e will not suffer ourselves
to be betrayed by such means."

With these remarks the two kidnappers, one on each side of their captive,
started off through the wilderness at as rapid a rate as their fair
prisoner could move.

To attempt a description of Eveline's feelings at this hour would be a vain
task. In a moment, she was brought down from the pinnacle of hope to the
depths of despair; for she saw in all this that had passed the hand of
Duffel, her avowed enemy; and, indeed, as the reader has doubtless already
concluded, she was in the hands of none others than Bill and Dick, who were
bearing her off to the cave.

CHAPTER XII.

When Mr. Mandeville returned home in the evening, he found the maid in
great trouble on account of Eveline's long continued absence, and he
himself became alarmed on learning that she had not been seen since early
in the forenoon. He knew that she often recreated in the grove, and, after
finding her in no more likely place, he proceeded thither. No Eveline was
there, and no voice answered to his repeated calls; but in his search he
found two billets of paper, and hastening to the house, for it was too dark
to read them in the woods, he eagerly perused them.

One of the two was the letter to Eveline, purporting to be from her lover,
which she had accidentally lost in her agitation, at the moment of setting
out on her at first hopeful but sadly terminated errand; its contents are
already known to the reader; and the other read as follows:

"MR. MANDEVILLE:--Being aware of your dislike to me, and having
learned that you charge me with a crime of great magnitude--no less than
that of stealing your horse, (of which, permit me to say, I am as innocent
as yourself,) and feeling assured, from these circumstances, that there was
no hope for me ever to gain your consent to wed Eveline, I have taken the
only alternative left me in the premises--that of persuading your daughter
to elope with me. She has consented; and ere you read this note, will be my
wife. I hope you may find it in your heart to pardon us for taking this
step, as it appears to us the only way in which our ardent wishes can be
accomplished; but if you cannot pardon me, at least forgive Eveline, who
has had a hard struggle between filial affection, duty and regard, and the
strong pleadings of her heart; though her deep love at last conquered.

"But as we feel certain you will be highly exasperated at the first on
receiving