rash of glass, and then everything was enveloped in
darkness.

The fight was fierce, but short-lived. Peveril found himself striking
out wildly, was conscious of delivering several telling blows, and of
receiving twice as many in return. Then he was overwhelmed by numbers,
and, still fighting stoutly, was borne to the rocky floor.

When all was over and a lantern was brought, it revealed several
bloody faces and blackened eyes. Peveril was lying flat on his back,
with three men holding him down. Connell had disappeared, and so had
Mary Darrell, who was still looked upon by all present, except her
father, as being a boy. The old man held the lighted lantern, and the
captain of the schooner, swearing savagely, was holding his hands to
his face, which had been badly cut by the Irishman's missile.

A cord was brought, the very one that had lowered the lunch-basket,
and with it Peveril was trussed like a fowl for roasting. Then he was
swung down to the ledge at the base of the cliffs, tossed into a boat,
and rowed away. A few minutes later he was handed aboard the schooner,
taken below, and chucked into a small, evil-smelling state-room, the
door of which was locked behind him.

It was a very unpleasant position to occupy, and yet his thoughts were
not dwelling half so much upon it as they were upon the fact that the
young person in golf costume who had saved his life that evening had
been spoken of as a _daughter_.

CHAPTER XXIV

CONNELL MAKES GOOD HIS ESCAPE

From the very first Mike Connell had determined not to be captured, if
he could possibly help it, wisely concluding that he would stand a
better chance of serving his friend in freedom than as a prisoner. He
realized that Ralph Darrell's enmity was especially directed towards
Peveril, and believed that he, therefore, would be the principal
object of attack. At the same time he knew that, no matter how
desperately two might fight against six, there was little hope of
success in face of such overwhelming odds. So, while he was prepared
to throw himself heart and soul into the fray, he was also on the
watch for a chance of escape.

The entrance of the Darrell's into the cavern had been so precipitate,
and both of them had been so intent upon the object of their coming,
that they had forgotten their usual precaution and neglected to close
the door giving them admittance.

It was a slab of stone, carefully fitted to its place, swinging easily
on iron pi