“Certainly I do!”

“And then have the whole League after us!  A fine plot, truly!”

“League the h——!  I tell you I’m going to blow the whole thing to nothing, cave and all!”

“What!”

“When I leave this region there will be no League here.  This cave will be in ruins, and the whole order scattered to the four winds of heaven!”

“Are you crazy, Bill Mitchel!”

“No, I am just coming to my senses.  Here we have been these many years, doing all the most dangerous and daring work of the order—­work that 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 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? Never!”

“But how are you goin’ to do all this mighty work?”

“I’ll tell you.  The captain is away; I intend that Duffel shall be 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.”

“How in ruins?”

“Isn’t there powder enough in the magazine to blow it to atoms?”

“Powder!”

“Yes, powder!  Is there anything in that explosive material that need cause you to look so wild?  I thought you were better acquainted with its properties.”

“I believe I begin to understand your intentions; but they don’t exactly chime with your plans of yesterday.”

“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.”

“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 did reveal our secrets.”

“I tell you I have taken a fancy to the girl myself and have set my heart on possessing her, and I will do it.  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.”