When the candidate for admission entered the cave, he found himself _vis-a-vis_ with fifty masks, of all shapes, forms and appearances; some horrible, some odd, some commonplace, and some fantastical, and altogether, a medley of strange, undecipherable, yet impressive combination of devices, well calculated to excite a feeling of awe, and, with the timid, of terror, in the mind of the beholder. Into this singular assemblage Hurd was ushered, a wilderness of confused images before him. He was taken through a course introductory to the more serious parts of the formula of induction into the order, which were intended to increase the first bewildered impressions on entering the cave, and was then led up in front of the captain, who addressed him thus: "Abram Hurd! by your presence here, I am to understand that you desire to become a member of our order?" "I do." "Have you considered well before taking this step? The duties of members are often laborious, and their performance attended with the most imminent danger! We want no unwilling hands; are you ready to incur the risks? "I am." "Suppose the requirements exacted at your hands should cause you to look the penitentiary in the face, have you the courage to do so?" "I have." "But further yet; should the good of our order require you to take the life of a fellow-being, would you, in obedience to the commands of your superior, perform that extreme act?" "I was not aware that _murder_ was included in the catalogue of duties imposed upon members of the order." "Nor do I say that it is; I only wish to know if you are willing to go _any lengths_ for the preservation or advantage of the order, in case of necessity? You will mark the difference between murder and killing in _self-defense_. With this explanation, are you willing to take the required obligation?" "I am." "With the understanding, then, that you may have to face imprisonment or death and obligate yourself to do all that shall be required of you for the _good_ of the order, even to the taking of life, including all other acts that are held criminal among men, are you still willing to proceed?" "I am!" "I must furthermore inform you, that if you falter in the discharge of any duty imposed upon you, or manifest the least disposition to betray the order, your life will fall an immediate sacrifice for such delinquency. Are you prepared for this?" "I am!" "Will you take upon yourself these obligations in the form of an oath?" "I will!" "The oath is a most solemn and binding one; perhaps you may consider it horrible, and we want no faltering." "I will take it." "It involves life and death." "I am prepared if it does." "You cannot release yourself from its binding force; it is for life; and whether you abide with us or not, it binds you to secrecy. No after-thought, no change of feeling, no repentance can unchain its iron links from your soul. Are you still resolved?" "I am!"