“So he is, as I live,” said the bewildered individual.  “How is this?  I certainly am not dreaming.”

“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.”

“Well, first of all, have you seen anything of Eveline?”

“Yes, I have both seen and conversed with her, and until last night I knew where she was, but now I do not.”

He then entered into a brief history of his past conduct in relation to Hadley and Eveline, keeping nothing back.

“So, then, Hadley is dead?” queried the ’Squire, who felt a deep interest in that young man’s welfare.

“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!”

“And you know nothing of Eveline?” interposed Mr. Mandeville.

“Nothing more than I have told you.  She may be on her way home, or she 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.”

“Where is the cave?”

“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.”

“Well, can’t you give us some clue to its whereabouts?”

“No, I dare not.  I know how great must be your anxiety to learn the fate 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.”

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 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.

But before they had emerged from the swamp he motioned them to stop, and they did so.

“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.”

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: