de you swear to take me from this place, but I knew you would perjure
yourself the moment an opportunity afforded, and I did not care to burden
your guilty soul with another crime. For the same reason I decline
accepting your proffer to take me away. I know you would prove treacherous,
and I will not trust myself in your hands. Go, now, and remember that the
next time you enter this room in my presence, you die! I will not permit
another insult of the kind; no, sir, _never_! Open that door and leave!"

He obeyed; she followed him with the pistol presented, until he was out of
the captain's room. He closed the door into the outer cave with a slam, and
locked it, and then called out:

"Madam, you were a fool for not securing the keys while you had me in your
power. I now curse and defy you, and swear that I will make you repent this
day's work in the dust and ashes of humiliation. I shall not come alone
next time, but with fifty men; and you _shall_ be overpowered and feel the
weight of my vengeance! I'll wring your proud heart till it bleeds, and in
your degradation will scorn you!"

She did not wait to hear more of his harangue, but hastened back into her
room, shut and bolted her door, placed every movable object in the
apartment against the one by which Duffel had entered, and then entering
the secret passage, ran to the mirror to see if the villain left. She had
been there but a few minutes when he passed, cursing as he went, and
swearing to be revenged.

The reader may wonder why Eveline did not shoot the wretch when she had him
in her power, but the truth was, she knew nothing about using fire-arms,
and feared to make the attempt, lest, failing, she should be again in his
hands. She knew, too, that it would not be prudent to trust herself to be
led out of the cave by him, as the moment he met one of his followers he
would betray her, and she would be again a prisoner. Still she would have
made this venture, had not the secret passage held out to her a more
hopeful mode of escape.

All these considerations, dangers and probabilities flashed through her
mind with the fleetness of thought, and she came to conclusions with the
same rapidity. Doubtless, she pursued the best course. She could presume on
Duffel's cowardice, but she dare not trust his word or his oath.

So soon as her persecutor passed out from the cave, as shown by the mirror,
she hastened back to her room to make preparations for leaving the den of