ognized
you, and immediately mounted, put spurs to his fast horse and rode as
for life and death to the rendezvous of his band, and got them into
their saddles to intercept the stage-coach. He also gave orders that we
should come on to this deserted house, which he had discovered in the
course of his rides, and which he supposes will be a safe retreat for
the present. That is all I have to tell you, and I reckon you know all
the rest," concluded Gentiliska.

But still Sybil sat in the same attitude of deep despair, regardless of
all that was said to her.

While Gentiliska's tongue was running, her hands were also busy. She had
prepared a cordial of spiced and sweetened port wine, and had set it in
a saucepan over the fire to heat. And now she poured it out into a
silver mug and handed it to Sybil, saying:

"Come, drink: this will warm and strengthen you. You look like death,
but you must not die yet. You must drink, and live."

"Yes, I must live!" said Sybil. "I must live to throw off this horrible
imputation from the fame of my father's daughter."

And she took the goblet and drank the cordial.

And soon a new expression passed into her face; the fixed despair rose
into a settled determination, a firm, active resolution.

"You look as if you were going to do something. What is it?" inquired
Gentiliska.

"I am going to give myself up! I am guiltless, and I will not longer act
the part of a guilty person!" said Sybil, firmly.

"Your misfortunes have turned your head. You are as mad as a March
hare!" exclaimed Gentiliska, in consternation.

"No, I am not mad. On the contrary, it seems to me that I have _been_
mad, or I never could have borne the fugitive life that I have been
leading for the last two months! I will bear it no longer. I will give
myself up to trial, come what will of it. I would even rather die a
guiltless death than lead an outlaw's life! I will give myself up!"

"After all the pains we have taken, and risks we have run, to rescue
you?" exclaimed Gentiliska, in dismay.

"Yes, after all that! And yet I thank you all the same. I thank you all,
that you have set me at liberty, and by so doing have given me the
opportunity of voluntarily delivering myself up."

"Just as if Captain Inconnu would let you do it. I tell you he has his
own reasons for saving your life," angrily retorted the girl.

"And I have my reasons for risking my life upon the bare chance of
rescuing my good name," said Sybil