"As I explained to Mrs. Ruthven, some distant relatives hold the fortune now, and if they learn of what I am doing they will at once take steps to head my claim off. I wish to spring a surprise on them." "But if the claim is a just one, and half the property is coming to me, you do not suppose I am going to tell them in advance of what you intend to do." "Boy, you do not understand such matters--you are not old enough," growled the surgeon. "Once more, and for the last time, will you do as I wish you to?" "I will not promise yet." "Then you shall remain here, a prisoner." "For how long?" "Until you come to your senses and agree to do as I wish." A few words more passed, and then Dr. Mackey made our hero a prisoner again, and took up the canteen and the knapsack. "You may have to remain alone for a long time," he said, on departing. "But if you get lonely and hungry, remember it is your own fault." "I think you are a brute!" cried Jack after him. Then he listened and heard the surgeon's footsteps receding rapidly. Soon all became quiet. Hour after hour went by, and nobody came near our hero. It was indeed lonely, and as the time passed his heart sank within him. Then Jack heard the faint patter of footsteps over the dry leaves surrounding the cabin. The sounds came closer. "Perhaps it's a dog," he thought. "I hope it is one from our plantation, on the hunt for me." At last a shadow fell across the open cabin doorway and the figure of a strange creature came slowly into view. At the sight Jack could not suppress a scream. The visitor was a mountain wild cat! CHAPTER XXVII. COLONEL STANTON'S TALE. Two days after being brought to the plantation Colonel Stanton's fever went down, and the surgeon who came to attend him pronounced the officer much better. "But he must remain where he is for some time," said the medical man. "He can remain as long as he pleases," declared Mrs. Ruthven. "I have no wish to hurry his departure." She was anxious to learn the truth concerning the colonel's past, yet realized that she must move with caution, otherwise he might be thrown into another fever. "Colonel Stanton," she said, seating herself at his side, "were you ever in the neighborhood before--I mean some ten or eleven years ago?" At this question Colonel Stanton became immediately interested, and his wide-open eyes showed it. "I do not know if I was in this neighborhood," he answered slowly. "You do not know? Surely you must remember where you were at the time I mention." "The time you speak about was a very bitter one to me, madam," was his slow answer. "And you do not wish to speak about it?" she said softly, seeing the pain in his face. "I have spoken to nobody about it for years, madam. Yet I would not mind speaking to you--you are so kind to me. During the time you mention I took an ocean voyage which was very disastrous to me and mine. The ship went down with all on board, including my wife and child."