good fortune ever since she has been in the cave. The
truth is, I was smitten by her charms the first time I saw her, and was
half tempted to play Duffel false then; and now that I can serve myself and
disappoint him at the same time, I shall not be slow to avail myself of the
opportunity."

"I don't like this business of runnin' off women, nohow you can fix it. It
allers looked mean and cowardly, somehow, and I despise meanness and
cowardice above all things."

"Well, that is a pretty speech to come from you, anyhow! as if you had not
been engaged in mean acts half your life, for which you would have to
swing, if the law should once get his clutches upon you."

"I know I have done some _bad_ things; of _mean_ acts I have performed but
few, and the meanest of these was helping to carry off this very gal to the
cave; and it was by far the most cowardly. Two men to one woman! It's
actually a disgrace, and I never think of it without feelin' little!"

"I am willing you should think as you please about the matter, so you give
me a little help in the affair."

"I don't know about that; I am tee-totally opposed to meddlin' with women,
and I don't think it's manly."

"Yes, but in this instance we are compelled, as it were, to take the girl
with us. That changes the case, you know, very materially."

"I'm not so sure as we need to take her. I believe she'd keep our secret ef
we'd let her go."

"Well, I don't; and so we differ. But that is not the question. Go she
must--go she _shall_! Will you assist me?"

"Why, I reckon I'll have to; it wouldn't hardly be fair to refuse a friend
after helpin' an enemy. I'll stand by you."

"That's a good fellow! Well, so much is settled. To-morrow Duffel will be
away, and I will take the impression for the key. By Jove, won't it be rich
when he finds that he has been robbed and the bird is flown!"

"I think he'll conclude this partic'lar part of God's footstool is likely
to become a leetle too hot for him."

"Yes; and about the time he begins to prepare for leaving, he'll find
himself taken care of in a way he doesn't dream of."

"And there will be one coward less at large in the world."

"And he will be paid for his treason to his friends."

"But how are we to manage him till the time for action comes?"

"Oh, we must be friendly as ever; he is not quite done with us yet, and we
must seem to enter into his plans as fully as ever we have done, and, above
all, give him no caus