night; and they had but little time in which
to work, for the afternoon was far advanced, and they had many miles to
travel, in order to accomplish their ends.

Before proceeding to the cave, Bill sat down and dated and signed a note,
already written, which he folded and addressed to 'Squire Williams, and
procured the service of a little boy to carry it to him. We shall hereafter
learn its import and object.

When he reached the cave it was already night. He found the sentinel in a
very uneasy mood, and very anxious to get off till morning, to carry out
some design of his own. He had engaged a member to take his place, but from
some cause he had not arrived. Bill gladly assumed the post, and in a few
minutes was alone with his thoughts and plans.

When assured that the other was far enough away, he closed the door to the
cave and locked it. Then, going to the armory, he selected several braces
of the best pistols, and secured them about his own person, for his and
Dick's future use. He next opened the money-chest, and took from it all the
gold that had been collected since the last division, some two thousand
dollars in all. This he fastened in a belt worn next to his person. After
making every other arrangement about the room according to his wishes, he
went to the magazine and brought out all the powder it contained, and so
placed the kegs and other vessels containing it, as to secure the greatest
amount of destructive force from the whole. All these he then connected by
trains of the explosive material, which were united in one wider one
leading out at the door of the cave.

These preparations made, he went to apprise Eveline of their readiness for
departure, intending while she was making the few preparations necessary
for starting, to go out and see after Dick.

When he opened the door to the captain's room, he was struck with the
profound stillness which everywhere pervaded the place. No Eveline was
there; but he remembered having seen the door to the small room open on a
former occasion, and supposing her to be within, went and rapped on the
door, at first gently. No answer. Then louder, and louder. All was still.
He called her. No response came. Wondering if she was asleep, or what could
prevent or deter her from answering his call, he proceeded to break open
the door. This he succeeded in doing, after considerable effort; but when
he perceived she was not there, his surprise and astonishment were
unbounded.