“Too late! too late!” chattered the squire, starting forward, and wringing his hands with malicious triumph. CHAPTER XXIX. IN THE SMUGGLERS’ CAVE. Every eye was turned like a flash upon the intruder, and the chief, with a fearful oath, sprang toward him, with a gleam of startled fear in his eye notwithstanding his dauntless bearing. He would have seized in his rough grasp him who had thus defied him in his den; but stepping back a pace or two, Fredrich Weimher turned his flashing eyes full upon the towering form before him, and said, in clear, ringing tones: “Not another step, sir! I warn you!” His heavy revolver was raised, and covered the defeated villain’s heart, and grinding his teeth in bitter rage, he retreated a step, for he saw that courage and determination lurked in the young man’s eyes. He could not help admiring him too, for, though armed to the teeth, few would have dared to come into the presence of so large a number of his band, even though they were entirely defenseless. He could not account for the strange circumstance. How could he have gained an entrance to his fortress? There must be treachery somewhere, unless——A sudden thought struck him; he looked again, and then his eyes gleamed with such a fire of rage and hate that a stronger man than he might have quailed beneath it. “Ha!” he roared; “I know you now!—curses on you! You shall not escape me a second time! Fool that I was, not to finish you when I had the chance!” “Sir?” demanded Fredrich, in his turn surprised. “Sir! You needn’t sir me, you young Paul Pry; I told you your meddlesome disposition would yet lead you into trouble.” “Ah! yes, now I understand you, although for the moment I did not recognize you,” replied Fredrich, smiling calmly. “And you have broken your oath never to reveal to mortal man what you knew of this place,” returned the chief, more and more amazed at his calm, self-possessed manner, while those around were speechless with surprise, that any one should thus dare to “beard the lion in his lair.” “How do you know I have broken my oath?” “How do I know? Is not your presence here alone sufficient proof? Who is your companion in this hazardous expedition?” “If you remember rightly, my oath was worded thus—that I would never tell any one where the entrance to the cave was to be found. I have literally kept my word. I have not told, but I have come myself to release my friends whom you hold as captives. I have come to stop that fiendish business,” he said, pausing, and pointing to Dora’s lifeless form. “That villain says I am too late; but a short time will serve to prove that I am not.” “Curse you! do you think I am going to stand this insolence, and from a mere boy? Seize him, and bind him instantly!” he cried, turning to his band, and fairly foaming at the mouth with rage. Several men sprang forward to do his bidding, while he shouted to the rest: