ings as sacredly and faithfully to be kept in
your own bosoms."

"You but do us justice in entertaining such opinions, and, without the
asking on your part, we most solemnly pledge our word, even unto death,
that what your honor may please to say to us shall be kept a most
inviolable secret, which nothing shall extort from us."

"I have always found you faithful, and have no hesitation in trusting you
again; but this time I have a peculiar request to make of you, one that may
lead to business out of the ordinary line of operations to which you have
been accustomed. Can I rely on you in any emergency?"

"Yes, to the very death."

"Are you easily moved by the tears and prayers of persons in distress?"

"Do we _look_ tender-hearted, your honor?"

"Well, no; I can't say that you do; but then the looks are not always a
true criterion by which to judge of the heart. A smooth face and a hard
heart may go together, so may a rough visage and warm sympathies."

"You may rely on us in that particular."

"Even if the suppliant be a helpless and beautiful woman?"

"Well, I must confess, I don't fancy meddling with feminines much. What do
you say to it, Dick; shall we pledge?"

"Dang the women! It allers looked kinder cowardly to me to see men turn
agin' the weak things and abuse 'em; it don't seem nateral, but 'pears like
a feller didn't remember his mother, or his sisters, if he had any. But if
the lieutenant has any work to do, we'll do it, women or no women. Them's
my sentiments, Bill, exactly."

"Give us your hand on it, then," said Bill. "And now, give us yours,
lieutenant, and the thing's settled."

With this, they all shook hands in token of agreement, and thus their faith
was pledged. But what a rebuke Dick inadvertently administered to Duffel in
his quaint remarks! How his vicious heart, bad as it was, must have felt
the blow, and all the more severely that it came from such a source!
However, the villain was not to be turned from his purpose, and so,
pocketing the unintentional affront, he proceeded:

"As you have already heard, our most worthy captain will be absent on
important business for some time to come, and during the period of his
absence the duties of command will devolve on me. I have long been
contemplating a measure, which, if carried out, will be of great and
lasting benefit to our order. In order to conduct the affair to a
successful termination, it may become necessary to imprison a female, a