“Robert took a ramrod, and fastened the white scarf upon it. Ordering his men to cease firing, the young man passed into the parade and called to Van Zandt. “Why are you here again?” he demanded, angrily. “To ask you to yield. Why should we shed blood, when nothing can be gained? Open your doors and let us enter.” “You ask in vain,” was the stern answer; “you want the girls, I suppose; but you shall never see the face of Katrine, and Theresa has bid good-by forever to your friend Barlow. So away with you if you would save _them_ trouble.” “If you could look into the room where you placed the girls, you would see a broken casement and an empty cage. The girls are safe in our hands.” “A Yankee horse-trader’s lie.” “Go and see.” Van Zandt rushed away and tried the door of Theresa’s room; it was fast bolted. He soon dashed a hole in it with the butt of his heavy rifle, and saw the empty cage of which the other had spoken: the nest was warm, but the birds had flown. He went back and whispered to Carl; their conference over, Van Zandt went again to the window. “What terms can we make?” “The terms shall be the same as those given to Van Curter.” “To all?” “To every one.” “I ask no more,” said the Dutch captain. “Go down and open the door, Jan.” The doors opened and they passed out, Joseph and Carl looking back with strange meaning on the shattered window from which the girls had escaped. The countenance of the young German, Anselm, pale with contending passions, looked absolutely hideous under the glare of the rising sun. He had been foiled at every point; the revenge he had hoped for was torn from his grasp. “Bear up, Carl,” whispered the young captain; “do not let these villains see how you are moved.” He controlled his feelings by an effort of his powerful will. “It shall be as you say,” he replied in a hushed tone. “They shall be aroused only by the blow I shall strike them. Do your best, so that we shall pass another night in this place.” “I will set about it,” answered the young captain. “I can read your thoughts.” “That is well; then I need not speak. Where are the girls.” “In one of the houses, as I think.” “Do you see that accursed Holmes? He is going to her, now that he has triumphed over me. Would it not be a pleasant thing to plunge a knife into his heart? If he gives me time, I shall do it.” The two separated, and set about their preparations for departure. It was found impossible for the former occupants to leave that day, so they were assigned places outside the fort in the cabins they had built.