l threw open the door and Kate stepped boldly inside. Forrest
entered last and remained near the threshold. Engleton started to his
feet when he saw a third person.

"We have brought you a visitor," Forrest cried out. "You have
complained of being lonely. You will not be lonely any longer."

Kate turned toward him.

"What do you mean?" she said. "We are going to leave here together,
that man and myself, within the next few minutes."

"You lie!" Forrest answered fiercely. "You have thrust yourself into a
matter which does not concern you, and you are going to take the
consequences."

"And what might they be?" Kate asked slowly.

"They rest with him," Forrest answered, pointing toward Engleton.
"There is a man there who was our friend until a few days ago. He dared
to accuse us of cheating at cards, and if we let him go he will ruin us
both. We are doing what any reasonable men must do. We are seeking to
preserve ourselves. We have kept him here a prisoner, but he could have
gained his freedom on any day by simply promising to hold his peace. He
has declined, and the time has come when we can leave him no more.
To-night, if he is obstinate, we are going to throw him into the sea."

"And what about me?" Kate asked.

"You are going with him," Forrest answered. "If he is obstinate fool
enough to chuck your life away and his, he must do it. Only he had
better remember this," he added, looking across at Engleton, "it will
mean two lives now, and not one."

Engleton rose to his feet slowly.

"Who is she?" he asked, pointing to the girl.

"I am Kate Caynsard, one of the village people here," she answered. "I
heard you working to-night from outside. You heard me shout back?"

He nodded.

"Yes!" he said. "I know."

"I will tell the truth," the girl continued. "I was fool enough once to
come here to meet that man"--she pointed to De la Borne--"that is all
over. But one night I was restless, and I came wandering through the
plantation here. It was then I saw from the other end that the place
had been altered, and it struck me to listen there where the air-shaft
is. I heard voices, and the next day they were all talking about the
disappearance of Lord Ronald Engleton. You, I suppose," she added, "are
Lord Ronald."

"I believe I was," he answered, with a little catch in his throat. "God
knows who I am now! I give it up, De la Borne. If you are going to send
the girl after me, I give it up. I'll sign anything you lik