act."

"Why, then, is the daughter gone?"

"I believe she has been kidnapped!"

"_Kidnapped!_"

"Yes, I do!"

"But who would do it? Who would _dare_ to do it!"

"Who so likely as the true lover's rival?"

"Heavens! you don't believe _Duffel_ would commit such a crime?"

"I do; but mind, this is to go no further until I can find _proof_ to
sustain my belief. I am going to keep a strict watch upon the movements of
this fellow, and I think I shall be able to find out where he keeps himself
a part of the time during his absence."

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing more nor less than that there is a secret gang of thieves and
villains of all kinds, whose head quarters are somewhere in this region of
country, and that I intend to ferret out their hiding-place."

"I am with you in that work with all my heart!"

"Very well. Here, then, is a paper I wish you to sign. It is a pledge. The
villains have banded together to prey upon us, and I am for banding
together to frustrate their plans and bring them to justice. This is simply
the form of agreement we enter into among ourselves, and it binds us to use
all honorable efforts, to further the cause in which we engage, and to
expose the guilty wherever and whenever we can find them, even if the
offender should be our nearest kin."

"I'll sign it, sir, with a hearty good will!"

"It further obligates us to aid each other to the utmost of our ability in
recovering stolen property, in case any of us should meet with such a
misfortune."

"All right, that's a good feature, I'm one of you, heart and hand!"

"Then you may sign, understanding, however, that all which passes between
us, as members of this body, is to be kept an inviolable secret. We
administer no oath, depending solely upon the honor of our members, all of
whom are expected to be honorable and honest men, whose word will be better
than the most terrible oath of a criminal."

The document was signed, and the 'Squire continued:

"Now, I wish you to consider all that has or may pass between us this
evening as strictly confidential. At the last meeting of our body it was
made the duty of every member to protect his property, and to shoot down
all thieves who were caught in the act of stealing horses. Some, however,
were for first warning the depredators, and if they did not then desist, to
fire upon them."

"Indeed! is it supposed that the rascals are so bold?"

"Certainly they are! Why, it was but two or th