At this moment, between the pauses of the blast, they heard a loud knocking at the door, and they looked at each other suspiciously, and starting involuntarily to their feet, placed their hands upon their revolvers, and prepared for action in case they should be surprised. ‘Who is there?’ demanded the landlord. ‘It is only I, Blodget,’ was the answer, and being satisfied that it was his voice, the door was cautiously opened, and the villain entered. He greeted them all heartily, and then, by the invitation of Jenkins, having taken his seat at the table, the mirth of the gang was resumed, and carried on with increased spirit, Blodget joining in with as much freedom as if he had been one of the gang. ‘Well, Mr. Blodget,’ asked Jenkins, ‘and don’t you think I managed this business very well for you?’ ‘Aye, Jenkins,’ answered Blodget; ‘you did everything that I could wish; but think you she will be safe where she is?’ ‘Safe!’ repeated Jenkins; ‘as safe as when she was buried deep in the bowels of the earth. Gordon is just the man who will take care of her.’ ‘That is well,’ replied Blodget; ‘but it is not unlikely that I shall not have any occasion to trouble him long.’ ‘Why, you would never be such a fool as to attempt to remove her from a place of security?’ demanded Jenkins. ‘Circumstances may compel me so to do.’ ‘I understand you; but we must see about the best means of preventing all chance of that,’ said Jenkins; ‘you have been a lucky fellow, Blodget, to get the lady in your power and at your mercy; it is glorious revenge.’ ‘It is, it is!’ answered Blodget; ‘but not sufficient to gratify me.’ ‘No?’ ‘No!’ ‘What would you, then?’ ‘I would have the life of Monteagle.’ ‘Ah! would you, then, again commit murder?’ ‘Hold!’ said Blodget; ‘mention not my former crime; I cannot think of it without horror.’ ‘And yet you can contemplate another deed equally as sanguinary?’ ‘Yes, the death of the detested Monteagle I can contemplate, coolly contemplate; and I shall never rest satisfied until it is accomplished.’ ‘And would you dare to perpetrate it yourself?’ asked Jenkins. ‘I dare,’ answered Blodget; ‘were he to cross my path; but were I to follow him to the Mission, or wherever he may be, I should in all probability be discovered, and taken prisoner, and then all my schemes would at once be frustrated. If any one would undertake to commit the crime, I would not fail to reward them handsomely.’ ‘I see,’ said Jenkins; ‘you would have me or one of my men perpetrate the deed of blood!’ ‘I care not who it is, so that it is a man on whom I can depend.’ ‘And the reward?’ ‘A thousand dollars!’ ‘It shall be done.’ ‘Ah! say you so? when?’ ‘Come, come, you are in too much of a hurry; and there is never anything done well where so much precipitation is used. We must first ascertain where Monteagle is.’