +match, and you must marry her, Charles."</p> + +<p>"I am deeply pained to say so, but I cannot."</p> + +<p>"You <i>must</i>!"</p> + +<p>"Nay, then, I <i>will not!</i>"</p> + +<p>"Boy! do you wish to drive me to disinherit and disown you?"</p> + +<p>"Disinherit me if you will, but I beg you will not disown me. I have a +conscience in this matter; if it was only a whim, I would yield to your +wishes."</p> + +<p>"And you utterly refuse to accede to my desires?"</p> + +<p>"I do."</p> + +<p>"Well, I am sorry for you, but I am resolved, seeing you care so little for +me, to substitute Ida's name for yours in my will."</p> + +<p>Charles could bear to be treated harshly, but to be accused of want of +affection and gratitude toward the benefactor to whom he owed so much, +called tears to his eyes.</p> + +<p>"You know, uncle, that I love you as I would a father, and it is unjust of +you to charge me with a want of affection."</p> + +<p>Mr. Scofield was moved by the evident distress his words had caused in his +nephew's mind, and relenting a very little, he said:</p> + +<p>"I will try you, then; instead of cutting you off at once, I give you a +week to consider the matter over; if, in that time, you find you love me +well enough to accede to my wishes, well and good; if not, I will surely do +as I have said."</p> + +<p>Saying this, he abruptly closed the interview, and left Charles in a state +of the deepest distress and sorrow. His mother tried to persuade him to +yield to his uncle's good pleasure; and, finally, Ida and her mother joined +in entreating him not to break all their hearts by suffering himself to be +driven from home. He had most difficulty to overcome Ida's pleadings, for +she told him no fate could be so bad as for him to be sent away, to wander +in the world, and die, perhaps, among strangers, with no kind mother, +sister or friend to minister to his wants or smooth his dying pillow.</p> + +<p>"Spare me, Ida!" he said with emotion. "You will yet see the day when you +will thank me for my firmness. If I did not think so—if I could be +convinced that you loved me, as every woman's heart must love some one at +some period in life, I would not hesitate to comply with the wishes you all +express, and remain on my uncle's terms. As it is, I shall go."</p> + +<p>The week expired, and at its close Charles had everything arranged to leave +home. He formally told his uncle of his determination to seek his own +fortune, as it was impossible for him to comply with his wishes; but that +he did not go in anger. For his fortune he cared but little, though it was +a great grief to be compelled to go from him bearing his ill-will.</p> + +<p>The uncle was much affected, and a word of entreaty from the young man +would have induced him to recall the <a name="Page_69" id="Page_69"></a>sentence of his doom; but as that +word was not spoken, he could not quite unbend enough to voluntarily ask +his nephew to remain. Charles left on the morning after the interview, for +the west, having, after due reflection, arrived at the conclusion that a +competence could be secured there as speedily as anywhere else. Fortune led +him to the Mandeville settlement, where he soon became a favorite, and +where he was in a fair way to accumulate a reasonable share of this world's +goods, when the incidents occurred and the mishaps befel him, which have +already been narrated.</p> + +<p>With these digressive remarks, thrown in to give the reader a fuller +knowledge of the character and position of one of our most interesting +characters, as, also, that what follows may be understood, we return to +that portion of our story now supposed to be more deeply interesting to +those who have followed us thus far, in the perusal of this more than +merely romantic tale.</p> + +<p>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 cheerfully +performed 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 up +before his mental vision, and if left to the current of thought for a brief +period, his reflections became of the most agonizing character, and the +topics upon which he dwelt something like these:</p> + +<p>Was she sick? or, worse for his hope, had she passed to that "bourne from +whence no traveler returns?" If alive, was she still persecuted by Duffel? +was her father still resolved to force her to wed the villain against her +will?</p> + +<p>As such thoughts rushed through his mind, he almost became impatient of +duty and ready to leave his post to fly to the rescue of his love. But a +groan from either of the invalids would instantly call back his wandering +mind, and in the active labor of kindness and sympathy, he always forgot +his own troubles. It was well for him he knew not of the charge preferred +against him by his base rival, and still better that he knew nothing of the +villain's intentions in regard to the idol of his heart, or he would +probably have left the sick ones to care for themselves, and flown to the +rescue of her he loved, ere she was stolen and conveyed to the cave.</p> + +<p>In the midst of his duties at the bedsides of the afflicted, he had +forgotten to inquire after his old friends, Ida and her mother; but so soon +as Mrs. Hadley began to mend, she told him they were away from the city on +a visit to some friends, but were expected to return in a few days. He was +glad to hear this, for as soon as he could leave, he wished to return to +the west. He made a confidant of his mother, and told her she must excuse +his impatience to learn the fate of his affianced bride. She remembered but +too well the days of her youth to chide him, telling him he should go as +early as he felt it safe to leave his uncle. They had scarcely finished +their little communications, when Charles was called to minister to the +other invalid. After making him as comfortable as possible, Mr. Scofield +requested him to be seated, and then opened a conversation with him, on +this wise:</p> + +<p>"I suppose, Charles, you have not forgotten the cause that separated us?"</p> + +<p>"No, uncle, I have not?"</p> + +<p>"And do you still adhere to your old determination?"</p> + +<p>"I do?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I have repented of my rashness, and I hope you will forgive me."</p> + +<p>"I have nothing to forgive, but much to be thankful for."</p> + +<p>"I was very cruel, for I had set my heart on the marriage, and it was a +deeper disappointment to me than you could well imagine; but it is over +now, and I am satisfied all has turned out for the best, seeing you did not +love each other. I have finally arranged my affairs, and my will bequeathes +ten thousand dollars to Ida, and the rest, about fifty thousand, to +yourself. I may not live long, or I may linger for years; but whether I go +soon or remain long, be a friend to Ida and her mother when I am taken from +them."</p> + +<p>"I could not be otherwise, my dear uncle; it will be truly a pleasure to +serve and protect them. But now let me thank you from the bottom of my +heart, for your kindness. I am unworthy to become your heir, but if it so +please Providence and you to permit me to become the recipient of your +bounty, I shall make it my endeavor to use and not abuse your wealth."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70"></a>"God help you there, my boy! It is a difficult thing to make good use of +riches."</p> + +<p>We shall not dwell to narrate all that transpired. In a few days Ida and +her mother came home, and learning the situation of their friends, +immediately installed themselves as nurses to the sick.</p> + +<p>Hadley was now relieved from the weight of care and duty he had assumed, +and took more rest.</p> + +<p>His meeting with Ida was cordial, and it was not many hours till they were +mutual confidants, and Ida said:</p> + +<p>"So, you see, I <i>do</i> thank you for your firmness. But, oh, I so much wish +to see Eveline. You must go back soon. She may need your aid."</p> + +<p>And he did go soon. Mr. Scofield soon began to convalesce; his mother was +out of danger, and bidding all an affectionate adieu, with the hope soon to +meet again, he started in the early dawn of a beautiful morning for the +scene of his hopes and fears.</p> + +<p>On the second day of his journey, a sad presentiment of impending evil took +possession of his mind. Ah! had he known the situation of his beloved at +that hour, how his heart would have died within him, and his soul burned to +inflict merited retribution on the heads of her enemies. But the dark fate +that hung over her at that hour was vailed from his view, and hope mingled +with fear in his bosom. Fear, however, kept increasing, and before the +close of the third day, a voice seemed to Whisper:</p> + +<p>"Haste, Hadley, haste! Wings of lightning can scarcely bear thee swift +enough to the rescue of her thou lovest so dearly!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE UNKNOWN LISTENER.</h3> + + +<p>Eveline continued to indulge in her pleasing reverie of hope, and in the +cheering thoughts that came crowding upon her mind in anticipation of a +speedy release from her dungeon, and restoration to her father and friends, +she forgot that her situation, in the meantime, was one of peril, even if +her newly found friends should be able to accomplish their object. Duffel +might return at any moment, and, in vindictive fury, bring about her ruin +or death. Such dark pictures, however, were, for the moment, driven from +her mind by those of a more enlivening nature, and she ceased to search +after, or even to bear in mind, the secret passage.</p> + +<p>As she sat in peaceful quiet, thinking of home and dear ones, her eye +chanced to fall upon a spot in the wall, where, the light striking it to +advantage, 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 bright +object; and approaching, she placed her finger upon it. It seemed to be +imbedded firmly in the solid rock, but projected out a very little beyond +the surrounding portions of the wall, just far enough to be perceived by +the 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 a +single person through its portals. In a twinkling her labors of the past +day and night came to remembrance, and she exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"<i>The secret passage!</i>"</p> + +<p>In a moment all her former feelings returned; and, taking a lamp in her +hand, she prepared to explore the mysterious avenue thus opened before her. +Before committing herself to the unknown, perhaps tortuous passage, she +took the precaution to place an obstruction in the doorway, so that the +door 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 secured +about her person, not knowing whither she was going, or into what company +she might fall.</p> + +<p>Having thus prudently provided against accidents and emergencies, Eveline +entered the passage, which was dark, damp, and dismal, with trembling +nerves and a timid heart. Slowly, cautiously, step by step, she felt her +way, aided by the light of her lamp. It seemed strange that she should have +to go so far to get into the other room; yet still she moved on and on +without coming to the end of the passage or to any place of egress.</p> + +<p>The way was narrow and somewhat zigzag, and in several places she had to +<a name="Page_71" id="Page_71"></a>stoop 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 some +other den of wickedness known and occupied by this band of villains? With +such and a hundred similar suggestions her mind was occupied, and she began +to feel unpleasant. Perhaps she was venturing into the presence of those +who would have even less regard for her than Duffel. An undefined terror +for a moment seized upon her, and she was about to yield to the dictates of +fear, and return to her room, when a kind of murmuring sound, as if of +voices in the distance, met her ear. Listening a moment she felt quite sure +there were living persons somewhere near; and summoning all her resolution, +she boldly pushed forward, determined to solve the mystery in which she was +involved, and if human beings were in her vicinity, to ascertain who and +what they were.</p> + +<p>Advancing with a cautious but firm step, she was not long in doubt as to +the nature of the sound; it evidently proceeded from human lips. As she +drew nearer words became distinguishable; and then she came to the end of +the passage, which abruptly terminated against a solid wall, like those of +the cave. But the wall was evidently a thin one, and on the immediate +outside—or other side—were the persons, who were engaged in conversation. +She stood there but a brief moment when her attention became fixed and all +absorbed in the conference going on between the interlocutors, both of whom +(she could distinguish but two voices,) seemed to be deeply interested in +some matter under consideration.</p> + +<p>"I tell you what it is, Bill, I don't like this here bizness of runnin' off +that gal a bit. I've been thinkin' the matter over, and the more I think, +the more I don't like it."</p> + +<p>These were the first words that Eveline heard distinctly and connectedly. +Who were they? and who was the girl? There seemed to be something familiar +about the voice of the speaker, and yet she could not tell where or when +she had heard it before. In a moment came the reply:</p> + +<p>"I thought that point was settled. I tell you I'd take her if it was only +to spite Duffel."</p> + +<p>"Duffel!" ejaculated Eveline in thought, and she came near making the +exclamation aloud. "Duffel! then these men know him!" In a moment the truth +flashed upon her mind. It was Duffel's friends, her captors, the ones from +whose aid she was so soon to be delivered! Yes, now she remembered the +voices! And for a moment her heart bounded in gratitude to the last +speaker, whose words she understood to express his firm resolution to +liberate her. The moment the rejoinder came from the other, however, her +mind was perplexed, but as she listened further the whole matter was +untangled:</p> + +<p>"And wouldn't it spite Duffel just as much if we should take her back?"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't think it would. Beside, I want to show him how completely we +can beat him at his own game; and then, too, I wish to be revenged on him +to the fullest extent; he likes the girl, and to know that she is in the +hands of another, who has entirely outwitted him, will be a source of +chagrin, and the spark to light the fires of jealousy."</p> + +<p>"You don't intend to let him know that you have taken the gal!"</p> + +<p>"Certainly I do!"</p> + +<p>"And then have the whole League after us! A fine plot, truly!"</p> + +<p>"League the h——! I tell you I'm going to blow the whole thing to nothing, +cave and all!"</p> + +<p>"What!"</p> + +<p>"When I leave this region there will be no League here. This cave will be +in ruins, and the whole order scattered to the four winds of heaven!"</p> + +<p>"Are you crazy, Bill Mitchel!"</p> + +<p>"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 others +were too chicken-hearted to undertake—and what is our reward? We are +esteemed as the meanest of the Clan, and as being hardly fit to associate +with those who claim to be the gentlemen of the League. Why, I believe the +officers would cut our throats at any time to save themselves. See what +Duffel is after at this very time. Never was a man served more faithfully +<a name="Page_72" id="Page_72"></a>than we have served him, and now that we have rendered him all the aid he +needs or desires at our hands, he would cut us off; aye, worse, he would +murder us—murder us as we have murdered for him. Do you think I would let +an opportunity to be revenged on him pass unimproved? <i>Never!</i>"</p> + +<p>"But how are you goin' to do all this mighty work?"</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you. The captain is away; I intend that Duffel shall be secured +by the officers of the law; the rest of the members I will take measures to +frighten; and when they resort to this infernal cave for refuge, counsel, +or concert of action, they will find it in ruins."</p> + +<p>"How in ruins?"</p> + +<p>"Isn't there powder enough in the magazine to blow it to atoms?"</p> + +<p>"Powder!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, <i>powder</i>! Is there anything in that explosive material that need +cause you to look so wild? I thought you were better acquainted with its +properties."</p> + +<p>"I believe I begin to understand your intentions; but they don't exactly +chime with your plans of yesterday."</p> + +<p>"Yesterday! I tell you I was only half awake then. I hadn't considered all +the sides to the question; and the more I think, the madder I get. I tell +you we have been imposed upon; and I am going to pay back the debt with +interest. I had another idea yesterday; but my plans were then immature and +unsettled, now they are arranged even to the details. I tell you I have +been thinking for the last twenty-four hours; and it has been to some +purpose, as you and the rest of these fellows, and Duffel in particular, +will find out."</p> + +<p>"Very well; if the order is to be destroyed, then there is no need of +fearing to let the girl go home, as she could do us no harm if she <i>did</i> +reveal our secrets."</p> + +<p>"I tell you I have taken a fancy to the girl myself and have set my heart +on possessing her, <i>and I will do it</i>. It's true I don't care for the order +now. I defy all its members; but that makes no difference about the girl. +She goes with us."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe any good will come of takin' her, but there is a plaguy +good chance for evil to come of it."</p> + +<p>"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 more +I think, the more determined I become."</p> + +<p>"But it looks so mean and cowardly to abuse a woman."</p> + +<p>"Who said I was going to abuse her?"</p> + +<p>"I say so."</p> + +<p>"You'd better be a little careful of your speech, my good fellow!"</p> + +<p>"I'll say what I please; and you know what I have said is the truth. Haint +you goin' to deceive the gal? Didn't you jist tell her that you was her +friend? and that we'd liberate her? And don't she expect us to take her +home, instead of away off to that cave in Virginny, where she'll be no +better off than she is here? And haint it cowardly to lie and deceive them +as trust in your word and honor?"</p> + +<p>"Honor! a pretty word that for such a fellow as you to use! How long have +you entertained such high notions, pray?"</p> + +<p>"Allers, sir, allers! Did you ever hear me tell a lie? Did you ever see me +betray any one that put themselves under my care? Say, sir, have you?"</p> + +<p>"Well, no, I don't know as I have; but what of that?"</p> + +<p>"A great deal, sir; a great deal! It means that I'm not a mean, cowardly +dog; that I don't go to a woman with a lie in my mouth, and sneakingly +deceive her! No, sir, I am above such work."</p> + +<p>"That will do, I can't bear everything, even from you, and I warn you not +to go too far!"</p> + +<p>"Warn away, then; I'm not the man to be skeered by any woman-stealer that +ever walked the earth. No, sir, I'm not! And I say ag'in, the man that'll +impose on a woman is a coward, and a mean one at that."</p> + +<p>"Come, come, Dick, it's no use to be talking in that manner. You know I am +no more of a coward than yourself; and so what's the use of such an ado +about nothing. Didn't you tell me yesterday you would stand by me in this +affair? Come, now, keep your word, and don't prove yourself a liar after +such a boast of truthfulness, just a moment ago?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, there it is ag'in. You told me it was for our personal safety, and +such like stuff, that you were goin' to take the gal along; and now you +defy the whole order, and are goin' to blow them <a name="Page_73" id="Page_73"></a>all to atoms! I take it +that makes quite a difference."</p> + +<p>"Didn't I tell you the girl was to go any how? And didn't you say it would +hardly be fair to help an enemy and not a friend? Come, where is your honor +now?"</p> + +<p>"That promise, I tell you, was obtained under false pretenses, and is not +binding!"</p> + +<p>"A pretty excuse, indeed!—Well to bring the matter to a point at once, I +now state distinctly that I am going to take the girl with me, because I +wish to do so, and for that reason alone; and I want you to help me. Will +you 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 friend +in this last great hour of need?"</p> + +<p>"I s'pose I'll have to; but it goes mightily ag'in' the grain, to be mixed +up in these women affairs, and I feel as mean as a kill-sheep dog, when I +find myself at such a dirty work.</p> + +<p>"Well, that matter is settled, then, and I hope we shall have peace and +agreement 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. Once +we get into our new quarters, in old Virginia, I shall feel safe, as we can +bid defiance to our enemies."</p> + +<p>"Well, let us be off, then, as quick as possible; for, to tell the truth, I +don't like this part of the country much; it's gittin' entirely too hot for +our bizness, and is by no means as safe as it might be."</p> + +<p>"We must be off to-morrow, if we can finish all our arrangements, which I +hope we shall be able to do, if we lose no time. We must have our horses +ready to-night, at all events; for it may suit to start in the night, if we +fail to get away to-morrow. I am not sure but it will be the best plan to +leave in the night, any how."</p> + +<p>"Certainly, it will be."</p> + +<p>"Well, it's settled, then, that we leave to-morrow night; and that being +the case, I must hasten away to get the key made. You stay here till the +sentinel returns, and then meet me at the usual place this afternoon, and +we will have everything arranged in order."</p> + +<p>With this the villains parted, Bill going out of the passage, and Dick into +the cave.</p> + +<p>To all this Eveline was an absorbed, but to them unknown, listener. How the +great hope of the morning died in her bosom, as the fearful truth was +revealed to her, that another snare was laid to entangle her feet—that her +newly 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, and +removed still further from the possibility of succor. For a little time she +clung to the hope that Dick would hold out in her behalf; but this last +prop was taken away, and she felt that there was no help from any quarter, +and that self-dependence was her only safeguard.</p> + +<p>Ah, how desolate was her heart in that hour! How like a lone reed in the +pelting tempest did she feel herself to be! Surrounded by enemies on all +hands, a prisoner in a dungeon, with no friendly arm to lean upon, no kind +voice of sympathy to encourage and strengthen her, she felt almost like +giving over the struggle, and lying down to die where she stood.</p> + +<p>But this feeling of despondency was of short duration. Arousing to a lively +sense of her situation, this apathy was thrown off, and the native energy +of purpose which she had exhibited so strikingly on former occasions, +quickened her spirit and restored vigor to her frame. Immediately she began +to collect her thoughts, and cast about to see if there was no way of +escape from this new danger. At first she thought of making a confidant of +Duffel, and throwing herself upon his generosity; but remembering all that +he had done, she felt that this would be vain, so far as <i>she</i> was +concerned, while it might save <i>him</i> from merited exposure and punishment; +and so she at once abandoned the idea.</p> + +<p>In the midst of perplexity and doubt, the thought struck her with the +vividness of a flash of intelligence, that the passage she was in might +communicate with the outer world! The very suggestion caused her to heave a +sigh of relief. What so probable as this supposition? At any rate she had +something to do, a definite object to call forth her energies; and this was +no small matter, in the state of mind under which she was laboring at that +hour.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74"></a>Raising her lamp to a level with her face, she passed the light close to +the wall, scrutinizing every spot, to see if there was no sign indicative +of another spring-closed door. But no brilliant fragment of stalactite +appeared as a reward for her search, and she turned away with a feeling of +disappointment, and heaviness at her heart. As she did so, for the first +time her eye fell upon a polished surface, much resembling the face of a +mirror, upon the opposite wall. Looking more attentively, she discovered, +as it were, trees, shrubs, a running stream of water, and all the +accompaniments of a finished landscape painting. Fearful as was her +situation, she could not help pausing to admire the beauty, the +naturalness, the perfection of the scene. She had never beheld any thing +half so vivid, so truthful, from the pencil of the artist. It actually +seemed as if water was running over its gravelly bed, as if the bushes +moved in the breeze; in a word, the whole looked far more like a reality +than a cold painting. As she was gazing in admiration upon this singular +appearance, a bird actually flew over the scene! She could hardly believe +her senses; but soon another one followed, and she knew there was no +deception in her eyes this time.</p> + +<p>Philosophy was not universally taught in those days, as it is now, and +Eveline did not know how to solve this mystery as well as many a school +girl could do at the present day; but she had read of the tricks of the +magicians of Egypt and India, and what seeming wonders they could show in +their magic mirrors; and she came to the conclusion that the robbers of the +cave had learned the same art, and that before her was one of the +soothsayers' glasses.</p> + +<p>But what was the design had in view in placing it in that obscure and +unfrequented place? As this query suggested itself to her mind, a man +passed along on the bank of the stream! and in a few minutes another in the +opposite 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 what +was passing without to the eye of the individual within, who had doubtless +adopted this method of informing himself of passing external events, as a +means of personal safety in case of need. It was, she supposed, a device of +the captain of the thieves, to save himself, either from the ministers of +the law or from the violence of those under him, in case of revolt.</p> + +<p>It is not our design to enter into an elaborate description of this piece +of mechanism, as every student of philosophy, who is well acquainted with +the reflection and refraction of rays of light, will understand how an +ingenious contrivance produced the results spoken of. The same principle +enters into the arrangement of the <i>camera obscura</i>. There was an aperture +very artfully cut through the wall, and so guarded on the outside as to +escape notice; and in this a tube was placed with a set of happily +contrived fixtures, by the aid of which the scene without was accurately +depicted on the polished surface within. It was the work of the captain, as +Eveline supposed.</p> + +<p>As this contrivance was evidently intended to give information of danger +from without, it must certainly be connected in some manner with the means +of escape; else what was it worth? Such was the conclusion to which Eveline +arrived, as she philosophized upon the matter. And she reflected further, +what other method of escape was there, save a secret medium of +communication with the outer world? None at all, except it be a quiet +waiting within the passage she now herself occupied, which she could not +bring herself to believe was the case; so she renewed her search for the +door of egress.</p> + +<p>On minutely examining the mirror, she saw at one side of it a small +projection, like a ball of ivory, and pressing hard upon it, a door, of +which the mirror itself was a section, sprang a little way open. She threw +it back wide on its hinges, and holding her lamp in the opening, saw at her +feet a flight of stairs leading down into the gloom below. A damp current +of air came up from this subterranean cavity, and its clammy coldness sent +a chill almost of horror through the frame of the agitated girl. One less +resolute than herself would have shrunk at the idea of exploring so dismal +a looking place; but not so she. Summoning all her energy, she boldly +descended 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, all +was solid earth and rock; but on turning to the <a name="Page_75" id="Page_75"></a>right she discovered an +opening, following which it was but a little while till she saw light +ahead, and a few more steps brought her to the margin of the stream, along +the bank of which was the path to the cave. That path, then, was +immediately above her! And here she was with the wide world before her! How +her heart bounded!</p> + +<p>Her first thought was to fly immediately; but prudence dictated a cautious +survey of the place before venturing her all in an attempt at flight.</p> + +<p>She accordingly ventured out in the most guarded manner, to make +explorations. The water was but a little way below where she stood, and +when in a high stage must evidently flood the place she occupied and the +steps leading up out of it. But as the stream was now very low, she had a +fine opportunity for making observations. Stepping down to the edge of the +water, she had an excellent view of the stream both ways. The banks were +very high on each side, steep, and inaccessible; so much so, indeed, that +for a moment she was in despair of getting from her prison, now that she +had found the way out. A closer inspection of the bank where she stood +showed her the possibility of escape, by following the water's edge to some +point below or above, where the high bank receded. This was enough; all she +wanted was the bare likelihood or possibility of escape, and she would +venture all upon the trial.</p> + +<p>Having made these hasty observations, she started back, to make +preparations for an immediate departure. When she reached the upper passage +and closed the door, she glanced at the mirror to see what was going on +without. What was her disappointment and horror, to see Duffel's image +passing before her on his way to the cave! She had hoped to get off before +his return; but now that hope was gone. She must meet him again; and to +what desperate extremities might he not proceed in the interview in which +she must now be compelled to take a part! Then she remembered that she had +left the door from her room to the passage ajar, and he might reach it +before she could get there, and revealing to him her secret, cut off her +last and only hope of escape. The thought awoke all her energies, and +dashing 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 the +passage, just as she heard a knock at the other one, opening into the +larger room.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<h3>THE THREAT AND ITS EXECUTION—EVELINE LOST.</h3> + + +<p>Quickly arranging things in her room, and restoring the lamp to its +accustomed place, so that every article should appear in usual order and +nothing betray her secret, Eveline—the knocking at her door being just +then repeated—demanded:</p> + +<p>"Who is there?"</p> + +<p>"It is hardly worth your while to ask that question, when you know there +can be but one person having access to this place."</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, sir; but I have understood that <i>you</i> were only here by +courtesy, the rooms belonging to another."</p> + +<p>"Well, I am here, at any rate, and have the mastery as well as the +occupancy of the place. Will you open the door?"</p> + +<p>"If I please."</p> + +<p>"Well, <i>do</i> you please?"</p> + +<p>"And if I do not?"</p> + +<p>"Then I shall enter by another way."</p> + +<p>"As I am not overly anxious to see a <i>master</i>, you may enter as you can."</p> + +<p>"Very well."</p> + +<p>Eveline chose not to open the door for two reasons: first, she wished to +ascertain whether or not there <i>was</i> a secret passage between the rooms; +and, secondly, if Duffel's assertion in regard to the matter should prove +true, she wished to know at what point the entrance was situated, that, if +need be, in any future movements she might make, obstructions could be +placed 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 Duffel +might come from some quarter unawares, and take her at advantage, ere she +could meet his attack. Thought is very rapid in times of danger, if +presence of mind is retained, and the difficulty stated had fixed her +attention but a few seconds, ere several plans of <a name="Page_76" id="Page_76"></a>release had suggested +themselves and been abandoned; but at length it occurred to her, that as it +was impossible for the secret door to be in the same place as the other +one, she would be perfectly safe, in taking a position against the latter, +from any possibility of surprise, and standing there she could seem more at +her ease than in any other position, where her continued watchfulness would +betray anxiety.</p> + +<p>She had scarcely placed herself in the posture desired, before she saw a +portion of the wall to her right slowly move from its place, and presently +a mass, the size of a small door, stood out fairly into the room, and from +behind it stole the villain, in such a manner as to leave no doubt of his +intentions to surprise her, if possible. Seeing she was prepared for his +reception, and aware of his entrance, he closed the door, and, boldly +stepping into the room, addressed her thus:</p> + +<p>"So, incredulous fair one, you see I am here, notwithstanding your +disbelief in my word."</p> + +<p>"Yes; I see you are here."</p> + +<p>"Well, that is a very cordial welcome to an old friend, certainly. In what +school have you taken lessons in hospitality and politeness?"</p> + +<p>"In one where I have learned to treat insolence according to its deserts."</p> + +<p>"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 one +that shall prove the aptest scholar be declared victor in the contest +between us. Do you accept the challenge?"</p> + +<p>"I accept nothing from you; your pretended friendship I despise; your +threats I hold in as much contempt as I do their author; your intended +insults I will pay back even to death, sir!" and as she spoke, there was a +flashing light in her eye which gave the villain to understand she meant +all she said; but assuming not to heed his convictions on that point, here +plied, with as much seeming ease as he could command:</p> + +<p>"Oh, I have heard such talk before."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and like the base coward you are, you sprang from the dagger at your +breast, even though it was but a woman's hand that held it."</p> + +<p>"Girl! don't presume too far on my forbearance! I warn you in time to +beware of that!"</p> + +<p>"I presume nothing on any good trait of character or nobleness of soul you +may possess, sir, but on your <i>cowardice</i>!"</p> + +<p>"Do you wish to drive me to extremes?"</p> + +<p>"You are already on the extremest verge of all that is vile and loathsome."</p> + +<p>"By the furies of h——, I'll not endure this longer!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, you will; you need not expect any other treatment so long as you +continue to force your unwelcome and disgusting presence upon me. I have +not taken lessons in the school of which you were talking, in vain: and as +you set yourself up as a rival, just exercise your skill; I ask no favors, +and fear not your opposition."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you do; with all your boasting, you fear me, coward though I be, at +this very moment."</p> + +<p>"Yes, exactly as I fear the proximity of any other corrupt thing with which +it is unpleasant to come in contact. There is a certain small animal of the +cat species, bearing, however, another and very significant name, with +which it would be about as disagreeable to come in contact as with +yourself; as I would fear it, so I fear you; in my estimation you are +equally vile and equally to be avoided."</p> + +<p>Again Duffel grew red in the face with rage, and he was on the point of +seizing and overpowering Eveline; but his eye fell upon the dagger, which +she held in her hand, and prudence or cowardice held him back. His response +was given with savage malice:</p> + +<p>"I'll take the fire out of your temper, ere you are many hours older; mark +that! You have gone too far for me longer to continue my gentle dealings +toward you. I have endeavored to persuade you, I have expostulated with +you, and made all reasonable offers to induce you to acquiesce peaceably in +your fate, which I would have made an honorable and enviable one; but you +have treated all my kindness with contumely and misconstrued my forbearance +into cowardice. Now you must prepare for the worst."</p> + +<p>"Sir—villain, rather, every word you have uttered is as false as the pit +of night, and you know it! Yes, sir, you know that as you stood there and +spoke, unmitigated falsehoods fell from your lips while every declaration! +And knowing this, and knowing that <i>I</i> know it, also, you have the +<a name="Page_77" id="Page_77"></a>audacity and the insolent impudence to say that you have offered me an +honorable position in life! Is it possible that you are so fallen as not to +know that in a truthful, virtuous, and noble soul there can be nothing so +abhorrent as lying, villainy, and cowardice? Talk of honor! Better might +Satan take of goodness!"</p> + +<p>"Go on! you are only placing thorns in your path, every one of which will +pierce you as a pang of agony."</p> + +<p>"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 the +distance which separates their author from truth, you may well rest assured +I place implicit confidence in their falsity."</p> + +<p>"I'll prove to you how true they are, then; in one thing, at least, you +shall 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 to +an honorable position in society."</p> + +<p>"<i>Never!</i>"</p> + +<p>"We shall see; I have been talking,—from this time on, I <i>act</i>!"</p> + +<p>Saying this he drew a pistol from his pocket, and holding it before her, +went on:</p> + +<p>"You see I came prepared this time! I was fully resolved to bring matters +to an issue at any rate, and more especially if you persisted in your +insulting course of address. You have done so; the cup of your +transgressions is full, and the time of your probation expired. Now comes +the judgment!"</p> + +<p>He had expected to see her turn pale and tremble, and, perhaps, become a +suppliant for more time to consider the matter; but with the exception of a +little closer compression of the lips, and, if possible, a little more +determined expression, he saw no change pass over her countenance. If +terror she had, it was kept out of sight. She made no reply, and he +proceeded:</p> + +<p>"You think because your dagger served you once it will do so again; but it +will not. I could execute my plans immediately and at once have you +helplessly in my power; but I prefer to give you one more and the last +opportunity of deciding for yourself. Know, then, that as soon as I find +this offer rejected, I will send the contents of this pistol through your +right 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 my +mercy as completely as though you were an infant. I leave your own fancy to +picture what will follow, understanding my intentions as you do. With this +certain doom before you, will you, Eveline Mandeville, consent to be my +wife, now or at some future day?"</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">I will not</span>!"</p> + +<p>The reply was clear, bold, decided, without a tremor of voice or the +quivering of a muscle. The fiendish wretch was awed by her courage, but +having, as he said, resolved to bring matters to a crisis, he went on:</p> + +<p>"You have chosen your fate, be the consequences upon your own head!" He +raised the pistol.</p> + +<p>"Will you throw away that dagger and permit me peaceably to approach you?"</p> + +<p>"<i>No!</i>"</p> + +<p>"I will ask you three times, and with your third refusal I shall fire; so +beware! Will you throw away the dagger?"</p> + +<p>"<i>No!</i>"</p> + +<p>"This is the third and last time I shall ask the question," and he repeated +it slowly: "Will you throw away t-h-e d-a-g-g-e-r?" and he brought the +weapon to his eye.</p> + +<p>"NO!"</p> + +<p>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 brutal +monster waited a moment for the smoke to clear away from his vision, not +liking to venture upon that ominous looking dagger until assured of a +bloodless victory. Poor, despicable coward!</p> + +<p>As he kept his eye fixed toward the spot where Eveline stood, eager to see +the result of the shot, he felt something strike his breast, and, turning +his eyes downward, he beheld the glittering dagger glance along his left +side! 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 not +in his pocket! and there he stood <a name="Page_78" id="Page_78"></a>unarmed, before the unhurt but outraged +woman he had attempted to destroy!</p> + +<p>Eveline, though excited, was unusually self-possessed during all the +interview just related. She felt the imminence of her danger, but it only +aroused her faculties to a more acute observation of every incident and +circumstance that might, by any possible chance, be turned to advantage. +When she saw that Duffel was resolved to put his threat in execution, she +determined to make him the victim instead of herself, if it were possible +to do so. In speaking of this reserved pistol he unconsciously placed his +hand in his pocket—a side coat pocket—and drew the weapon up, so that the +breech rested upon the upper and outer edge of the receptacle in the +garment. Eveline noticed this, and in a moment her plan of action was +formed. She did not like the thought of killing a human being, but as +Duffel had proceeded to such extremes, she felt that if it was not her duty +to slay him under the circumstances, she would, at least, be justifiable in +so doing. She, therefore, settled it in her mind to go to this extreme +length, much as she shrank from a deed of blood, in case the monster fired +at her. She took in the idea at once that a puff of smoke would conceal her +movements for a moment, and, under its friendly cover, feeling sure of her +ability to avoid the shot, she would smite the villain to the heart and +seize the pistol at the same instant, to use in case the thrust should +prove ineffectual. Having her mind divided between the two acts, both of +which must be done in the same breath, she did not aim the dagger with as +much precision as under other circumstances she might have done, and the +result was as already stated; the pistol, however, she safely secured; and +when she saw Duffel feel for it, and perceived his disappointment and alarm +at not finding it, she said:</p> + +<p>"Here it is, sir, and for once you are in my power! It is now my turn!"</p> + +<p>The miscreant cowered before her determined gaze.</p> + +<p>"Prepare for your end!"</p> + +<p>"I crave your mercy."</p> + +<p>"<i>Mercy!</i> You, vile, unmanly wretch! did <i>you</i> show mercy?"</p> + +<p>"I was excited,—spare me!"</p> + +<p>"Down on your knees, then, and beg for your life!"</p> + +<p>He hesitated to demean himself thus, she raised the pistol, and there was a +fire in her eye which spoke volumes to the craven soul of the poltroon. He +obeyed, fell upon his knees and begged his life at her hands, promising to +liberate her if she would grant his prayer. When he ceased pleading, and +paused for her reply, she answered:</p> + +<p>"Know, base coward, that, woman as I am, I would scorn to take the life of +an unarmed enemy. I was only trying you to ascertain how low you would +degrade and how debasingly demean yourself to beg for mercy. I would have +made you swear to take me from this place, but I knew you would perjure +yourself the moment an opportunity afforded, and I did not care to burden +your guilty soul with another crime. For the same reason I decline +accepting 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 the +next time you enter this room in my presence, you die! I will not permit +another insult of the kind; no, sir, <i>never</i>! Open that door and leave!"</p> + +<p>He obeyed; she followed him with the pistol presented, until he was out of +the captain's room. He closed the door into the outer cave with a slam, and +locked it, and then called out:</p> + +<p>"Madam, you were a fool for not securing the keys while you had me in your +power. I now curse and defy you, and swear that I will make you repent this +day's work in the dust and ashes of humiliation. I shall not come alone +next time, but with fifty men; and you <i>shall</i> be overpowered and feel the +weight of my vengeance! I'll wring your proud heart till it bleeds, and in +your degradation will scorn you!"</p> + +<p>She did not wait to hear more of his harangue, but hastened back into her +room, shut and bolted her door, placed every movable object in the +apartment against the one by which Duffel had entered, and then entering +the secret passage, ran to the mirror to see if the villain left. She had +been there but a few minutes when he passed, cursing as he went, and +swearing to be revenged.</p> + +<p>The reader may wonder why Eveline did not shoot the wretch when she had him +in her power, but the truth was, she <a name="Page_79" id="Page_79"></a>knew nothing about using fire-arms, +and feared to make the attempt, lest, failing, she should be again in his +hands. She knew, too, that it would not be prudent to trust herself to be +led out of the cave by him, as the moment he met one of his followers he +would betray her, and she would be again a prisoner. Still she would have +made this venture, had not the secret passage held out to her a more +hopeful mode of escape.</p> + +<p>All these considerations, dangers and probabilities flashed through her +mind with the fleetness of thought, and she came to conclusions with the +same rapidity. Doubtless, she pursued the best course. She could presume on +Duffel's cowardice, but she dare not trust his word or his oath.</p> + +<p>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 of +infamy in which she had been confined, feeling well assured that but a few +hours would be suffered to elapse, ere Duffel, with as many adherents as he +deemed necessary to accomplish his ends, would return, to wreak his +pitiless vengeance upon her. Making everything ready for her departure, she +awaited the darkness of the approaching night, that in its friendly mantle +she might find protection and shelter. But ere the light of day had +withdrawn, she again ventured out into the stream for the purpose of more +fully reconnoitering the place, and fixing in her mind the relative +position of things, obstacles and distance, and to obtain such knowledge in +general as might facilitate her escape.</p> + +<p>Night came; she left her room, the common door locked and bolted, the +secret one clogged with the furniture of the room, so that it would require +the united strength of several men to force it open. The door of the secret +passage which she had learned to open and shut from both sides, was closed +after her, and alone she passed along that damp aisle, paused a moment +before the mirror to note whether it reflected the scene without, and +seeing upon its face but blank darkness, she opened the last door between +herself and the world into which she was going, closed it as she passed +through its portals, descended the stairs, reached the outer extremity of +the passage, put out her lamp, and the next minute stood on the pebbles at +the margin of the stream. A brief survey of the coast in all directions +satisfied her that she was not observed, and without more delay she moved +down the stream as rapidly as the nature of the ground and her want of +experience in such places and mode of travel would permit.</p> + +<p>It was about a mile from the starting point before she reached the first +recession of the high bank, that afforded an opportunity to leave the +stream, which she improved without delay, and after a laborious ascent of +an inclined plane, more than a hundred yards in extent and quite steep, she +found herself on the high bluff, with the cave in the distance.</p> + +<p>But now a new and before unthought of difficulty faced her. She was in a +wilderness, with no compass by which to direct her course, and no friendly +guide to conduct her to the habitations of men. For a moment she was almost +paralyzed by the magnitude of this untried danger, and hope well nigh fled +from her breast. But rousing her energies she boldly looked her fate in the +face, and committed herself into the hands of that Providence who had so +often befriended her in former times of peril, and then shaping her course +as well as she could by the stars, she plunged into the dense forest, with +her face, as she believed, toward home, which she hoped to reach some time +the next day.</p> + +<p>Alas for her hopes! in less than an hour she was totally bewildered and +lost in the wilderness! She felt her loneliness and helplessness now more +than when facing her malignant enemy; and to add to the horrors of her +situation, howls of wild beasts soon greeted her ears!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<h3>THE TABLES TURNING.</h3> + + +<p>When Duffel left the Cave, as shown in the preceding chapter, he went +immediately to the place where he had appointed to meet Bill and Dick, +boiling over with rage all the way, and "breathing out vengeance" on the +head of Eveline. He <a name="Page_80" id="Page_80"></a>had entered her room so confident of triumphing, that +the humiliation of defeat was tenfold greater than if he had doubted of +success. And then the degradation to which he had been forced to abase +himself! The very remembrance of it set his blood to boiling! He cursed +himself for his cowardice; he cursed Eveline for her manifestation of +courage and for everything else she had done. To be forced to kneel and beg +his life of a woman! and that woman his own prisoner, on his own terms, in +his own dungeon! The thought burned into his very soul! and the more he +thought the fiercer became his wrath.</p> + +<p>In this frame of mind he reached the rendezvous, and found his accomplices +awaiting his arrival, for they had work of their own on hand and did not +wish to be detained too long by their old leader but now secret foe.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad to find you here," he said, as soon as he came up, and his tools +saw in a moment that something unusual had happened or some extraordinary +work was to be done.</p> + +<p>"We are always punctual," Bill replied.</p> + +<p>"And it is well you are this time; for there is work to do immediately. I +want you to collect together as many of the members of the League as can be +found, and assemble them in the cave by midnight."</p> + +<p>"Why, what in the world has happened?" inquired Bill in some alarm, lest +his own scheme should be frustrated by these demonstrations on the part of +Duffel.</p> + +<p>"Not much of anything; indeed I may as well tell you at once, that this +movement has reference to Miss Mandeville. I have just returned from the +cave where I called upon her, and from her obstinacy and a number of hints +thrown out, I am fully persuaded she expects deliverance from some quarter; +and I am determined to put an end to such anticipations without further +delay. I think the sooner she is conquered the better. I should have +proceeded to extremes at once, but I wished to persuade her into a +voluntary marriage, so that I might come in for the old man's money; but +she has found some means of arming herself and is firmly bent on having her +own way, while I am as fully resolved she shall not. But I must have a dip +into the old gentleman's purse; that's another fixed fact; and so I am +going to marry the girl whether she will or not; and I want you, Bill, to +act the parson. I know you can do it. Disguise yourself and—. But you know +all 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 in +law; and you shall be liberally rewarded; yes, and promoted, too. You shall +not serve me for nothing. Come, now, away as fast as possible to get the +men together, and report to me at midnight precisely, in this place."</p> + +<p>Duffel had managed to smother his wrath during the brief moments he was +giving his orders; but no sooner had the seemingly pliant tools of his will +left, than he again foamed over, and pacing back and forth, continued his +cursing, as though he would spend his impotent fury in blasphemy.</p> + +<p>Bill and Dick started off, as if in the most cheerful manner and with the +greatest alacrity they would do their leader's bidding. But no sooner had +they reached a safe distance than they began to consult how they were to +manage this new and unlooked for phase of affairs, which seemed destined to +undermine all their former arrangements and to overthrow their entire +calculations and plans. But Duffel could not be more determined to avoid +defeat than they were, and they set down the thwarting or overreaching him +as the first object to be accomplished. Bill reflected awhile, and then +said:</p> + +<p>"I think we can manage it. Instead of going after the men, you must get +three horses ready for our immediate departure, while I go and prepare the +lady for the journey. We must endeavor to have everything arranged by +eleven o'clock, so as to be sure of success."</p> + +<p>"But how are we to manage Duffel?"</p> + +<p>"Leave him to me; I can do that part of the business effectually, I think."</p> + +<p>With this understanding, the rascals parted, each to carry out his part of +the work for the evening and night; and they had but little time in which +to work, for the afternoon was far advanced, and they had many miles to +travel, in order to accomplish their ends.</p><p><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81"></a></p> + +<p>Before proceeding to the cave, Bill sat down and dated and signed a note, +already written, which he folded and addressed to 'Squire Williams, and +procured the service of a little boy to carry it to him. We shall hereafter +learn its import and object.</p> + +<p>When he reached the cave it was already night. He found the sentinel in a +very uneasy mood, and very anxious to get off till morning, to carry out +some design of his own. He had engaged a member to take his place, but from +some cause he had not arrived. Bill gladly assumed the post, and in a few +minutes was alone with his thoughts and plans.</p> + +<p>When assured that the other was far enough away, he closed the door to the +cave and locked it. Then, going to the armory, he selected several braces +of the best pistols, and secured them about his own person, for his and +Dick's future use. He next opened the money-chest, and took from it all the +gold that had been collected since the last division, some two thousand +dollars in all. This he fastened in a belt worn next to his person. After +making every other arrangement about the room according to his wishes, he +went to the magazine and brought out all the powder it contained, and so +placed the kegs and other vessels containing it, as to secure the greatest +amount of destructive force from the whole. All these he then connected by +trains of the explosive material, which were united in one wider one +leading out at the door of the cave.</p> + +<p>These preparations made, he went to apprise Eveline of their readiness for +departure, intending while she was making the few preparations necessary +for starting, to go out and see after Dick.</p> + +<p>When he opened the door to the captain's room, he was struck with the +profound stillness which everywhere pervaded the place. No Eveline was +there; but he remembered having seen the door to the small room open on a +former occasion, and supposing her to be within, went and rapped on the +door, 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 could +prevent or deter her from answering his call, he proceeded to break open +the door. This he succeeded in doing, after considerable effort; but when +he perceived she was not there, his surprise and astonishment were +unbounded. He knew not that while he was robbing robbers, and placing +powder for the demolition of the cave, she had left its dismal precincts by +a way unknown to him or Duffel, and was now far away in the wilderness.</p> + +<p>"Where is she? What does it mean?"</p> + +<p>These questions he put to himself, but could not answer. A thousand +conjectures rushed through his brain; but no satisfactory clue to the +mystery was hit upon. Had Duffel deceived them? No, his anger and +earnestness were too real for that. Had she other friends? Had not the +sentinel turned traitor, and having liberated the prisoner, was anxious to +get away, lest his perfidy should be discovered, or to gain a reward for +his treachery? This, though hardly probable, was the most plausible +supposition, and Bill concluded to act upon it. He was resolved to carry +out his plans in, all their details; except that Eveline could not be taken +with them; for he was not going to yield up his stolen gold, nor forego his +revenge on Duffel.</p> + +<p>Looking at his watch, in the midst of these perplexing reflections and +strengthened resolves, he saw that it was time for him to be off to see +Duffel, as the place of meeting was some ten miles from the cave, and a +part of the distance had to be gone over on foot. He reached the spot about +the hour appointed, and found the miscreant already there, impatiently +awaiting his arrival.</p> + +<p>"What success?" inquired Duffel, the moment he came up.</p> + +<p>"None at all, your honor."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"Bad news, <i>very</i>."</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>"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 within +its walls!"</p> + +<p>Duffel was speechless with surprise and terror, the astonishing +intelligence seeming to paralyze all his powers; at last he made out to +loosen his tongue and queried:</p> + +<p>"She is gone, then?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and the sentinel, too!"</p> + +<p>"Then we are betrayed! What shall we do?"</p> + +<p>The terrible news Bill brought, completely unmanned Duffel, and his +presence <a name="Page_82" id="Page_82"></a>of mind entirely forsook him; hence his last query, which was +propounded with all the imbecility of helplessness.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what I am going to do," said Bill; "and that is, leave this +part of the country as speedily as possible."</p> + +<p>"But won't the officers be upon us immediately?"</p> + +<p>"No; if at all, not before to-morrow. We can make our arrangements +to-night, lay in the swamp all day, and leave to-morrow night. You have a +horse already prepared in the swamp; I would advise you to go home without +a moment's delay, and make all necessary preparations for your journey, and +be back in the vicinity of your horse before daylight, or as soon after as +possible; and to-morrow night we can set out for the cave in the +south-west."</p> + +<p>"I believe your plan is a good one; but when shall we meet again?"</p> + +<p>"Not until we get away from this section of country; perhaps not until we +reach our ultimate destination. But we have no time to lose, all depends +upon dispatch, and we had best be about our preparations. Good-by, +captain."</p> + +<p>"Good-by, my fine fellow. I thank you for your advice, and hope that when +we meet again it will be under more cheering skies, and with brighter +prospects before us. Good-by."</p> + +<p>And thus they parted, to meet again—where?</p> + +<p>Bill hastened back to the cave, where he found Dick in waiting with the +horses. In as few words as possible, Bill explained to his confederate how +matters stood, and what measures he had taken; then sending Dick back some +distance with the animals, he laid a long train of powder from the cave +outward, and at the farthest extremity placed a can of the explosive +compound, wherein he had adjusted a slow match, to which he now set fire, +and then hastened away with Dick to a place of safety.</p> + +<p>Duffel, as we have seen, was thoroughly alarmed by the intelligence +communicated by Bill; and like all who depend more on stratagem than on +courage, he cowered before the danger which seemed to stare him in the +face. The suddenness of the announcement had not a little to do in +producing the result; but when on his way home from the interview, after +having more time to contemplate the calamity and his own situation, his +fear did not abate. Every little noise startled him, and his mind was +constantly 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 and +fearful crimes; he knew how deeply he had involved himself in guilt by the +abduction of Eveline and the murder of her lover, as he believed, at his +own instigation and command; and he felt well assured, now that his +intended victim was at large, she would not be slow to act with vigor for +his apprehension and punishment. He knew full well, too, that Mr. +Mandeville, when once his eyes were opened, would pursue him with +unflagging energy and tireless perseverance, until his crimes were duly +expiated to the full extent of the law. With such knowledge and reflections +for companions, well might the guilty wretch quake with fear. If +"conscience makes cowards of us all," how much more so <i>him</i>, reeking as he +was with blood and crime!</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding all his fears, he reached home in safety, made a few hasty +preparations for his journey, placed his effects left behind in as good +order as the shortness of the time would allow, gave them in charge to his +servant, with such orders for their disposal as pleased him, and then +started for the swamp, which he reached about daylight, and into which he +plunged with as much pleasure as ever a hunted fox entered its secure +burrow. Though still very uneasy, he breathed more freely than before since +receiving the unwelcome tidings from Bill.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>'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 was +aroused from his state of languor and but half wakefulness by a knock at +the door. Feeling tired, he did not get up to open for the visitor, but in +the old fashioned style, requested the knocker to "come in."</p> + +<p>A neighboring boy entered, and handed him a letter, saying:</p> + +<p>"The man who gave me the letter for you told me to tell you, you had better +read it immediately."</p> + +<p>"Indeed! Then it must be of some importance," said the 'Squire as he opened +the document. It read as follows:</p><p><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83"></a></p> + +<p>"'<span class="smcap">Squire Williams</span>:—Having learned that you take a deep interest +in the movements of young Mr. Duffel, who is supposed to be connected with +a 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, by +preventing his further operations.</p> + +<p>"If you will go to the swamp, nine miles from C——, early to-morrow +morning, and watch closely all day and all the next night, should he not +make his appearance sooner, you will detect him in the act of leaving the +place on a horse which he has forgotten to pay for. I would advise that you +take a few confidential friends with you, and, if possible, induce Mr. +Mandeville to be one of them; you will understand my reasons for making +this request in the end. Make all your arrangements with great caution and +secrecy, <i>and be sure to trust no one in whom you have not the most +implicit confidence, or you may be betrayed</i>. I make this remark, on the +supposition that you are not aware of the fact, that some of your neighbors +are 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 of +strength and harmony of action among those who prey upon community. I would +further advise, that you do not go to the swamp before daylight—<i>give him +time to get into the trap</i>. I will cut the letter B on a beech-tree at the +south-western corner of the swamp, which will be a sign and guide-mark that +you are in the right way; from that tree keep a direct north-east course +until you reach a large walnut tree, then turn at right angles with your +former course, and cross the marsh on the logs which you will find placed +there 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 other +route than the one pointed out. On it you will find Duffel, <i>provided you +are cautious and wary in your movements</i>. You will wonder how I am so +familiarly acquainted with the operations of these bad men: without fully +satisfying your curiosity, let me say, that whatever I may have been, I am +now desirous of handing over to justice one who is deeply guilty—guilty of +crimes of which even you, perhaps, have never dreamed of accusing him. On +this point I have only to say, you yourself came near losing your life in +place of one of his victims. I allude to the attack made upon you by two +persons in the 'dark passage,' some weeks ago. You will remember it! I know +all, though revealing but little; and as it will be known that treason is +in the camp of the League of Thieves, I shall leave the country at once. Go +to the swamp as directed, and you will satisfy yourself of all that I have +told 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,</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Ex Leagueist</span>."</p> + +<p>So soon as he finished reading this singular communication, the 'Squire +asked the boy:</p> + +<p>"What sort of a man was he, that gave you the letter?"</p> + +<p>"He was large, with dark eyes, and sun-burnt face."</p> + +<p>"You did not know him, then?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir; he was a stranger."</p> + +<p>"That will do."</p> + +<p>The 'Squire was puzzled to know what to do. The man might be acting in good +faith, or he might be only leading him into a snare. After mature +deliberation, he came to the conclusion that his informant was not +deceiving him, and resolved to act upon the suggestions of the unknown +writer, be he friend or foe.</p> + +<p>He accordingly set about making preparations for the adventures of the +morning, without delay. By midnight all his arrangements were completed, +and he lay down to snatch a little rest before setting out on the +expedition. At three o'clock in the morning, the little company, numbering +five in all, of whom Mr. Mandeville was one, set out for the swamp.</p> + +<p>Bill and Dick had scarcely reached a safe distance from the cave, when a +sound as of ten thousand thunderbolts rent the air, and the ground at the +same time trembled as in a violent earthquake. The horses plunged and +snorted, and then stood still in mute fear. The villains, who were looking +in the direction of the cave, saw a column of fire, smoke, earth, and rocks +heaved up in the air—a huge mass like a mountain—some portions to the +height of several hundred feet, and then <a name="Page_84" id="Page_84"></a>fall again with a heavy crash, +making the earth vibrate beneath them. They knew then that the cave was in +ruins, and its place occupied by a shapeless mass of matter.</p> + +<p>The explosion took place a little after three o'clock in the morning, and +consequently but a few minutes after 'Squire Williams and his party had set +out 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, fully +believing it was an earthquake. But as no repetition of the sound or shock +took place, they concluded the danger was past, and proceeded on their way.</p> + +<p>Duffel also heard the report and felt the shaking, and it filled him with +alarm. He was nearing the swamp at the time, and for a little while +hesitated to proceed, but finally did so, arriving at the same conclusion +as did the party in his rear.</p> + +<p>It became the general belief in the neighborhood, and for forty miles +around the cave, that the noise and its accompaniments were to be +attributed to a veritable earthquake; and we believe a report to that +effect finally went the rounds of the press.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<h3>EVELINE PURSUED BY WOLVES—BILL AND DICK—DUFFEL.</h3> + + +<p>Terrible was the condition in which Eveline felt herself to be placed when +the deep-toned howls and piercing screams of the ferocious denizens of the +forest fell upon her ear! In a moment all the wild and horrible stories of +adventures with wild beasts she had ever heard or read about, came vividly +up in her memory, and from a hundred places her disturbed fancy pictured +the glaring eyes of savage monsters which she imagined were in the act of +springing upon her. From these she would turn in affright, and hasten away +as fast as her trembling limbs could bear her. In this way her confusion +became more aggravated, until, finally, every trace of knowledge as to +distance or courses, was obliterated in her mind, and she wandered without +method or aim, save that she always went in an opposite direction to that +from which the last sound proceeded. But this indefinite way of fleeing +from harm did not answer her wishes; for soon she heard the baying of +wolves in her rear, and the constancy of their howling, and the directness +of their movements convinced her that she was pursued! What a thought was +that! Alone, and lost in the wide wilderness, and the fiercest and most +daring of its ferocious inhabitants on her track!</p> + +<p>No sooner was this conviction fixed in her mind, than she flew rather than +ran, tearing her clothes and lacerating her flesh against the brush and +thorns which beset her way. She scarcely felt the wounds and thought as +little of the destruction of her garments, but kept on, on, on, she knew +not whither, and cared not, so that she escaped from her dreaded pursuers. +All would not do. Ever and increasing, nearer and nearer, came the dismal +sound! How her heart died within her, as the increased loudness of the +baying of the wolves told her they were fast overtaking her! In vain she +exerted all her remaining strength, and taxed every nerve and muscle to its +utmost capacity! There was no help! As unerring as mistakeless instinct, +and as certain as the decree of fate came the blood-thirsty pack! Despair +began to settle down upon her spirit, and she was almost ready to wish +herself back in the cave. But at this juncture, a sound seven-fold louder +than any thunder she had ever heard, broke with stunning violence through +the solemn forest, and at the same moment, far in the distance, flashed up +a column of fire sparkling and scintillating, and sending a gleam, as of +lightning, among the shades of the dim wilderness. It was the knell and +funeral light of the cave.</p> + +<p>Instantly everything was as hushed as the chamber of death; not a sound +disturbed the stillness of the deep solitude that reigned around her, and +Eveline herself paused, and held her breath in alarm and wonder. The +illumination lasted but for a moment, and all was dark again; but in that +moment the affrighted girl saw a large tree before her, with a cavity at +its base, sufficiently large to admit her person; and, as soon as she could +collect her thoughts after the surprise of this unexpected and mysterious +phenomenon, she resolved to make the cavity an asylum for the night. She no +longer heard anything <a name="Page_85" id="Page_85"></a>of the wolves; the unaccountable light and noise +seemed to have frightened them away, and with deliberation she rolled up +pieces of timber to block up the mouth of her retreat, then entered and +barred herself in as securely as she could, and patiently and sleeplessly +awaited the dawn of day. The night being already far advanced, she had not +long to wait, though to her it seemed like an age ere the welcome light +appeared; but it did at last, without the anxious moments being disturbed, +and she stepped forth from her hiding-place to renew her efforts to reach +home. But she was at a loss to know which course to take, or what method to +adopt in order to extricate herself from the mazes of the pathless +wilderness in whose impenetrable shadows she was enveloped. She stood for +some moments in a state of perplexing irresolution, and then resolved to +walk in the direction of the rising sun, thinking that if she did not reach +home in that way, it was probable she would arrive at some settlement; and +she was anxious to see the habitations of men, even if the occupants were +entire strangers, for she felt a deep dread of remaining another night in +the wilderness, and knew that once among honest men, it would be quite an +easy matter to get home, even if the distance was great.</p> + +<p>Having settled upon a line of action, Eveline began to execute her purpose +with all the energy and promptness for which she was distinguished. She had +proceeded some distance, and the sun whose dim approach was only heralded +by a few faint streaks of light when she set out, was now pouring a flood +of light through the interstices of the forest, when her attention was +suddenly arrested by the appearance of two horsemen wending their way amid +the intricacies of the wild-wood. Her first thought was to call to them for +help, but on more mature deliberation she was fearful they might belong to +Duffel's band, and if so, would betray her into the hands of that +unprincipled and enraged villain, when she knew but too well that death or +a fate infinitely worse, was the the alternative left for choice; she +therefore kept silent, preferring to take the chances of her lone +pilgrimage to casting herself into unknown and suspected hands.</p> + +<p>It soon appeared, however, that the discovery was mutual, and that the +horsemen had less fear of her than she of them; for, after a moment's pause +to satisfy themselves of the reality of her presence, they turned their +horses' heads toward her, and in a few seconds arrived at the spot where +she stood, silently awaiting their approach. She had feared they were +members of the association of thieves, and as such, was expecting to see +hard features with a brigand's expression upon them; but, much to her +surprise and pleasure, the men before her bore none of the marks she had +pictured to herself, but were genteelly dressed and quite fine-looking +fellows. One of them addressed her in the most polite manner and with a +grace that showed plainly he had been in good society:</p> + +<p>"Will you pardon me, fair lady, a stranger, for being so bold as to presume +to address you? but it is so strange to see one so delicate as yourself in +the midst of a wild wilderness at such an early hour. May I inquire if +misfortune has overtaken you? or why it is that you are here? and if we can +be of any service to you?"</p> + +<p>There was something in the voice that sounded familiar to Eveline, and she +looked at the speaker to see if she could recognize him as a casual +acquaintance, but she could not; his features and face were entirely +strange to her; and though every word he uttered seemed to be in a tone she +had heard before, it was impossible for her to tell where or when, and she +concluded it must be a singular coincidence and nothing more. When he +concluded, she replied:</p> + +<p>"I have been so unfortunate, sir, as to lose my way in the forest, and have +wandered I know not whither, in my nightlong efforts to extricate myself +from the unpleasant situation in which I am placed. If you can aid me to +get to C——, or to any other neighborhood, I will take it as a great +favor, and will reward you for your trouble."</p> + +<p>"We will escort you with the greatest pleasure to any point you may wish to +go. You must have wandered a long way if you started from C——, for it is +more than fifty miles to that place."</p> + +<p>"Indeed! I had no expectation it was so far. I cannot think of asking you +to take me such a distance."</p> + +<p>"We will do so with the utmost pleasure without being asked; it is exactly +in <a name="Page_86" id="Page_86"></a>our way, and very fortunately we have a horse at hand, already +caparisoned for a lady's use, which is at your service." Then turning to +the other he said:—"Bring up the led horse for the lady," and his +companion started as directed. The speaker then continued, again directing +his discourse to Eveline:</p> + +<p>"By the appearance of your apparel, I should suppose you had not found the +underbrush of the forest a very pleasant impediment to travel; your face +and hands, too, I perceive, have suffered severely."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have found darkness and the brush and thorns rather difficult +opponents to contend with;" saying which, she glanced at her habiliments +for the first time, and their tattered appearance caused her to blush; but +in explanation, she narrated the adventures of the night, except such parts +as related to the cave and her captors, which she deemed it best not to +divulge, not knowing into whose hands she was falling. As she finished the +narrative, the other man came up with the horses, and she was assisted to +mount the one adapted to her use, when the three immediately started on +their journey.</p> + +<p>We have only to say—and the reader, most likely, has already anticipated +us—that these two men were none other than Bill and Dick disguised, who +had accidentally fallen in with her in that unexpected place, to the great +delight of the former, and with ill-concealed disappointment on the part of +the latter. They had intended to remain in the woods that day, and had just +left the led horse for the purpose of making observations, when the +unexpected event caused them to change their original intention, and set +out on their journey for Virginia immediately. Little dreamed Eveline that +she had fallen into such hands—that these, her seeming friends, were the +very villains she had heard plotting their schemes of rascality and crime. +How different from what they were would have been her feelings, had she +known the truth in relation to her situation!</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>'Squire Williams and his party had no difficulty in finding the way into +the swamp, as pointed out in Bill's note, and ere the sun was two hours in +the heavens they had passed the marshy place spoken of, and were on the +island, where, if the note of information was correct, they might expect to +find Duffel and the stolen horse.</p> + +<p>Here the 'Squire directed the men to remain while he went forward to +reconnoiter and ascertain, if possible, where the animal and the villain +were. He returned in less than an hour, bringing the intelligence that he +had found the whereabouts of the former, but had been able to discover no +traces of the latter.</p> + +<p>A consultation was held as to what should be done, but opinions were +divided. At this juncture Mr. Mandeville, who had manifested but little +interest in the affair until now, and who was not apprised of the +individuality of the persons they were after, seemed suddenly to become +himself again, and taking in the whole subject at a glance, threw in his +opinion to the following effect:</p> + +<p>"The horse being found as stated in the letter, we have every reason to +believe that the thief is not far off; and as the beast cannot live without +food, at some time during the day the thief, who is, doubtless, secreted +somewhere about the vicinity of the horse, will come out to feed him. I +think all we need to do is to hide ourselves near the animal and wait for +the fellow to appear."</p> + +<p>This advice was at once adopted, and moving forward under the 'Squire's +guidance as noiselessly as Indians, the whole party secreted themselves in +ambush, within shooting distance of the horse, which was hid away in a +thicket of bushes so nicely, that it was a mere accident the 'Squire +discovered him. Here they remained in whispered silence for several hours, +until some time in the afternoon, and were about to despair of seeing the +culprit, when their attention was directed by Mr. Mandeville, who had kept +a sharp look out, to a man descending from a thick, bushy topped tree. He +was a good way off, and they could not distinguish his features; but he +paused and looked around in all directions, as if to satisfy himself that +there 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 bark +from its base, which was very dextrously fitted to its place, and revealed +a large hollow caused by the decay of the inner <a name="Page_87" id="Page_87"></a>portions of the tree, from +which he drew forth a bag of oats, and, cautiously approaching the horse, +gave him a mess.</p> + +<p>"Now is our time!" whispered the 'Squire. "Two of you go on either side so +as 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, but +with as little noise as possible. Strike out!"</p> + +<p>With the concluding words all five rose from their hiding-place and +proceeded to execute the parts assigned them.</p> + +<p>Duffel, whose senses were quickened by fear, heard the breaking of a small +stick 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, ascertained +who he was. In a moment he decided upon his course of action, which was to +flee for life; and, mounting the horse, which he had in preparation for any +emergency, he bounded away at as rapid a rate as he could force the animal +into going.</p> + +<p>The 'Squire called out to him to stop; but he seemed not to hear.</p> + +<p>"Stop!" repeated the 'Squire, "stop, or I'll shoot you!"</p> + +<p>Still he heeded not the command or the warning, but made only the greater +exertions to get out of reach of gun-shot and make his escape.</p> + +<p>Without losing more time, the 'Squire leveled his rifle and fired. The +rider tottered for a moment and then fell from his seat. In a minute or two +he was surrounded by his pursuers.</p> + +<p>"You have killed me, 'Squire," were his first words, as that gentleman came +up.</p> + +<p>"Well, why did you not stop; I should not have fired if you had done so."</p> + +<p>"I did not wish to be taken alive."</p> + +<p>At this juncture Mr. Mandeville came round where he had a view of the +thief's face, and, with unfeigned horror and amazement, he recognized him, +and exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"<i>Duffel!</i>"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Mandeville," said Duffel, "it is I, and there is Tom, <i>your</i> horse."</p> + +<p>"So he is, as I live," said the bewildered individual. "How is this? I +certainly am not dreaming."</p> + +<p>"No," replied Duffel. "I would to God it was a dream. You see before you +the very man of all others you had chosen for a son-in-law, and but for +your daughter's opposition, I would this day have stood in that relation to +you, which I am now glad is not the case. But I have much to reveal to you +and little time to do it in."</p> + +<p>"Well, first of all, have you seen anything of Eveline?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have both seen and conversed with her, and until last night I knew +where she was, but now I do not."</p> + +<p>He then entered into a brief history of his past conduct in relation to +Hadley and Eveline, keeping nothing back.</p> + +<p>"So, then, Hadley is dead?" queried the 'Squire, who felt a deep interest +in that young man's welfare.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sorry enough I am to say it, for it is the only murder that rests on +my conscience, and a heavy burden and a deep stain it is with which to +appear in the presence of an offended God!"</p> + +<p>"And you know nothing of Eveline?" interposed Mr. Mandeville.</p> + +<p>"Nothing more than I have told you. She may be on her way home, or she may +have fallen into the hands of those who will have as little regard for her +feelings and wishes as I had. I think she has been taken from the cave by +some of our number, but with what design is more than I can tell."</p> + +<p>"Where is the cave?"</p> + +<p>"I am bound by the most solemn oath never, under any circumstances, to make +known its location, and if I were to do so, it would avail you nothing now; +she is not there."</p> + +<p>"Well, can't you give us some clue to its whereabouts?"</p> + +<p>"No, I dare not. I know how great must be your anxiety to learn the fate of +Eveline, 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 most +probable, safety or destruction. In fact I am as much in the dark as you +are in relation to her last disappearance; it is a mystery which I can only +account for on the supposition already stated, that there is treason in the +League."</p> + +<p>All this was said with difficulty by Duffel, who suffered great pain from +his wound, but would not allow himself to be disturbed until he had +revealed what was<a name="Page_88" id="Page_88"></a> on his mind. He now permitted himself to be placed on a +rude litter, which was prepared by the men out of the branches of trees, +and was carefully borne toward his home.</p> + +<p>But before they had emerged from the swamp he motioned them to stop, and +they did so.</p> + +<p>"I am going!" he said, in a voice scarcely above a whisper. "I thank you +for your kindness. Whoever bears the tidings of my death to my mother, +please break the news to her as gently as possible."</p> + +<p>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 the +excitement, and ejaculated in a louder tone:</p> + +<p>"Oh, my God! that I should come to this! I fear the intelligence will kill +her!"</p> + +<p>He covered his face with his hands and groaned in agony. Every eye in that +solemn group around him was moist with tears.</p> + +<p>"Take me on!" said the sufferer, after a pause. "Possibly I may be able to +hold out till I reach home. If I do not, Mr. Mandeville, and you should +ever see Eveline again tell her that almost with my dying words I craved +her forgiveness."</p> + +<p>Duffel the man and villain was subdued, and Duffel the boy was again come +to life. The memory of a mother's love opened the long-sealed fountain of +affection in his sin-encased heart, and he felt once more, in a little +degree, as he had done in the days of his innocence.</p> + +<p>As he was carried along the current of thought again changed, and he cast a +retrospect over the years of crime, which had made him an outlaw, and +brought him down to the gate of death. The dark picture shut out the light +of more pleasant memories, and his soul sunk back into the night of +darkness which the blackness of his crime had cast around it! Again he +groaned in anguish of spirit and closed his eyes, as if by so doing he +would shut out the phantoms of his evil deeds from his soul's vision.</p> + +<p>The excitement of conflicting emotions threw him into a fever, and before +he reached his home, which was not till after night, he was delirious. A +broken hearted mother laid her soft hand affectionately upon his head, and +called his name in such endearing tones as only a mother's lips can +breathe; but he knew not that it was her, he felt only the touch of a +horrid specter, and heard but the mocking of fiends!</p> + +<p>Then he raved and bid the ghostly phantoms begone! Oh, it was terrible to +witness his soul-disordered agony, and hear the awful words that fell from +his fevered lips!</p> + +<p>"Why, in Satan's name," he said, "have you come to torment me with your +jeers and scoffs, ye minions of h——? Away with you! Back! back! I say, to +your black home in the pit!"</p> + +<p>Then covering his eyes he lay and shuddered for a brief period, but soon +screamed out:</p> + +<p>"Keep your forked tongues out of my face, you hissing devils!"</p> + +<p>These paroxysms, upon the horrors of which we have no wish to dwell, lasted +all the night, but subsided about the dawn of morning. The last image +conjured up by his distempered fancy seemed to be one of Hadley:</p> + +<p>"Oh, Hadley," he pleaded in piteous tones, "do not look upon me in that +way! Take from me those mournful eyes, oh, take them away! for that look +burns into my heart! Hadley! Hadley! have pity on me! and spare me! Am I +not tormented enough already?"</p> + +<p>But we will not linger to depict this harrowing scene. When the fever +subsided he was weak as an infant. His mother asked him if he knew her, and +he whispered:</p> + +<p>"Yes, oh, yes! God forgive me for bringing your 'grey hairs in sorrow to +the grave!' Oh, that I could die with your forgiveness graven upon my +heart; but I dare not hope—I dare not pray for it!"</p> + +<p>"God bless you, my son! and forgive you as I do!" passionately exclaimed +the parent; and her heart was writhing with agony!</p> + +<p>What a fearful thing it is to bow a parent's head with shame! to crush out +the joy from a tender mother's heart, and shut the light from her spirit +forever! And, oh, what a fearful thing to die with this consciousness +burning into the soul like the sting of scorpions!</p> + +<p>None of the horrid visions that visited his fevered brain in the hours of +delirium were half so painful as the anguished <a name="Page_89" id="Page_89"></a>expression on that mother's +face. It sunk to the great deep of the guilty son's soul; and, with that +pale face bending over him, his last glimpse of earth, his sight paled and +his spirit left its clay tenement for eternity. What a lesson in his life +and death!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<h3>THE DISGUISED VILLAINS MEET HADLEY—THE RESULT—CONCLUSION.</h3> + + +<p>As already stated, Bill and Dick had disguised themselves in the garb of +gentlemen, and with certain disfigurements of countenance which completely +hid their features and rendered it impossible to identify them, either in +their character of villainous murderers, or as the abductors, on a former +occasion, of their present captive. When Bill first discovered Eveline in +the woods, he was about to make known to her that he and Dick were the +friends who had promised to liberate her, but on second thought he deemed +it best to keep up the disguise, and learn, if possible, whether she had +any knowledge of his real intentions and their ultimate destination. Hence +her inability to trace the voice, which sounded so familiar, to the wily +villain who had enticed her to meet Hadley for the purpose of placing her +in Duffel's power.</p> + +<p>Bill endeavored by every indirect means, not calculated to excite +suspicion, to draw from Eveline the facts of her situation, with the view +of informing himself of her sentiments toward the friends who had promised +her freedom; but she kept her own counsels, and completely baffled him in +his object. He knew that the present course of deception could not long be +persisted in, as, at furthest, on the morrow a development of facts must +take place, or, at least, a continued persistence in the disguise as to +destination would be impossible. How to make himself known in his real +character was a matter which puzzled him not a little; for he well knew +from her manners and from the resistance she had made to Duffel, that it +would be no easy task to force her all the way to Virginia. If he could +only manage to keep up appearances until a certain point was gained, which +he hoped to reach by night on the second day, he felt pretty sure of final +success; 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 for +the night. But how to reach that point was the difficulty.</p> + +<p>After bestowing much thought on the subject, he at last hit upon the plan +which he concluded would enable him to accomplish his ends without being +mistrusted by Eveline. His plan was simply this: To give Eveline to +understand 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 of +their journey, he would, in seemingly well disguised uneasiness, inform her +that they were lost in the wilderness! and as the day wore away, that it +might be possible they would have to remain in the forest all night, if +they did not happen to stumble on some settlement or lone cabin. In this +way he could gain the time desired; and he well knew <i>what</i> solitary cabin +he would reach at night!</p> + +<p>Poor Eveline was again in the toils of an enemy, and it would seem now that +nothing but death could release her from the snare in which she had +unconsciously fallen. In her situation, "ignorance was certainly bliss;" +for while the web of fate was weaving so surely around her, she was +thinking of home and friends with joy at heart, that soon she would return +to the one and be greeted by the others. Alas! how little knew she of the +dark purposes of the vile wretches who were confided in as friends!</p> + +<p>Without lingering to describe the particulars of the day and night, except +to mention that the latter was spent at a first class public house, and +without the occurrence of any note worthy of incident, we will simply state +that Bill, who let Dick into his secret, carried out his plans to the +letter; and on the second day, about noon, communicated to Eveline the +unwelcome and, to her, startling intelligence that they had missed their +way 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 up +in her mind, and she shuddered at the thought that a repetition of its +dreadful experience might be before her, but concealed her feelings as well +as she could, <a name="Page_90" id="Page_90"></a>though Bill saw that a sudden pallor overspread her face, +and that she was really alarmed.</p> + +<p>Bill produced a pocket compass, and pretended to take directions and shape +their course from it. Toward evening, he announced the fact, that he was +quite confident they were near a secluded dwelling occupied by an old +half-hermit sort of a fellow and his family, which, though affording but +poor accommodations, would be preferable to the forest as a shelter for the +night. As predetermined by him, they reached this desolate looking +habitation, and put up for the night. Seeing that Eveline was ill at ease, +he found means to whisper in her ear:</p> + +<p>"Do not be alarmed at appearances; these people are rough, but honest; and +in any emergency, be assured we will defend you with our lives!"</p> + +<p>But this whispered assurance of defense had the contrary effect from what +was intended, for Eveline at once had her fears confirmed that there <i>was</i> +danger to be apprehended. She did not, however, manifest her increased +apprehensions of evil, but seemed as calm as possible until she was shown +her 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; but +instead of sleeping, put out her light, and listened with sharpened ears to +every noise that disturbed the stillness of the night. She had been in her +room but a little while when she was startled by a call from without:</p> + +<p>"Halloo, the house!"</p> + +<p>She waited a moment, and then heard the owner go to the door and demand:</p> + +<p>"Who's there?"</p> + +<p>"A benighted traveler, who has lost his way, and wishes to obtain shelter +for the night."</p> + +<p>"The house is already full of guests, and I cannot take any more."</p> + +<p>"Let him in;" said Bill, whose voice Eveline recognized. "He may be worth +taking in, you know."</p> + +<p>The man then called out:</p> + +<p>"My guests think you can be accommodated; so you may come in, I reckon, and +share such fare and lodging as we can give, which are none the best."</p> + +<p>"If you will show me the way to the stable, I will first see to my horse," +said the traveler.</p> + +<p>The host pointed out a shed where the beast could stand, and soon the two +returned to the house.</p> + +<p>The moment the new-comer entered the door, Bill and Dick cast inquiring +glances at each other; paleness as of death was on their cheeks, and +superstitious alarm at their hearts; for in the stranger they beheld +<span class="smcap">Charles Hadley</span>! Was it his ghost come to torment them in the hour +of their triumph and security? Several minutes passed before they could be +assured of his identity, that he was veritably flesh and blood, and not a +spirit. It was well for them that the obscure light of the room cast their +features in shadow, or their blanched cheeks and disquiet looks might have +betrayed them. In a very short time they found it convenient, as on a +former occasion, when seeking the life of the same man, to go out to see +after their horses.</p> + +<p>"Well, Dick!" said Bill, when they were alone, "What now?"</p> + +<p>"D——n me, ef I didn't think the dead had come to life, when I first seen +that 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."</p> + +<p>"But it is not his ghost, that's certain, though I could have sworn that he +was dead; and we must get rid of him, some way, or he'll play the d——l +with us."</p> + +<p>"I think the best thing we can do is, to leave the gal in his care, and cut +stick for Virginny as straight as we can shoot."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense! We can easily get old Sampson to kill him for his money, and +that will save us from any further fear of his revealing our secret."</p> + +<p>"I don't like this bizness of killin'; 'taint human, no way you can fix +it."</p> + +<p>"Come, Dick, don't make a fool of yourself. I want you to stand by me now, +like a man."</p> + +<p>"I shall have nothing to do with killin' Hadley; you may jist put a peg +there, and say no more about it."</p> + +<p>"Well, let me alone, then, and don't interfere with my plans, and I'll do +it myself."</p> + +<p>"Ef it's to be done at all, better let old Sampson do it. I'd a good deal +rather his hands should be made red with Hadley's blood than mine. The +truth is, Hadley is a first rate chap, and it's a mean, cowardly act to +take his life." <a name="Page_91" id="Page_91"></a>"Come, come! no more of that sort of talk. If you don't +want to help me, just let me alone; with old Sampson's aid, I can get along +without you; but I don't see what has come over you, of late."</p> + +<p>"Well, I ken soon tell you that I'm down on this wimen bizness, and allers +have been; and it is mean, low, dirty work—this steelin' poor things—any +way you ken fix it, and I've told you so often. I don't believe any good +will come of it in the end, either; ef I could have my way, there +shouldn't, that's certain. Ef you <i>will</i> go ahead, why, go; but I tell you +no good will come of it at last. I would be glad ef you would quit now; but +I'll not stand in your way, becoz I've agreed to stand by you already."</p> + +<p>With this understanding, the rascals returned to the house—if house it +could be called—and very soon afterward intimated that they would retire.</p> + +<p>"As the stranger seems very tired," said Bill to the host, "we will +willingly remain until you show him his room," and he gave the proprietor +of the premises a knowing wink.</p> + +<p>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 at +heart, bad as he was, at the thought that so noble a fellow should fall a +sacrifice for such a base purpose; and he half resolved to give him warning +of 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 too +well knew for what purpose.</p> + +<p>"Ef I could only let them out and get them off safely, I'd do it," mused +Dick; "but there it is, I can't do it, and it's no use tryin'."</p> + +<p>But notwithstanding he came to this hopeless conclusion, he continued to +think about the matter. At last he concluded:</p> + +<p>"Well, ef I can't do anything else, I ken give the feller a friendly word +of advice, jist to kinder put him on his guard, like."</p> + +<p>So he stepped to the door of Hadley's room, and gently tapping it until he +gained the occupant's attention, whispered in his listening ear:</p> + +<p>"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 for +anything that may happen."</p> + +<p>"Thank you! my friend," whispered Hadley, in response.</p> + +<p>"No thanks, stranger; I'd help you more, if I could; but my hands are +kinder tied like, and if they were free, sarcumstances would prevent me +from givin' you any aid."</p> + +<p>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 leave +Bill, unless he would relinquish Eveline.</p> + +<p>While these events were transpiring, Eveline, wide awake and excited by +fear, continued to listen to every sound without, remaining perfectly still +herself, so that the inmates of the house supposed she was sleeping.</p> + +<p>We will here remark, that the house was a double-cabin, with a kitchen +attached to one of the ends, and a sleeping-room to the other. The family +were in the kitchen, and Eveline was in the room opposite to it on the same +side, but at the other end of the house. The part of the cabin leading to +and from the kitchen, was in one large room; but the part leading to and +from Eveline's room, was divided into three apartments, two small +sleeping-rooms, and one large hall-shaped one, extending the full length of +the house, which was a kind of sitting-room, and into it opened all three +of the bed-rooms, two at the side and one at the end. There was a rude +chamber above these rooms, furnished with beds; for old Sampson's was a +rendezvous for thieves and pickpockets, who often assembled there in +considerable numbers, rendering it necessary for him to have these various +accommodations for their benefit. Old Sampson himself was an outlaw, and +many a murder had been committed in his house, and always in the room +occupied by Hadley, with which there was a secret communication, and +beneath it a vault for the reception of the dead bodies of his victims, +until such time as they could be removed without detection.</p> + +<p>With this brief explanation, we return to the thread of the narrative.</p> + +<p>When Eveline heard the voice of the stranger, she was struck with its +peculiarity, <a name="Page_92" id="Page_92"></a>but, as it was louder than she had been used to hear Hadley +speak, she did not recognize it, and the few brief words she afterward +heard him utter, were too indistinctly heard by her to elicit the truth. +When, however, she heard that well-known voice thanking the men for their +kindness, she recognized it in a moment, and but for the fact that he was +just retiring, she would have rushed out and thrown herself in his arms.</p> + +<p>Hadley had not long been gone, when she heard a low murmuring of voices +back of her room, and noiselessly approaching the side of her apartment +nearest the speakers, she placed her ear to a crevice in the logs, and +listened.</p> + +<p>"I don't want to go to extremes unless there is good reason to believe he +has considerable money about him."</p> + +<p>These words, spoken by the host, were the first she heard distinctly.</p> + +<p>"I think there is no doubt on that point," was the reply, "for to my +certain knowledge he has just inherited an estate from a rich uncle."</p> + +<p>"Has he indeed? Then he may be worth plucking. But can we rely on your +companion?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes; Dick is true as steel. He will not take an active part in the +affair, because he does not like my taking the girl, on one side, and for +the reason that Hadley has never wronged him, on the other, but he will be +as far from betraying us as we ourselves; I will answer for him there."</p> + +<p>Dick! Hadley! In the quickness of the lightning's flash, the whole truth +beamed into Eveline's soul. Her pretended guides were none other than +Duffel's accomplices, and the plotters, afterward, of her own destruction, +and she was now on her way to that cave in Virginia!</p> + +<p>But the horrors of her own situation were lost sight of in contemplating +the 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 very +near screaming out in affright, but fortunately did not. She still listened +to 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 was +only alluded to and not explained, and the villains soon left the spot and +re-entered the house.</p> + +<p>What a world of conflicting emotions and thoughts now contended in the +bosom 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 an +impossibility. Should she make the effort, it might only hasten the +catastrophe she would prevent. If she could only put him on his guard; but +that was out of her power, for she could hear Dick walking to and fro +across the large room, and she believed he was a sentry on guard.</p> + +<p>In this dilemma she sat down on the only chair in the room, and leaned her +head upon her hand. She then found that her brow was covered with large +drops of cold perspiration, which the intensity of her feelings had forced +out. 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 case +of emergency, either for the preservation of her lover, or to preserve +herself from the fate in store for her if Hadley should be murdered and she +carried off.</p> + +<p>From the first, Hadley did not like the appearance of things about the +house, nor the looks of his host, who was not only rough in features and +manners, but carried with him a countenance with a very sinister expression +upon it, and an eye that spoke of crime and a guilty soul; but when Dick +gave the warning, he was doubly confirmed in his first impressions, and +resolved to profit by the advice so singularly volunteered. He did not +undress, but before extinguishing his light examined his pistols, a brace +of which he had procured for defense, to see that they were in proper order +for immediate use. After making all needful preparations, he put out his +candle, 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.</p> + +<p>For a long time all was still; not a sound was heard; not a whisper broke +the profound silence; yet there were four pairs of sleepless eyes in that +house, whose owners were all within a few feet of each other!</p><p><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93"></a></p> + +<p>At length Hadley, who had taken a position by the door, heard the softest +tread of feet, then a suppressed breathing close by his ear, and he knew +that some one was listening. He turned his face away that his own breathing +might not betray him, and awaited the result of the other's observation. It +was but a little while till a low whispered conversation fell upon his +attentive ear!</p> + +<p>"Does he sleep?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, apparently very soundly."</p> + +<p>"Then the sooner it is done the better."</p> + +<p>"Yes; bring me the lantern. Now when I go in, close the door and stand +near, but do not open it till I call; I don't want the bird to escape."</p> + +<p>"All right. Be careful to make sure work of it."</p> + +<p>"Trust me for that; he'll never know who struck him."</p> + +<p>Hadley knew the decisive moment had come, and he prepared himself for the +crisis; but he felt that the odds was fearfully against him, and his hope +of escape was small; still he was resolved to make a desperate effort for +his life.</p> + +<p>As already remarked, the room was small, and the head of the bed came +within a few feet of the door, so near, that by taking one step, Hadley +could touch it with his hand. Around the bed were long curtains reaching to +the floor. It was but the work of a moment for him to secrete himself +behind these in such a position as to face the murderer when he turned to +look after him in the bed. He had just secured his situation when the door +gently opened, and the man of the house entered with the noiseless tread of +a cat, bearing a dark lantern in one hand and a monstrous knife in the +other. Stealthily he approached the bed, and then gradually lifted the +shade and threw the light around the room to be sure his victim was not out +on the watch; then he gently parted the curtains and slowly brought the +light to bear upon the pillows.</p> + +<p>Now! thought Hadley; and as the surprised assassin raised himself up to +take a closer scrutiny of the position in which he had expected to find his +victim, he leveled his pistol within two feet of his breast and fired! With +a heavy groan the old man fell to the floor. Bill rushed into the room, and +as he did so, Hadley fired his other pistol, but the uncertain light and +Bill's rapid motion caused the shot to be thrown away.</p> + +<p>At the same instant a piercing shriek from Eveline's room told that she was +alive to all that was passing.</p> + +<p>Bill immediately drew a pistol and fired at Hadley, but the latter made a +quick movement to one side and avoided the bullet. Then the two sprang at +each other and closed in for a life struggle.</p> + +<p>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 they +fell, Hadley being uppermost. The knife which had fallen from old Sampson's +hand, 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 and +tremendous effort, turned his antagonist, and seizing the knife, the moment +he felt his enemy safely beneath him, raised it for the fatal plunge at his +heart, and with an oath exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Die, now, like a dog! and be out of my way!"</p> + +<p>But the words were scarcely uttered, when his uplifted hand relaxed its +grasp of the deadly weapon, and at the same precise point of time, a flash +and 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, fell +into the other's arms, and Eveline fainted away! At this juncture Dick made +his appearance, and taking in the whole scene at a glance, hastened out and +soon returned with a vessel of water. Hadley took a handful of the fluid +and sprinkled Eveline's face, who soon revived.</p> + +<p>We shall not attempt to describe the joy of the transported lovers. But the +family had been aroused by the unusual noise, and soon the wife and her two +daughters stood with the dead. In their horror and distress, Hadley and +Eveline forgot their happiness.</p> + +<p>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, left +the scene of <a name="Page_94" id="Page_94"></a>death and wretchedness for home, where they arrived in +safety, the next evening, to the unspeakable joy of Mr. Mandeville, who had +just returned from a fruitless search after his daughter, in despair.</p> + +<p>Dick went back and buried his dead companion, and old Sampson, after doing +which he left the country, and was never afterward heard of.</p> + +<p>The League was never revived in that section of the country after the +destruction of the cave, though many of the members went to the south-west +to join their captain, and the Order is still in existence in a little +different form.</p> + +<p>We have little more to add. Charles and Eveline were married with the full +and free approbation of Mr. Mandeville, who ever after loved Hadley as his +own child, and acknowledged that for once the daughter's was better than +the <span class="smcap">Father's Choice</span>, and often shuddered as he contemplated how +narrowly his beloved daughter had escaped becoming the wife, first, and +afterward, the victim, of <span class="smcap">The Horse Thief Rival</span>.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EVELINE MANDEVILLE***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 16676-h.txt or 16676-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/6/6/7/16676">https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/7/16676</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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