and she was now on her way to that cave in Virginia!

But the horrors of her own situation were lost sight of in contemplating
the fate that was hanging over Hadley, who was to be killed for his money!
As the light of these great truths broke in upon her mind, she came very
near screaming out in affright, but fortunately did not. She still listened
to see if she could learn how the dark deed of blood was to be consummated,
but the mode of dispatching victims seemed to be understood by both and was
only alluded to and not explained, and the villains soon left the spot and
re-entered the house.

What a world of conflicting emotions and thoughts now contended in the
bosom of the long and deeply tried girl! She knew Hadley lived; but oh,
what a fate hung over him! Could she save him? Alas! it seemed an
impossibility. Should she make the effort, it might only hasten the
catastrophe she would prevent. If she could only put him on his guard; but
that was out of her power, for she could hear Dick walking to and fro
across the large room, and she believed he was a sentry on guard.

In this dilemma she sat down on the only chair in the room, and leaned her
head upon her hand. She then found that her brow was covered with large
drops of cold perspiration, which the intensity of her feelings had forced
out. What to do she knew not; and so she sat, in an agony of suspense,
while the slow moments passed away. At length she thought of her arms,
which she still retained, and as she did so, resolved to use them in case
of emergency, either for the preservation of her lover, or to preserve
herself from the fate in store for her if Hadley should be murdered and she
carried off.

From the first, Hadley did not like the appearance of things about the
house, nor the looks of his host, who was not only rough in features and
manners, but carried with him a countenance with a very sinister expression
upon it, and an eye that spoke of crime and a guilty soul; but when Dick
gave the warning, he was doubly confirmed in his first impressions, and
resolved to profit by the advice so singularly volunteered. He did not
undress, but before extinguishing his light examined his pistols, a brace
of which he had procured for defense, to see that they were in proper order
for immediate use. After making all needful preparations, he put out his
candle, and remained in perfect quiet. Soon he heard the two men return,
and then Dick went above to rest, and th