Part 13 (2/2)

This is the second day they've been there looking for us! And oh! didn't they think they'd struck a rich lead when they found that swell Berners up there! They thought they had got his wife too, for certain! That's what's brought them back to-day! they know they can't find us there; but they hope to find her,” said one of the robbers.

But his speech was not received with general favor. And when he stupidly pursued the theme, not understanding the menacing look of Satan, one of his companions dug an elbow in his side, and called out:

”Stow all that, you stupid donkey! Don't you see the lady you are talking about is at the table?”

The rebuke was almost as bad as the offense had been; but it had its effect in silencing the talkative offender.

But good-humor was soon restored. The walnuts were placed upon the table with the dessert, and many compliments were pa.s.sed upon the pretty hands that had gathered them for the feast.

But just in the midst of their merry-making the whole party were startled by a tremendous explosion, that seemed to shake the mountain side.

All sprung to their feet, and stood gazing in amazement at each other until the echoes of the thunder died away. There was silence for a moment after, and then Moloch suddenly burst into a peal of laughter, in which he was soon joined by all his companions, with the exception of Satan, who sat frowning upon them.

”What is the meaning of this rudeness?” he sternly demanded.

”Oh, boss! don't you know? We are laughing at the beaks! They have blown themselves up in the old Haunted Chapel!” answered one of the party.

”Good Heaven! A wholesale murder! I was not prepared for that!”

exclaimed the captain.

”A wholesale murder, or a wholesale accident, if you please, boss! but no murder. n.o.body told them to take lights down into that vault, where there was gunpowder lying around loose! And if the trap was set for one meddler and caught a dozen, why, so much the better, I say! And I don't think it could a caught much less than a dozen, seeing as there were about fifteen or twenty men in the chapel when I spied it this afternoon from my cover in the woods on the mountain behind it, and I reckon there must a' been more than half of them killed.”

”Hus.h.!.+” said Satan; ”don't you see that this lady is nearly fainting with terror?”

Sybil was indeed as white as a ghost, and on the very verge of swooning.

But she managed to command nerve enough to ask:

”Was--can you tell me--was my husband in the chapel this afternoon?”

”Oh, no, ma'am!” answered the robber, who had immediately taken his cue from the glance of his captain's eye. ”Oh, no, ma'am, I met him on his road to Blackville early this afternoon.”

This was partly true, for the man _had_ really seen Lyon Berners when he was walking along the river road to meet Joe. Sybil believed it to be wholly true, and uttered an exclamation of thankfulness.

The wine pa.s.sed more freely, and the men grew merrier, wilder, and more uproarious. Sybil became very much alarmed; and not so much by the noisy orgies of these rude revellers, as by the dreadful gaze of Moloch fixed upon her from the opposite end of the table where he sat, and the offensive language of Satan's eyes whenever they turned towards her.

At length, unable to bear the trial longer, she arose from her seat, and courtesying to these brigands as she would have done to any set of gentlemen of whom she was taking leave, Sybil left the cavern, followed by Gentiliska.

”I must take you to another grotto. You cannot occupy mine to-night,”

said the girl, with evident reluctance.

”But, oh! why, why may I not stay with you? I am afraid to sleep alone in this terrible place!” pleaded Sybil.

”I have a reason, but I cannot tell it to you now. Yes, I will, too! I will tell you at all risks! Then it is this: My chamber is no longer safe for you! I myself am not strong enough to protect you! You might be carried off forcibly from my side! I must hide you where no devil may find you to-night!” whispered the girl.

”My blood curdles! Oh, help me if you can!” cried Sybil.

”I cannot help you! I can only hide you! I could perhaps save you from insult by sober men; but who shall save you from maniacs, mad with drink?”

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