l parts, from every point of the sea-side counties or
departments, came hastening all who did not fear the risk of the
undertaking: vagabonds, tramps, poachers, reckless spirits, daredevils
of all kinds. The ruined towns poured forth their contingent of
poverty-striken, starving outcasts and escaped prisoners. Armed with
rifles and swords, with clubs or scythes, all these brigands wore an
air that was both defiant and threatening. They watched one another
warily, each of them gauging at a glance his neighbour's strength,
ready to spring upon him or ready to act in self-defence.

Simon's questions hardly evoked as much as a grumbling reply:

"A woman tied up? A party? Horses? Not come my way."

And they went on. But, two hours later, Simon was greatly surprised to
see the motley dress of three men walking some distance ahead, their
shoulders laden with bundles which each of them carried slung on the
end of a stick. Weren't those Antonio's Indians?

"Yes," murmured Dolores. "It's Forsetta and the Mazzani brothers."
But, when Simon proposed to go after them, "No!" she said, without
concealing her repugnance. "They're a bad lot. There's nothing to be
gained by joining them."

But he was not listening; and, as soon as they were within hearing, he
shouted:

"Is Antonio anywhere about?"

The three men set down their bundles, while Simon and Dolores
dismounted and Forsetta, who had a revolver in his hand, thrust it
into his pocket. He was a great giant of a fellow.

"Ah, so it's you, Dolores?" he said, after saluting Simon. "Faith, no,
Antonio's nowhere hereabouts. We've not seen him."

He smiled with a wry mouth and treacherous eyes.

"That means," retorted Simon, pointing to their burdens, "that you and
Mazzani thought it simpler to go hunting in this direction?"

"May be," he said, with a leer.

"But the old professor? Antonio left him in your charge."

"We lost sight of him soon after the _Queen Mary_. He was looking for
shells. So Mazzani and I came on."

Simon was losing patience. Dolores interrupted him:

"Forsetta," she said gravely. "Antonio was your chief. We four were
fellow-workers; and he asked if you would come with him and me to
avenge my uncle's death. You had no right to desert Antonio."

The Indians looked at one another and laughed. It was obvious that
notions of right and wrong, promises, obligations, duties of
friendship, established rules, decent behaviour, all these had
suddenly became