confidants. I must get rid of them in some way, either by fair or foul
means. Then I shall feel safe and at ease."

These few lines, it seemed to Eveline, had been written unintentionally, as
a man would unconsciously "think aloud;" and she was persuaded in her own
mind, that Duffel knew not of their existence, or he would have destroyed
them. And this was the fact. He had written a letter to the captain on the
day previous to Eveline's abduction, the first draft of which was now in
her hand. This paper was on the table at his side, and after finishing the
letter, he sat for some moments in deep thought, the burden of which was
his own situation. His pencil was in his hand, and in the course of his
secret communion, the words we have quoted were spoken to himself, and
recorded with the pencil--his mind the while too completely absorbed in the
current of his reflections to note the act or be aware of the mechanical
action of his hand.

It instantly flashed across her mind that this document might be made
serviceable to her, if, on the morrow, unperceived by Duffel, she could
find an opportunity of slipping it into the hand of one of his
confederates. She turned it over, and wrote on the other side:

"I found this paper in the room where I am confined. You will know whether
or not the writing is in the hand of your employer; should it prove to be,
as I suspect it is, you will at once perceive his intentions toward you,
and can act accordingly. If, in this new phase of affairs, you feel willing
to desert his service, and aid me to escape out of his hands, and from this
place, you shall be abundantly rewarded, and I will ever be your debtor.

"E. MANDEVILLE."

She then folded the note into as small a compass as possible, and placed it
about her person for future use.

The next day, Duffel visited the cave in company with Bill and Dick, whom
he introduced into the captain's room for the purpose already named.

"You have not forgotten our conversation yesterday, Eveline," said he, "nor
have I my promise. In these gentlemen you have the witnesses of Hadley's
death, which, for your own good, I have taken this pains to establish
beyond a doubt. My friends will now speak for themselves."

Bill at once addressed himself to her as follows:

"It is with much pain, fair lady, that we are before you as witnesses of
the sad occurrence referred to by Mr. Duffel; but as circumstances have
placed us in this unpleasant situation,