He knew not that while he was robbing robbers, and placing
powder for the demolition of the cave, she had left its dismal precincts by
a way unknown to him or Duffel, and was now far away in the wilderness.

"Where is she? What does it mean?"

These questions he put to himself, but could not answer. A thousand
conjectures rushed through his brain; but no satisfactory clue to the
mystery was hit upon. Had Duffel deceived them? No, his anger and
earnestness were too real for that. Had she other friends? Had not the
sentinel turned traitor, and having liberated the prisoner, was anxious to
get away, lest his perfidy should be discovered, or to gain a reward for
his treachery? This, though hardly probable, was the most plausible
supposition, and Bill concluded to act upon it. He was resolved to carry
out his plans in, all their details; except that Eveline could not be taken
with them; for he was not going to yield up his stolen gold, nor forego his
revenge on Duffel.

Looking at his watch, in the midst of these perplexing reflections and
strengthened resolves, he saw that it was time for him to be off to see
Duffel, as the place of meeting was some ten miles from the cave, and a
part of the distance had to be gone over on foot. He reached the spot about
the hour appointed, and found the miscreant already there, impatiently
awaiting his arrival.

"What success?" inquired Duffel, the moment he came up.

"None at all, your honor."

"How?"

"Bad news, _very_."

"What?"

"I fear there is treason in the League. The doors of the cave are all open,
even to the inner door of the inner room, and no living person is within
its walls!"

Duffel was speechless with surprise and terror, the astonishing
intelligence seeming to paralyze all his powers; at last he made out to
loosen his tongue and queried:

"She is gone, then?"

"Yes, and the sentinel, too!"

"Then we are betrayed! What shall we do?"

The terrible news Bill brought, completely unmanned Duffel, and his
presence of mind entirely forsook him; hence his last query, which was
propounded with all the imbecility of helplessness.

"I'll tell you what I am going to do," said Bill; "and that is, leave this
part of the country as speedily as possible."

"But won't the officers be upon us immediately?"

"No; if at all, not before to-morrow. We can make our arrangements
to-night, lay in the swamp all day, and leave to-morrow night. You have a
horse already prepar