"'So this is his daughter,' he repeated again, approaching poor mademoiselle, whose courage seemed to increase with the danger, for, with both hands crossed upon her breast, like a saint, she looked the leader of the bandits straight in the eye. "'Where is your father?' he demanded. "'A long way from here, thank God!' replied the poor child, bravely. "'Your father arrived here yesterday. He can hardly have gone away again so soon. He must be somewhere about the house. Where is he? Where is he, I say?' "And as Sabine remained silent, he continued, with a sardonic smile: "'I have missed your father, it seems, but, by taking you, I shall get him sooner or later. You shall write to him from England, telling him where you are, and he will incur any risk to release you. I shall be waiting for him, and so capture him sooner or later. Come with me.' "'Go with you? I would rather die,' exclaimed Sabine. "'No one has any intention of killing you, but you have got to come, so you had better do so peaceably, and not compel us to resort to force.' "'Never!' cried the poor girl. "The scoundrel turned to his men, and said a few words to them, whereupon they sprung upon Sabine. I tried to defend her, but they dragged me away, and, in spite of her tears and cries, she was soon securely bound. They had scarcely done this before the report of fire-arms and loud shouts were heard outside. Two men came rushing in, and said a few words to their leader, who quickly followed them out of the room. All the men except those who were holding Sabine hurried out after him. Then, and not until then, was I able to approach you. I thought at first that you were dead, so, forgetting Sabine and everything else, I was sobbing over you, when, suddenly--" Suzanne paused for a moment overcome with emotion. "Go on! Oh, go on, I beg of you!" exclaimed Onésime. "Never shall I forget that scene. At the farther end of the room two of the wretches were trying to drag Sabine along, in spite of her despairing cries. The other two men, evidently frightened by the increasing uproar outside, darted to the door, but just as they reached it both were struck down in turn by a terrific blow from an axe. A moment afterward Sabine's captors shared the same fate." "But who struck them down?" "Who?" exclaimed Suzanne, with a shudder, and lowering her voice. "A man clad in a strange costume. He wore a long, black jacket and waistcoat, a broad-brimmed hat, and full, white trousers. Axe in hand, he had just burst into the room, followed by several sailors." "It seems to me that I have heard Mlle. Sabine speak of some other man dressed in a similar manner who, she said, was her mother's murderer." "Alas! this recollection was only too vivid in her mind," said Suzanne, sadly. "But who was the man that came to Mlle. Sabine's assistance, clad in this way?" "This man was the famous privateer, Captain l'Endurci,--this man was M. Cloarek!"