"'Twasn't no fault o' mine, Bill; I'd a drugged 'em, every one, if that nigger would a took his eyes off o' me for a single moment; but it did beat all, the way he watched me back and forad and all the time. I hadn't the least mite of a chance." This explanation seemed to appease the man's wrath, and the meal was concluded without further disturbance. A whispered consultation followed; then two of the younger ruffians went out and plunged into the forest in the direction from whence they had come. At no very great distance they came out upon a little clearing where stood a tiny cabin, roughly but strongly built of unhewn logs, no window save an aperture scarce a foot square near the roof, and the one door, of solid oak planks, furnished with heavy bolts and bars upon the outside. This was the prison intended by Lyttleton for the safe keeping of Clendenin, the man to whom he owed his life. Heretofore it had been used by the Sharks as a depository for their ill-gotten gains. Near at hand, but concealed from view by the thick undergrowth, the Englishman and his valet lay sleeping upon the ground, wrapped each in his blanket, and with sword and gun within reach of his hand. A few minutes' search disclosed their whereabouts to the Sharks, and it was no gentle waking that ensued. "Ho! rouse up, I tell ye, and wake your master!" growled Abner, touching Hans with his foot. "You're both wanted at the house." "Yaas," grunted Hans, sleepily, "but I dinks you petter leaves mynheer to dake his sleep." "What is it? What's wanted this time of night?" demanded Lyttleton, starting up and glancing about him in no amiable mood. "You're wanted," was the gruff, unceremonious reply. "Game's bagged, but such a lot we must come on 'em as strong as possible." "What! you've got Clendenin?" Lyttleton's tone was jubilant. "Humph! he's there, but he ain't took yet, and there's four more stout fellows beside the nigger, and one on 'ems ekal to any two o' us. So come along, both o' ye." "No," said Lyttleton, "you have undertaken the job, and it's no part of my plan to assist in the fray. I'll pay liberally when it's done; but as I told you in the first place, I can't have Clendenin get sight of either my face or that of my valet." "Black your faces, or tie a handkercher over 'em," suggested Abner's brother. "No; he'd recognize our voices." "You're a----coward," sneered Abner. "No use argufying with the white-livered critter, Josh. He won't git his job done, 'tain't likely, if he don't help, that's all. Come on back. P'raps Brannon's there by now, and if the fellers'll only quiet down to sleep, I for one am willin' to try it for the sake o' the plunder, and the cash we'll have in hand afore we let these ere chaps have their way with the one they're wantin' to git shut of." "What a vulgar wretch!" muttered Lyttleton, in a tone of extreme disgust, as the two ruffians turned and left the spot to make their way rapidly back to the house.