"What a strange and inexpressible pleasure there is in danger!" said John. "There seems to me to be no enjoyment in life, unless there be obstacles to overcome, and perils to meet." "I agree with you," said Captain Marston. "But it requires caution as well as courage to win for us in the battle of life. Has it occurred to you that we have not the password to admit us to the rendezvous?" "No," replied John. "But what is the use of it? We have received cards of invitation, and we know the place and hour of meeting." "So we do," said Marston; "yet a want of knowledge of this password may give us inconvenience as well as trouble." "Probably," suggested Coe, "the letters `A F E' are the password." "But," objected Captain Marston, "perhaps they are only the initials of it; and in that case, the question arises, what do they stand for? It is well to be armed against all contingencies." "True," consented John. "But I am sure I have no idea what they can mean. Let me think for a minute or two." "Don't you remember," asked Marston, "the English story, which we read together when we were schoolboys, about a mysterious secret society? Can you recollect the initials of their password?" "Yes," was the ready reply; "they are `O F A--A F O,' which, being interpreted, mean `One for All, All for One.' Let me see! `A F E.' All for each. I wonder if that is not the password in this case?" "Very probable," assented Marston. "If necessary, let us try it, at all events." This proposition was agreed to. As the distance between Millmont and the Spout, over a road which traversed, in rapidly succeeding alternations, fields and forests, hills and plains, was fully nine miles, the two young men were obliged to put their horses to a tolerably high speed to reach the place of their destination in time. But little more conversation passed between them, therefore, until they arrived at the head of the ravine, down which their road led to the shore of Saint Leonard's Creek. STORY TWO, CHAPTER FOUR. AT THE SPOUT. *Ossario*. Stand, ho! Who are you? *Antonio*. We are true men, sir. *Ossario*. True men, give the word--and pass. _Old Play_. *Walter*. Only a pleasant jest, I do assure you. _The borry Joke_. When the two men descended the ravine leading to the shore, the sun was half an hour above the horizon. Before they left the mouth of the ravine, they dismounted, at the suggestion of Captain Marston, and fastened their horses to the drooping branches of a tree which grew by the side of the road. The animals were, in this situation, out of sight of the place of rendezvous. The companions having thus made their horses secure, advanced to the shore.