The day after, however, he insisted that he had dallied long enough, although after much argument on the part of his enforced guests he agreed to give them three days to decide, with the understanding that each day they delayed would add a goodly sum to their ransom.  If at the end of the three days the Americans remained obdurate, he would invite them to take a little walk, and the affair would be terminated.

Ferralti hugged his revolver and awaited his opportunity.  It seemed to Uncle John that he might have had a hundred chances to shoot the brigand, who merited no better fate than assassination at their hands; but although Ferralti was resolved upon the deed he constantly hesitated to accomplish it in cold blood, and the fact that he had three days grace induced him to put off the matter as long as possible.

He came to regret most bitterly his indecision; for something in the young man’s eyes must have put the brigand on his guard.  When they awoke on the third morning, which was the fifth since their imprisonment, some one had searched their rooms thoroughly.  The revolver and the knife were both gone, and the loss rendered them absolutely helpless.

CHAPTER XX

UNCLE JOHN PLAYS EAVESDROPPER

It now seemed to Uncle John that further resistance to the demands of Il Duca was as useless as it was dangerous.  He resented the necessity of paying a ransom as much as any man could; but imprisoned as he was in a veritable “robbers’ den,” without means of communicating with the authorities or the outside world, and powerless to protect his life from the vengeance of the unprincipled scoundrel who held him, the only safe and sane mode of procedure was to give in as gracefully as possible.

He formed this conclusion during a long walk around the valley, during which he once more noted the absolute seclusion of the place and the impossibility of escape by scaling the cliffs.  The doctor was fishing again by the brook, but paid no heed when Uncle John tramped by.  The sight of the dapper little man gave Mr. Merrick a thought, and presently he turned back and sat down beside the fisherman.

“I want to get out of this,” he said, bluntly.  “It was fun, at first, and rather interesting; but I’ve had enough of it.”

The physician kept his eye on the line and made no reply.

“I want you to tell me how to escape,” continued Uncle John.  “It’s no use saying that it can’t be done, for nothing is impossible to a clever man, such as I believe you to be.”

Still no reply.

“You spoke, the other day, of earning enough money to go home and live in peace for the rest of your days.  Here, sir, is your opportunity to improve upon that ambition.  The brigand is trying to exact a large ransom from me; I’ll give it to you willingly—­every penny—­if you’ll show me how to escape.”

“Why should you do that?” enquired the doctor, still intent upon his line.  “Does it matter to you who gets your money?”