"Then all I have to say, captain, is that you have left us here a blamed long time!" "And exposed to sore temptation to peach on me! Couldn't help it, lads! Couldn't help it! I waited until I could do something to the purpose!" "Now, may Satan roast me alive if I know what you have done to turn yourself into an old man! Burn my soul, if I should know you now, captain, if it wa'n't for your voice," grumbled Steve. "Listen, then, you ungrateful, suspicious wretches! I did for you what no captain ever did for his men before! I had exhausted all manner of disguises, so that the authorities would almost have looked for me in an old woman's gown! See, then, what I did! I put myself on a month's regimen of vegetable diet, and kept myself in a cavern until I grew as pale and thin as a hermit! Then I shaved off my hair, beard, mustaches and eyebrows! Yes, blame you, I sacrificed all my beauty to your interests! Fate helps those who help themselves! The camp meeting gathering together hosts of people and preachers gave me the opportunity of appearing without exciting inquiry. I put on a gray wig, a black suit, assumed a feeble voice, stooping gait and a devout manner, and--became a popular preacher at the camp meeting." "Captain, you're a brick! You are indeed! I do not flatter you!" said Hal. It was a sentiment in which all agreed. "I had no need of further machination!" continued the captain; "they actually gave me the game! I was urged to visit you here--forced to remain alone and talk with you!" laughed Black Donald. "And now, captain, my jewel, my treasure, my sweetheart--that I love with 'a love passing the love of woman'--how is your reverence going to get us out?" "Listen!" said the captain, diving into his pockets, "you must get yourselves out! This prison is by no means strongly fastened or well guarded! Here are files to file off your fetters! Here are tools to pick the locks, and here are three loaded revolvers to use against any of the turnkey who might discover and attempt to stop you! To-night, however, is the last of the camp meeting, and the two turnkeys are among my hearers! I shall keep them all night! Now you know what to do! I must leave you! Dick, try to make an assault on me that I may scream, but first conceal your tools and arms!" Hal hid the instruments and Dick, with an awful roar, sprang at the visitor, who ran to the grating crying: "Help--help!" The warden came hurrying to the spot. "Take 'im out o' this, then!" muttered Dick, sulkily getting back into his corner. "Oh, what a wretch!" said Mrs. Condiment. "I shall be glad when he's once hanged!" said the jailer. "I--I--fear that I can do them but little good, and--and I would rather not come again, being sickly and nervous," faltered Father Gray.