st as much curiosity
in his feelings as fear, and he began at last to wonder why they did not
take his watch and chain, purse and pocket-book, both of which latter
were fairly well filled--his father having been generous to him when he
started upon his journey, and there having been absolutely no means of
spending money at Dunroe.

The debate grew more and more angry, the men evidently quarrelling
fiercely, but not a word could Max make out. Their actions, however,
seemed plain enough, as they all turned their eyes fiercely upon him,
and the effect was peculiar, for the ruddy firelight was reflected from
them, so that they seemed to glow as they suddenly made a dart at him,
two of the men dragging him unresisting to his feet, while the third,
before he could grasp his intention, flung the dingy old plaid which had
muffled him before, over his head, twisting it tightly about his throat.

Max uttered a hoarse cry, but it was smothered directly, and he gave
himself up for lost, as he was seized once more and hurried out into the
darkness. This much he knew by the absence of the light dimly shining
through the coarse woollen fabric which covered his head.

He was carried in this way for quite a quarter of an hour. Sometimes
they were going upwards and sometimes downwards; while he could gather
that the way chosen was terribly rough, from the manner in which he was
jerked about.

This went on till a dull sound came in a muffled way through the plaid,
and he gathered from this that they were approaching the falls he had
heard before, or else some others.

The sound of roaring water grew louder and louder, and now he knew that
they were climbing more slowly evidently upward, as if the ascent were
exceedingly steep. Then the sound of the water falling--a deep bass,
quivering roar--grew louder and louder; while, from being hot now almost
to suffocation, the perspiration gathered on his brow grew cold, and,
trembling with horror, he felt that the end was near, and that the
wretches who held him were about to throw him off into the fall whose
waters thundered in his ear.

He uttered a few wild cries for mercy, but they seemed to be unheard,
and, just when his agony was strained to the highest pitch, the roar
suddenly grew fainter, and the bearers paused on comparatively level
ground.

All at once one of the men unfastened the cords which confined him,
after which the other grasped his wrist, and he was forced to walk