"Never mind about that," Cecil said sharply. "Are you coming with us?" "I am coming," Kate answered composedly, "and I will walk last." "As you please," Cecil answered. "Come, Forrest, you may as well see this thing through with me." As they stumbled along the narrow way, Cecil whispered in Forrest's ear. "What are we going to do with her?" "God knows!" Forrest answered. "Do you suppose that any one knows where she is? Who is she?" "One of the village girls," Cecil answered, "an old sweetheart of mine. They are strange people, and have few friends. I doubt whether any one knows that she is out to-night." Forrest passed on. "If we are going to put our necks into the halter," he muttered, "a little extra trouble won't hurt us." They paused before the door. The girl was looking at the padlock. "A new padlock, I see," she remarked. "Listen!" They all listened, and now there was no doubt about it. From inside the room they could hear the sound of a man, half singing, half moaning. "Are those rabbits?" the girl asked, leaning forward, so that her eyes seemed to gleam like live coal through the darkness. "Cecil, you are being made a fool of by this man. I don't wish you any harm. Do the right thing now, and I'll stick by you. Let this man free, whoever he is. Don't listen to what he tells you," she added, pointing toward Forrest. Cecil hesitated. Forrest, who was watching him closely, could not tell whether that hesitation was genuine or only a feint. "It was only a joke, this, Kate," he muttered. "It was a joke which we have carried a little too far. Yes, you shall help me if you will. I have had enough of it. Go inside and see for yourself who is there." Cecil threw open the door and Kate stepped boldly inside. Forrest entered last and remained near the threshold. Engleton started to his feet when he saw a third person. "We have brought you a visitor," Forrest cried out. "You have complained of being lonely. You will not be lonely any longer." Kate turned toward him. "What do you mean?" she said. "We are going to leave here together, that man and myself, within the next few minutes." "You lie!" Forrest answered fiercely. "You have thrust yourself into a matter which does not concern you, and you are going to take the consequences." "And what might they be?" Kate asked slowly. "They rest with him," Forrest answered, pointing toward Engleton. "There is a man there who was our friend until a few days ago. He dared to accuse us of cheating at cards, and if we let him go he will ruin us both. We are doing what any reasonable men must do. We are seeking to preserve ourselves. We have kept him here a prisoner, but he could have gained his freedom on any day by simply promising to hold his peace. He has declined, and the time has come when we can leave him no more. To-night, if he is obstinate, we are going to throw him into the sea." "And what about me?" Kate asked.