aversion for his society, and that
it cost her an effort to treat him with politeness, even though it was
formal; so, as we were saying, he endeavored to hit upon some more
successful mode of furthering his wishes.

"If Bill and Dick were only here," he thought to himself, "the matter could
be easily come at; but, as it is, I don't see my way exactly. I should not
like to trust every one, even of the League, with my secret, much less with
the execution of such a difficult undertaking as that of placing her there.
I wish I had not sent them after Hadley; I might have accomplished all
without that; and it is not the pleasantest thing in the world to have a
murder laying on one's conscience. But then, I thought other means would
succeed: I had no idea that old Mandeville was becoming so tender-hearted.
The old devil himself must have been playing mischief with my calculations.
Well, let him play away; once Bill and Dick return, and I'll try my hand at
heading his sulphurous majesty, and all others that oppose me."

In this mood, Duffel found himself when the duties of his office, in the
absence of the captain, required his presence at the cave, to preside over
the League at the regular meeting, as already known to the reader. The
night of the meeting came, and found him undecided as to the course of
action to pursue. Time was short; the captain might return any day and
resume command; and what was to be done must be done soon.

In this state of uncertainty, he repaired to the cave, with the vague and
indefinite hope that his associates in crime might be there also. Arrived
there, he began pacing up and down in a state of uneasy and restless
disquiet, looking expectantly At every new-comer, but with the same
result--disappointment. It was but a few minutes until the hour for
business, and he retired to the captain's room to make such preparations as
were necessary for the occasion.

When he returned, the members present were all masked, a rule of the order
making this a duty at initiating meetings, and he could not tell whether
Bill and Dick were among the number or not.

The business proceeded until the question was asked:

"Is there any one who, having knocked at the door of our order, is now
waiting for admission?"

"There is, your honor, Abram Hurd, who has been found worthy of a place
among us."

"Is he present?"

"He is in waiting, your honor."

"Let him be conducted into the presence of the order."

It