his gleam of comfort was
overshadowed by the increased apprehensions that his child's sickness must
prove fatal. Indeed, hope had almost fled from his bosom, but he clung with
a death-grasp to the desire for her recovery, if for nothing else, that a
good understanding might exist between them. He could not endure the
thought of her leaving the world under a wrong impression of the _motives_
by which he had been actuated in the course he had pursued. As his long and
continued watching had worn him down, he now left the bedside frequently to
snatch a little rest, and recuperate his exhausted powers.

And where was Hadley all this time? No fond mother ever hovered about the
cradle of her sick darling with deeper solicitude, than did he about the
residence of his beloved. He made friends of the nurse and maid, and from
them and the doctor kept himself advised of her condition. Oh, how his
heart ached to be by the bedside of the sufferer! How, at times, his spirit
rebelled at the injustice of the father! But when he was told of his
devoted attention, tireless care, and deep distress, he forgave him in his
heart and blessed him for his devoted kindness to the invalid.

But where was Duffel? Let the sequel tell.

CHAPTER IV.

DUFFEL--THE SECRET CAVE AND CLAN.

For the first few days of her illness, Duffel came to inquire after
Eveline. Finding that she was likely to remain sick for a length of time,
if she ever recovered, he excused himself from further attentions by
pleading the necessity of a previous engagement, which would probably
require his absence for a week or possibly a fortnight. With apparently the
deepest solicitude for the recovery of Eveline and of sympathy for Mr.
Mandeville, he took his leave.

When a little way from the house, he muttered to himself:

"Well, I am free from the necessity of keeping up appearances here any
longer. Now for the _cave_!"

In a short time, he was threading his way through the forest, mounted on a
fine animal. A narrow path lay before him, which he followed for some
miles, and then turned into the untrodden wilderness and wound his way
through its trackless wastes. There were no signs indicating that the foot
of man or domesticated beast had ever pressed the earth in those solitary
wilds; yet Duffel seemed familiar with the place, as was evident from his
unhesitating choice of ways and careless ease. He knew by marks, to others
unseen, or, if seen, their significance