“I’ve left a dozen men at the pass. The next thing to do is to fill the range above with our best shots and try to clean them out. “So get up there--about thirty of you--and take care of things there so that you’ll make our visitors feel too sick to stay. As soon as I and my crowd have had a bite to eat I’ll go up there and look after things myself.” The only reply to this speech was a general cheer, and Mainwaring saw the men--all armed--scattering away to obey orders. “Who have you got there, Bill?” asked one man, who seemed as rough as Harkness himself, approaching the spot where Mainwaring, the two girls, and Norfolk Ben were standing. “Prisoners--to be well treated for the present, unless they try to get away. Then the men are to be shot and--well, we’ll make the girls stay somehow!” “Yes,” said the man, with a sardonic laugh. “They’re too pretty to be let go easily.” Mainwaring could have choked the leering wretch with a good will, but, unarmed as he was, and at the mercy of armed ruffians, what could he do? He made up his mind, however, to remain near the girls all the time, and if an unkind hand was laid upon them, or any open violence offered, he would die in their defense. With every new glance that he directed at May he felt his love for her grow stronger, until it filled his whole heart and mind, to the utter exclusion of all thoughts of his own safety. He had now a chance to say a few words of comfort to her and to her sister. The ruffian Harkness, however, did not seem to like this. He looked at them suspiciously, and then calling a stout, red-faced woman to him he said: “Here, Lize! You take them two girls to your corner of the cave over there, and keep them under your own eye. Feed ’em well and treat ’em well, but don’t let any man talk to ’em or bother ’em. Mind, now, and do as I say! Hold on! That black man there has been their servant and cook. He can wait on them and help you.” “Thank you, Marse White Man. De ole lady’ll jest find me handy.” “Who do you call old, you black idjit?” cried Lize angrily. Norfolk Ben quailed before the fury of the termagant. “Beg pardon, missis! I hadn’t looked at you afore. I ’clar’ to goodness, you is younger an’ han’somer dan any lady I done see eber since I left ole Virginny!” “That’ll do!” said Lize, completely mollified. “There’s dishes to wash. You ’tend to that, an’ then get something to eat for the young ladies.” Ben, only too glad to be near May and Gertrude, went right to work, while Bill Harkness beckoned Mainwaring over to him. “Stranger,” said he, “make yourself comfortable here nigh by this fire. After I’ve attended to them cusses that have followed us I’ll see to that ransom business. “It’ll take some time, I suppose, for some one of us will have to go for the money; but we’ll make you comfortable as long as you keep quiet and take things easy. We’ll have something to eat and drink soon, an’ then I’ll have to be going.