e priest, was in the hands of four
of the brigands, who were commanded to keep their prisoners safe at
the peril of their lives. Where they were he did not know, nor could
he tell whether she was near or at a distance. Girasole had led them
away.

[Illustration:
"IN AN INSTANT THE OCCUPANT OF THE GRAVE SPRANG FORTH."]

He determined to look out and watch. He perceived that this grave, in
the heart of the brigands' camp, afforded the very safest place in
which he could be for the purpose of watching. Girasole's words had
indicated that the work of burial would not be resumed that night, and
if any passers-by should come they would avoid such a place as this.
Here, then, he could stay until dawn at least, and watch unobserved.
Perhaps he could find where Ethel was guarded; perhaps he could do
something to distract the attention of the brigands, and afford her an
opportunity for flight.

He now arose, and, kneeling in the coffin, he raised the lid. The
earth that was upon it fell down inside. He tilted the lid up, and
holding it up thus with one hand, he put his head carefully out of the
grave, and looked out in the direction where Girasole had gone with
his prisoners. The knoll to which he had led them was a very
conspicuous place, and had probably been selected for that reason,
since it could be under his own observation, from time to time, even
at a distance. It was about half-way between the grave and the nearest
fire, which fire, though low, still gave forth some light, and the
light was in a line with the knoll to Hawbury's eyes. The party on the
knoll, therefore, appeared thrown out into relief by the faint
fire-light behind them, especially the priest and Ethel.

And now Hawbury kept his watch, and looked and listened and waited,
ever mindful of his own immediate neighborhood, and guarding carefully
against any approach. But his own place was in gloom, and no one would
have thought of looking there, so that he was unobserved.

But all his watching gave him no assistance toward finding out any way
of rescuing Ethel. He saw the vigilant guard around the prisoners.
Once or twice he saw a movement among them, but it was soon over, and
resulted in nothing. Now he began to despond, and to speculate in his
mind as to whether Ethel was in any danger or not. He began to
calculate the time that might be required to go for help with which to
attack the brigands. He wondered what reason Girasole might have to
injure Eth