pon the scene.

Before Sybil had time to reply there was the heavy trampling of feet
near at hand, and the next moment four rough looking men entered the
cave.

Involuntarily Sybil shrank closer to her hostess, as they passed near
her. But not one of them either did or said anything to alarm or offend
her. Each one, in his turn, gruffly greeted her by nodding, as he pulled
off his hat and threw it into a corner, and then seated himself at the
table.

The elfin girl clapped her hands, and when her attendant appeared, she
ordered that supper should be immediately brought in.

Meantime Sybil furtively observed the four robbers, but one of them
especially fascinated her gaze, with something of the terrible
fascination that the boa-constrictor is said to exercise upon the
beautiful birds of the Brazilian forest.

He was a great red-haired and red-bearded giant, whose large limbs and
coarse features had well earned for him the nick-name of "Moloch;" and
Moloch, Sybil instinctively knew this man to be. The other three were
ordinary, hirsute, dirty ruffians, upon whom she scarcely bestowed a
glance. Her eyes continually reverted to Moloch, from whom she could not
long keep them. He was huge, ugly, brutal, ferocious; but he commanded
attention, if only from the power that was within him.

But what terrified Sybil the most was this--that her own fascinated eyes
at length attracted his, and he looked at her with a devouring gaze that
made her eyelids fall and her very heart sink within her.

The two women--the dark and shrivelled old Hecate, and the pale, cold
Proserpine--now brought in the supper. And as the elfin hostess had
declared, a more luxurious meal did not grace the table of the State's
Governor that day. There were green-turtle soup, rock fish, ham, wild
turkey, and partridges, with every variety of vegetables and of
condiments. And there were pies, puddings, custards, and pastries of
every description. And jellies, jams, and fresh and preserved fruits, of
every sort. And there were priceless wines, and fragrant coffee and tea.
All these luxuries were placed at once upon the supper table, or a side
table in full view of the company.

"We have no printed bill of fare," laughed Sybil's strange hostess; "but
the fare itself is before you!"

"Let the lady be seated in the place of honor," growled Moloch,
glowering at Sybil with his dreadful eyes.

"Which means the piano stool, I suppose," said the strange hostes