“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.

“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.”

“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.”

“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.”

“Certainly, it will be.”

“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.”

With this the villains parted, Bill going out of the passage, and Dick into the cave.

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.

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.

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 she was concerned, while it might save him from merited exposure and punishment; and so she at once abandoned the idea.