ers will return, and we shall be
cut to pieces."

"I don't believe they are coming back very soon," said the Pupil,
"and we ought to stop and take a look at some of these things."

"Fly, you foolish youth!" cried the Stranger; "you do not know what
danger you are in." And, so saying, he turned to hasten away from the
place.

But he was too late. At that moment the robber captain and his band
entered the cave. When these men perceived the Stranger and the
Hermit's Pupil, they drew their swords and were about to rush upon
them, when the Pupil sprang forward and, throwing up his long arms,
exclaimed:

"Stop! it is a mistake!"

At these words, the robber captain lowered his sword, and motioned to
his men to halt. "A mistake!" he said; "what do you mean by that?"

"I mean," said the Pupil, "that I was out looking for curiosities,
and wandered into this place by accident. We haven't taken a thing.
You may count your goods, and you will find nothing missing. We have
not even opened a box, although I very much wanted to see what was in
some of them."

"Are his statements correct?" said the Captain, turning to the
Stranger.

"Entirely so," was the answer.

"You have truthful features, and an honest expression," said the
Captain, "and I do not believe you would be so dishonorable as to
creep in here during our absence and steal our possessions. Your
lives shall be spared, but you will be obliged to remain with us; for
we cannot allow any one who knows our secret to leave us. You shall
be treated well, and shall accompany us in our expeditions; and if
your conduct merits it, you shall in time be made full members."

Bitterly the Stranger now regretted his unfortunate position. He
strode up and down one side of the cave, vowing inwardly that never
again would he allow himself to be led by a Hermit's Pupil. That
individual, however, was in a state of high delight. He ran about
from box to bale, looking at the rare treasures which some of the
robbers showed him.

The two captives were fed and lodged very well; and the next day the
Captain called them and the band together, and addressed them.

"We are now twenty-nine in number," he said; "twenty-seven full
members, and two on probation. To-night we are about to undertake a
very important expedition, in which we shall all join. We shall
fasten up the door of the cave, and at the proper time I shall tell
you to what place we are going."

An hour or two before midnigh