but she must not be left to surmise and publish her suspicions:  I’ve too much on hand just now to be set upon by spies; and so the sooner I get her out of the way the better.  Once in my power I’ll see that she tells nothing to my hurt.—­Oh, but won’t I have a glorious time!—­But enough of anticipation; I must be up and doing lest the captain return and spoil all my calculations; so now for my precious rascals, Bill and Dick—­and then!—­” And with this he started for the “swamp.”

When Duffel reached the place of meeting, his accomplices were not there, and he sat himself down on the trunk of a fallen tree to ruminate until they should come.  As was customary with him under such circumstances, his thoughts commenced running on schemes of villainy; and he became so deeply absorbed in fitting out the details of his present all-absorbing operation, as to be scarcely conscious of anything else, either as regarded time or place.  At length his corrugated brow relaxed, a kind of sardonic smile of joy spread over his countenance, and he exclaimed in gleeful elation of spirit: 

“I have it!  By Jove! it’s the crowning cap on the climax!  I have been afraid of the consequences until now, for I know old Mandeville will raise earth and hell when he finds his daughter is missing.  But now I have him!  What a glorious idea!  But it is a wonder I had not thought of it before.  Well, it will not be the first time a dead man has served a good purpose!”

At this moment Bill and Dick made their appearance, and he immediately opened business with them.

“Well, you are here at last!  I have been waiting on you this half-hour!”

“If it please your honor we are here at the appointed time.  You must have some urgent business to be done that you are in such haste?”

“I have.  The time has come that I shall need your service in the matter on hand.  Miss Mandeville is in the habit of visiting the spot I pointed out to you, daily.  To-morrow her father is going to C——­ and there will be no one at home but the daughter and the house girl.  You must be in waiting as agreed upon.  You, Bill, must cautiously approach her and represent yourself as the friend of Hadley, for whom you must be the bearer of a message.  If that does not succeed, then you must have recourse to the other means, as already arranged.  So soon as you get her fairly in your possession and secured, bear her to the cave, with all dispatch, by the secret route.  I will meet you on the way.”

“All right.  We understand the plan, and will take good care that it be properly carried out; but afterward we shall expect your aid, or at least your non-interference in a little affair of our own.”

“Oh, certainly.  Go ahead; but don’t make a fuss about it.  Who is she?”

“Oh, dang the women, we don’t meddle with them; it is with Duval that we have an account to settle.”

“Be careful there!  Remember your oath to the order!”