feel unpleasant.  Perhaps she was venturing into the presence of those who would have even less regard for her than Duffel.  An undefined terror for a moment seized upon her, and she was about to yield to the dictates of fear, and return to her room, when a kind of murmuring sound, as if of voices in the distance, met her ear.  Listening a moment she felt quite sure there were living persons somewhere near; and summoning all her resolution, she boldly pushed forward, determined to solve the mystery in which she was involved, and if human beings were in her vicinity, to ascertain who and what they were.

Advancing with a cautious but firm step, she was not long in doubt as to the nature of the sound; it evidently proceeded from human lips.  As she drew nearer words became distinguishable; and then she came to the end of the passage, which abruptly terminated against a solid wall, like those of the cave.  But the wall was evidently a thin one, and on the immediate outside—­or other side—­were the persons, who were engaged in conversation.  She stood there but a brief moment when her attention became fixed and all absorbed in the conference going on between the interlocutors, both of whom (she could distinguish but two voices,) seemed to be deeply interested in some matter under consideration.

“I tell you what it is, Bill, I don’t like this here bizness of runnin’ off that gal a bit.  I’ve been thinkin’ the matter over, and the more I think, the more I don’t like it.”

These were the first words that Eveline heard distinctly and connectedly.  Who were they? and who was the girl?  There seemed to be something familiar about the voice of the speaker, and yet she could not tell where or when she had heard it before.  In a moment came the reply: 

“I thought that point was settled.  I tell you I’d take her if it was only to spite Duffel.”

“Duffel!” ejaculated Eveline in thought, and she came near making the exclamation aloud.  “Duffel! then these men know him!” In a moment the truth flashed upon her mind.  It was Duffel’s friends, her captors, the ones from whose aid she was so soon to be delivered!  Yes, now she remembered the voices!  And for a moment her heart bounded in gratitude to the last speaker, whose words she understood to express his firm resolution to liberate her.  The moment the rejoinder came from the other, however, her mind was perplexed, but as she listened further the whole matter was untangled: 

“And wouldn’t it spite Duffel just as much if we should take her back?”

“No, I don’t think it would.  Beside, I want to show him how completely we can beat him at his own game; and then, too, I wish to be revenged on him to the fullest extent; he likes the girl, and to know that she is in the hands of another, who has entirely outwitted him, will be a source of chagrin, and the spark to light the fires of jealousy.”

“You don’t intend to let him know that you have taken the gal!”