r, to-day, upon the subject of
your return to the world," began the rather too courteous captain.

Sybil bowed in silence.

"I am here now, at your orders, for that purpose."

Again Sybil bent her head in acknowledgment of this politeness.

"And first I would inquire," said the captain, with a singular smile,
"whether, after having slept upon the question, as I advised you to do,
you are still in the same mind?"

"Not exactly," replied Sybil, truthfully but evasively; for though she
was still firmly resolved to give herself up to justice, she had changed
her plan of proceeding.

"Ah!" commented the captain, with an expression that proved how much he
had mistaken the lady's meaning--"ah! I thought a night's repose and a
morning's cool reflection would bring you to a more rational
consideration of the question."

Sybil answered his smile, but left him in his error, and presently said
to him:

"Captain, I have a question to ask you."

"Proceed, madam! I am entirely at your commands," said the captain with
a bow.

"Supposing that I had remained in the same mind that I was in yesterday,
and that I still persisted in my purpose of leaving your band, and
giving myself up to take my trial, would you have assisted me, or would
you have hindered me?"

"Mrs. Berners, your purpose was a suicidal one! Your question means
simply this: If you were bent upon self-destruction, would I help you or
hinder you in your determination? Of course there can be but one answer
to such a question. I should employ every power of my mind and body to
prevent you from destroying yourself."

That was all Sybil wanted to know. She felt now that her only hope was
in the boy.

Smilingly she arose and excused herself to the captain, who soon after
left the room.

But not until she knew that he had mounted his horse and ridden away
from the house, did Mrs. Berners begin to put her plan in practice.

She was playing a desperate game, and she knew it. The heaviest stake
was that fair boy's fate.

She knew that the robber captain would never permit her to take what he
chose to term the "suicidal" step of delivering herself up to justice.
She therefore knew that she must act without his knowledge, as well as
without his help.

But she did not know her present locality, or even its bearings in
relation to the county seat, Blackville; and therefore, before she could
set out to seek that place, she must enlist the sympathies and services
of