Eveline Mandeville

r recovered, he excused himself from further attentions by pleading the necessity of a previous engagement, which would probably require his absence for

rom the house, he m

ity of keeping up appearances he

tating choice of ways and careless ease. He knew by marks, to others unseen, or, if seen, their significance unknown, that he was moving in the right direction. Having traveled several miles in this way, he at length came to a beaten path, at right-angles with the course he had been going, into which he guided his noble beast. After pursuing this latter course at a rapid rate for more than an hour, he again turned off into the woods, and, gu

d pruning-knife. Glancing this way and that, as if to assure himself that no one was near, a precaution that might almost be set down as a useless exhibition of timidity in that wild out-of-the-way place, so far from the habitation of civilised man. Duffel, when satisfied that no human eye was upon him, dismounted, and leading his steed b

ed through himself, carefully shutting the verdure-hidden door behin

th wide-extended branches. Arrived at this spot, Duffel unsaddled his horse and turned him loose to crop the luxuriant grass. A dozen others were there before him, and as it was impossible that they

ed foliage of vines and branches wove their impenetrable net above and at the sides of the lonely path, and Duffel was obliged to feel his way with care. A few minutes' walk, however, brought him to the border of a stream of some considerable size, the banks of which formed the boundary of the thicket. Precisely at the spot where he reached the stream, was a projecting rock, covered with a luxuriant growth of underwood, vines and flowers, which

ed his way along. About midway, he came to a pillar-like rock, which entirely blocked up the path. Turning sharply to the left, he felt his way a short distance, and came to a

demanded in a ster

d," was

pass-

to tr

nt

hort distance led him to a spacious cave, which was now brilliantly illuminated by many lights that were reflected from a thousand polished surfac

enant

to the Se

he received from a score of voices whose owners

e sinister countenances bore the imprint of crime and an expression of anything but honesty or goodness; hard-featu

hort time, when the attention of al

brethren of the Secret

overed his head and stood up, obs

was nicely adjusted to work upon one and fasten upon the other of these pillars. When shut, the most experienced eye, unless by the closest scrutiny, could not detect its existence, so perfect was the workmanship, and so exa

r of his chamber, he was respectfully saluted by all his followers, and then, by two officials, escorted to a carved seat, on a raised platform, at one end of the cave. There was very little form or ceremony used on ordinary occasions, as it was an established custom amo

ion of countenance, which instantly conveyed the impression:-beware of him! Had Eveline been present, she

placed in one at his right, and anothe

siness before the order to-

n individual who

ts from co

imposed the duty of investigating the charges entered against Philip Mayhew, beg leave to report, that they have had his case under strict advisement, and after a careful

bbel,

mittee discharged. No other written

presence of all the brethren, that they may know nothing remains on record, whi

irected, in accordance wit

hren had in the way of busi

said one; "they are both

e walked up and laid down a pile of money on a salver, prepared for the purp

did you get the money

ney paid to a 'subject.' I kept an eye on him, follo

cality brought smiles to

aid a third, bringing forward the

re handed over, there was more than seven thousand dollars fo

ht's proceedings was finished. "I hope the brethren will not weary in their efforts.

before mentioned, "I perceive Amos Duval is not with us to-n

e known his belief, that the said Amos was not to be relied on-that, in his opinio

ave made? Permit me to remind you, gentlemen, one and all, that it is made a cr

disaffected, but I have my suspicions that all is not right, and suggest, that your honor and the brethren will do well to watch

es are preferred against a member of our order. The rule on this subject must and shall be enforced. Our worthy lieutenant, who o

eradoes had conceived against the absentee. This was really the case, whatever were the leader's thoughts. The two had sworn to stand by each other, in all times of need and in all matters of rascality. Duval had

ications for admiss

the secretary. "Abram Hurd wis

mined, as to his qualificat

and the result is emi

s upon the applicat

affirm

a box from the captain. One was empty; the other contained white and black ba

black ones reject,

ver, the result was a

will be initiated at our next regular meeting. Let the brethren

on

journed until the first F