h to fear them. Only, when
you are perfectly satisfied, and you are convinced that your errand
here has been fruitless, perhaps I may have something to say."

The girl's lips parted. Curiously enough there was a note almost of
real merriment in the laugh which followed.

"I am not very brave, my dear Cecil," she said, "but I am not afraid of
you. I think that one does not fear the things that one understands too
well, and you I do understand too well, much too well."

They reached the empty gun-room. Cecil threw open the hidden door.

"Will you go first or last?" he said to the girl. "Choose your own
place."

The girl laughed.

"The door seemed to open easily," she remarked, "considering that it
has not been used for so long."

"Never mind about that," Cecil said sharply. "Are you coming with us?"

"I am coming," Kate answered composedly, "and I will walk last."

"As you please," Cecil answered. "Come, Forrest, you may as well see
this thing through with me."

As they stumbled along the narrow way, Cecil whispered in Forrest's ear.

"What are we going to do with her?"

"God knows!" Forrest answered. "Do you suppose that any one knows where
she is? Who is she?"

"One of the village girls," Cecil answered, "an old sweetheart of mine.
They are strange people, and have few friends. I doubt whether any one
knows that she is out to-night."

Forrest passed on.

"If we are going to put our necks into the halter," he muttered, "a
little extra trouble won't hurt us."

They paused before the door. The girl was looking at the padlock.

"A new padlock, I see," she remarked. "Listen!"

They all listened, and now there was no doubt about it. From inside the
room they could hear the sound of a man, half singing, half moaning.

"Are those rabbits?" the girl asked, leaning forward, so that her eyes
seemed to gleam like live coal through the darkness. "Cecil, you are
being made a fool of by this man. I don't wish you any harm. Do the
right thing now, and I'll stick by you. Let this man free, whoever he
is. Don't listen to what he tells you," she added, pointing toward
Forrest.

Cecil hesitated. Forrest, who was watching him closely, could not tell
whether that hesitation was genuine or only a feint.

"It was only a joke, this, Kate," he muttered. "It was a joke which we
have carried a little too far. Yes, you shall help me if you will. I
have had enough of it. Go inside and see for yourself who is there."

Ceci