any of your heads. We are merely
determined to get what we have set out for, and we are going to use
you to help us get it. If you try to balk our purpose, you must take
the consequences. Otherwise you will suffer only such inconveniences
as go naturally with the experience of being kidnapped. And try to
realize this, that being kidnapped isn't such a terrible thing if you
are in the custody of gentlemen kidnappers. That's what we
are--gentlemen kidnappers. All we ask of you is that you prove
yourselves to be what gentlemen kidnappers prefer above all others,
namely, real ladylike prisoners.

"Now," he added after a pause during which he surveyed his audience as
if to determine the effect of his words; "as soon as the two young
ladies who were so unfortunate as to make the mistake of connecting a
tragic prospect with this affair have fully recovered, we will
proceed."

"That fellow is disguised," declared Marion in a whisper to the girls
nearest her. "In fact, all of them are. Observe that every one of them
wears a beard, moustache or short side whiskers. Watch their eyes and
mouths and every expression on their faces so that we may be able to
identify them if we are ever called upon to do so."

"Now, girls," said the spokesman with well simulated gentleness, "no
more of that. We don't want to be unduly rude with you, but if there
is any more whispering, we'll have to resort to measures that will
make it impossible. Now, I think you are all ready, so just follow
the leader and some of us will bring up the rear. We will proceed
first into the basement."

Tremblingly the twelve Camp Fire Girls followed two of the men down
the cellar steps. It was evident to them that resistance would be
worse than useless. A single blow from the fist of one of those
powerful men would stun any of the girls, if it did not knock her
unconscious. In fact their captors could make quick work of them if
necessary, and, cooped up as they were in this isolated prison, they
could scarcely hope to send forth an effective cry of distress before
they were rendered physically incapable of sounding further alarm.

All of the "gentlemen kidnappers" were supplied with electric flash
lights, with which they illuminated the cellar and revealed to their
captives a hole three feet in diameter in the ground floor and
seemingly a flight of steps leading downward.

"Don't get scared, young ladies," advised the "gentlemanly leader" of
the "gentleman kid