plans are not alf made
out in the details yet; but this is no bar to them; for I'd like to see the
lock that Bill Mitchel can't make a key to fit, if he has a fair chance. I
can make a false key in a day that will open the door to the captain's
room. So that difficulty is settled."

"And now for the rest of your plan."

"Well, when we get all ready, I'll just drop a note to some of the
vigilance men, and tell them when and where they can find Duffel taking
care of a stolen horse. This will save us from the malice of any of his
confederates, as they will not suspect us, and place Duffel in the hands of
the officers of the government; and he will not get away soon, I'm
thinking!"

"So you expect to have Duffel captured about the same time you are
liberating his gal. Well, that's pretty sharp; I think you have not wasted
your time in Duffel's service, and after all, ought to thank him for giving
you such good lessons in plotting. But you have left one loophole yet, for
all that."

"What is it?"

"I've been tryin' to think what you will do with the gal when she's brought
out of the cave. She'll have to tell where she's been, and that'll fix all
of us."

"I have that matter all settled. It won't do to take the girl home, that's
certain; and this is my plan for action on that score: You see I have been
thinking this matter over in my mind before to-day. I didn't know but we
should have a split with Duffel on the Duval affair, and I was preparing
for such a state of things in case it did come. As I have told you before,
I know where there is a magnificent cave for our purpose in the mountains
of Virginia, to which it has been my determination to retreat, should
anything go wrong here. Well, I intend to take this young lady along with
us to that cave."

"Dang the women! I don't like to be bothered with 'em. Ef you are goin' to
that place, why not let the gal go home and 'blow' all she's a mind to? It
wouldn't hurt _us_, ef she did let out the secret."

"It might, though. Some of the members of the League might chance to find
us hereafter, and inform on us out of revenge."

"But we can swear the gal to keep still about who let her out."

"Pooh! do you suppose she would or _could_ do it?"

"Why, yes, I think it's more'n likely she'd keep her tongue out of
gratitude. She's no common gal, that, and you may put a peg there."

"Ah, that's it exactly. She's no common girl, as you say; and I have been
envying Duffel his