urfaces of crystalline rock. So soon as he entered, a sentinel-watchman,
whose duty it was to proclaim the names of all new-comers, announced him
thus:

"Lieutenant Duffel!"

"Welcome to the Secret Cave!

"Welcome is a brother brave!" was the greeting he received from a score of
voices whose owners came forward and took him cordially by the hand.

Most of the band there assembled were rather good looking men; but there
were a few dare-devil marked fellows, whose sinister countenances bore the
imprint of crime and an expression of anything but honesty or goodness;
hard-featured and hard-hearted, they had doubtless committed deeds
entitling them to a familiar acquaintance with the halter.

Duffel had been in the cave but a short time, when the attention of all was
arrested by the announcement:

"The captain! Let the brethren of the _Secret League_ do him honor."

Every one present immediately uncovered his head and stood up, observing
the most profound silence.

The captain did not enter at the place that had given ingress to Duffel,
but made his appearance from an inner chamber, which communicated with the
outer or large cave by a narrow passage between two pillars of rock. A door
was nicely adjusted to work upon one and fasten upon the other of these
pillars. When shut, the most experienced eye, unless by the closest
scrutiny, could not detect its existence, so perfect was the workmanship,
and so exactly perfect in match of color with the surrounding walls of the
cavern. This inner room was set apart for the captain's special use, and no
one dared to enter it, except by his permission or invitation. More of it
hereafter.

The captain wore the same dress as the other genteel portion of the band,
and there was nothing to distinguish him from the rest, except the military
hat and epaulets which he wore, or omitted to wear, as circumstances or
inclination dictated. As he advanced from the door of his chamber, he was
respectfully saluted by all his followers, and then, by two officials,
escorted to a carved seat, on a raised platform, at one end of the cave.
There was very little form or ceremony used on ordinary occasions, as it
was an established custom among the members of the Secret Clan to conduct
all their affairs on the most republican plan. In certain cases, the
captain's word was law, and the penalty of disobedience to it, death; but
all the laws, rules, and regulations of the order were passed by a vote of