“Well, then,” said Drum, “don’t trust yourself to the counsels of this Hennessy, who, in my opinion, only wants to make a scapegoat of you.  Allow me to go to the place he mentions, for I know the ravine well, but I never knew nor do I believe that there is a cavern at all in it, and that is what makes me suspect the scoundrel’s motives.  He can have hundreds of outlaws secretly armed, who would never suffer you to escape with your life.  The thing is an ambuscade; take my word for it, it is nothing less.  Of course you can go, yourself and your party, if you wish.  You will prevent me from running a great risk; but I am only anxious for your safety.”

“Well, then,” said Sir Robert, “you shall go upon this mission.  It may not be safe for me to do so.  Try if you can make out this cavern, if there be a cavern.”

“I will try, Sir Robert; and I will venture to say, that if it can be made out, I will make ’t out.”  Rowland Drum accordingly set out upon his mission, and having arrived at the cavern, with which he was so well acquainted, he entered it with the usual risk.  His voice, however, was recognized, and he got instant admittance.

“My dear friends,” said he, after he had entered the inner part of it, “you must disperse immediately.  Hennessy has betrayed you, and if you remain here twenty-four hours longer, Sir Kobert Whitecraft and a party of military, guided, probably, by the treacherous scoundrel himself, will be upon you.  The villain had a long interview with him, and gave a full detail of the cavern and its inmates.”

“But how did you become acquainted with Sir Kobert Whitecraft?” asked the bishop.

“In order, my lord, to ascertain his intentions and future proceedings,” replied Mr. Drum, “that we might guard against his treachery and persecution.  On his way home from a dinner at Squire Folliard’s I met him in a lonely part of the road, where he was thrown from his horse; I helped him into his saddle, told him I was myself a priest-hunter, and thus got into his confidence so far as to be able to frustrate Hennessy’s treachery, and to counteract his own designs.”

“Sir,” said the bishop sternly, “you have acted a part unworthy of a Christian clergyman.  We should not do evil that good may follow; and you have done evil in associating yourself, in any sense and for any purpose, with this bloodthirsty tiger and persecutor of the faithful.”

“My lord,” replied the priest, “this is not a time to enter into a discussion on such a subject.  Hennessy has betrayed us; and if you do not disperse to other places of safety, he will himself, as I said, lead Sir Robert Whitecraft and a military party to this very cavern, and then may God have mercy on you all.”