, the gate, the
rude paving, the remote situation, all taken together informed me that
we were in an enclosed farm-yard. We stopped a second time, and my ankle
ropes being then detached from each other, I was hauled down from the
horse. The men with me were now greeted by others, who came apparently
from the side buildings. I was led forward into a stone-floored passage,
where I had to sit on a bench, guarded by I know not how many, while one
went up a flight of stairs near at hand, evidently to give an account of
their prize to somebody in authority. Presently a voice from above
called down, "Bring the prisoner hither," and I was taken upstairs and
through a doorway.

My entrance drew an ejaculation from a person already in the room, who
thereupon gave orders in a low voice. I was made to sit on the floor,
and my ankles were tied close together. A chain was then wound
ingeniously about my ankle-bonds, my legs, and the cords at my wrists;
passed through a hole in the floor and around a cross beam, and finally
fastened with a padlock, in such a way that I was secured beyond power
of extricating myself.

"Now, go, and wait in the passage," said the voice in which the previous
orders had been given. "But first take that rag from his eyes. He may as
well see: it will amuse him, and will not hurt us,--I will take care of
that."

The band was removed, and I found myself in a bare, plastered room with
a barred window. In front of me stood a large man with a mask on his
face. Where the mask ended, his beard began, so that he presented a
visage entirely of black. The robbers who had brought me hither went
out, closing the door, and I was left alone with this man.

He regarded me a moment; then dropped into a chair, with a low grunt of
laughter.

"That it should be this fool, of all fools!" he began. "Who shall say
there is no such thing as luck? Monsieur, I am sure it will please you
to know into whose hands you have fallen."

He took off his mask, and there was the red-splashed face of Captain
Ferragant.

Surprise made me dumb for a moment, for he had hitherto disguised his
voice. He sat looking at me with a most cruel expression of malevolent
triumph.

"So, this is where you have fled,--and you are the chief of the
robbers!" said I.

"Call me that if you like. It matters nothing what names you prefer to
use. No ears will ever hear them but mine; and mine will not be long
afflicted with the sound."

I shuddered,