"Bravo! I see the little gal hain't lost her spirit yet. I acknowledge the corn without hesitation; hain't got such a thing as a heart; never had, either. Remember how I used to delight in pinching the wings of butterflies, and running pins through 'em when I was a little boy--which, considering my present size, was a long time ago. So you see, gal, I must be what they call a modern monstrosity, a man without a heart. However, I can say this hain't my doing. I only wanted to get a ransom from your mother; but this other fellow must step into the pie." "Do you think I can't tell who you mean? It is a fit idea to originate with such a man as Luke Camden," said the girl, in scornful tones. Red Goliath started, and when he spoke his voice was as gruff as ever. "Remember, I mention no names. Now, gal, we'll be going. Give me your hand." Adele drew back with a shudder of horror; willingly she would never touch it. "I will walk beside you in plain view," she said. "All right," growled the giant, who could not but notice the shudder and knew its import, and he looked at his hand as if half believing that he would see the red marks that had so often dyed it. "All right, my gal; but remember no tricks, or as sure as there is life in the air we breathe, I shall shoot you down;" and as if to enforce this horrible threat, he whipped out a revolver. Side by side, the man and his intended victim walked through the woods. When speaking of his method of traveling, stalked would be a better word, for he covered three or four feet with every step, so that Adele was compelled to almost run in order to keep up with him. Neither of them saw the water-drenched form that flitted from tree to tree in their rear. Half a mile, perhaps, was covered. Mason, on several occasions, thought he heard a noise in his rear, as though the trailer himself was being trailed; but his attention being almost fully occupied in front, it soon passed from his mind. The hills were reached at length, and the ascent commenced. Before five minutes had passed Red Goliath came to a pause. Before them a black orifice yawned in the rocks. The giant made Adele enter first, and himself followed after, as if afraid lest she should give him the slip after all. Another moment and they stood in a cavern some twenty feet square, the dimensions of which could be seen by the star-light that found ingress through the large cracks above. In spite of his protestations as to not harming her, there were dark thoughts in the mind of the giant. Bloody deeds were every-day affairs with him; the girl stood in his way; therefore she must be removed. Why he had not done the deed before I cannot say. Perhaps, in the beginning his plan was different; and, once in the canoe, the outcry she would make might draw a cordon of enemies around him. Red Goliath replaced his revolver and drew his knife, running his finger along the edge in a deliberate way.