THE THREAT AND ITS EXECUTION--EVELINE LOST.
Quickly arranging things in her room, and restoring the lamp to its
accustomed place, so that every article should appear in usual order and
nothing betray her secret, Eveline--the knocking at her door being just
then repeated--demanded:
"Who is there?"
"It is hardly worth your while to ask that question, when you know there
can be but one person having access to this place."
"Excuse me, sir; but I have understood that _you_ were only here by
courtesy, the rooms belonging to another."
"Well, I am here, at any rate, and have the mastery as well as the
occupancy of the place. Will you open the door?"
"If I please."
"Well, _do_ you please?"
"And if I do not?"
"Then I shall enter by another way."
"As I am not overly anxious to see a _master_, you may enter as you can."
"Very well."
Eveline chose not to open the door for two reasons: first, she wished to
ascertain whether or not there _was_ a secret passage between the rooms;
and, secondly, if Duffel's assertion in regard to the matter should prove
true, she wished to know at what point the entrance was situated, that, if
need be, in any future movements she might make, obstructions could be
placed in the way of ingress. One thing, however, perplexed her a little;
she could not keep her eyes on all sides of the room at once, and Duffel
might come from some quarter unawares, and take her at advantage, ere she
could meet his attack. Thought is very rapid in times of danger, if
presence of mind is retained, and the difficulty stated had fixed her
attention but a few seconds, ere several plans of release had suggested
themselves and been abandoned; but at length it occurred to her, that as it
was impossible for the secret door to be in the same place as the other
one, she would be perfectly safe, in taking a position against the latter,
from any possibility of surprise, and standing there she could seem more at
her ease than in any other position, where her continued watchfulness would
betray anxiety.
She had scarcely placed herself in the posture desired, before she saw a
portion of the wall to her right slowly move from its place, and presently
a mass, the size of a small door, stood out fairly into the room, and from
behind it stole the villain, in such a manner as to leave no doubt of his
intentions to surprise her, if possible. Seeing she was prepared for his
reception, and aware of his entrance, he closed the door, and, boldly
stepping into the room, addressed her thus:
"So, incredulous fair one, you see I am here, notwithstanding your
disbelief in my word."
"Yes; I see you are here."
"Well, that is a very cordial welcome to an old friend, certainly. In what
school have you taken lessons in hospitality and politeness?"
"In one where I have learned to treat insolence according to its deserts."
"Indeed! then I think we must have graduated at the same institution.
Perhaps we had as well try each other's skill and proficiency, and the one
that shall prove the aptest scholar be declared victor in the contest
between us. Do you accept the challenge?"
"I accept nothing from you; your pretended friendship I despise; your
threats I hold in as much contempt as I do their author; your intended
insults I will pay back even to death, sir!" and as she spoke, there was a
flashing light in her eye which gave the villain to understand she meant
all she said; but assuming not to heed his convictions on that point, here
plied, with as much seeming ease as he could command:
"Oh, I have heard such talk before."
"Yes, and like the base coward you are, you sprang from the dagger at your
breast, even though it was but a woman's hand that held it."
"Girl! don't presume too far on my forbearance! I warn you in time to
beware of that!"
"I presume nothing on any good trait of character or nobleness of soul you
may possess, sir, but on your _cowardice_!"
"Do you wish to drive me to extremes?"
"You are already on the extremest verge of all that is vile and loathsome."
"By the furies of h----, I'll not endure this longer!"
"Oh, yes, you will; you need not expect any other treatment so long as you
continue to force your unwelcome and disgusting presence upon me. I have
not taken lessons in the school of which you were talking, in vain: and as
you set yourself up as a rival, just exercise your skill; I ask no favors,
and fear not your opposition."
"Yes, you do; with all your boasting, you fear me, coward though I be, at
this very moment."
"Yes, exactly as I fear the proximity of any other corrupt thing with which
it is unpleasant to come in contact. There is a certain small animal of the
cat species, bearing, however, another and very significant name, with
which it would be about as disagreeable to come in contact as with
yourself; as I would fear it, so I fear you; in my estimation you are
equally vile and equally to be avoided."
Again Duffel grew red in the face with rage, and he was on the point of
seizing and overpowering Eveline; but his eye fell upon the dagger, which
she held in her hand, and prudence or cowardice held him back. His response
was given with savage malice:
"I'll take the fire out of your temper, ere you are many hours older; mark
that! You have gone too far for me longer to continue my gentle dealings
toward you. I have endeavored to persuade you, I have expostulated with
you, and made all reasonable offers to induce you to acquiesce peaceably in
your fate, which I would have made an honorable and enviable one; but you
have treated all my kindness with contumely and misconstrued my forbearance
into cowardice. Now you must prepare for the worst."
"Sir--villain, rather, every word you have uttered is as false as the pit
of night, and you know it! Yes, sir, you know that as you stood there and
spoke, unmitigated falsehoods fell from your lips while every declaration!
And knowing this, and knowing that _I_ know it, also, you have the
audacity and the insolent impudence to say that you have offered me an
honorable position in life! Is it possible that you are so fallen as not to
know that in a truthful, virtuous, and noble soul there can be nothing so
abhorrent as lying, villainy, and cowardice? Talk of honor! Better might
Satan take of goodness!"
"Go on! you are only placing thorns in your path, every one of which will
pierce you as a pang of agony."
"I have no doubt you would like to intimidate me by such ominous remarks;
but I have heard similar ones from the same source before; and knowing the
distance which separates their author from truth, you may well rest assured
I place implicit confidence in their falsity."
"I'll prove to you how true they are, then; in one thing, at least, you
shall be convinced of my veracity; and that is, that I am now in earnest,
and mean to remain in earnest until my wishes are accomplished, and you,
the victim of my pleasure, become a suppliant for mercy and restoration to
an honorable position in society."
"_Never!_"
"We shall see; I have been talking,--from this time on, I _act_!"
Saying this he drew a pistol from his pocket, and holding it before her,
went on:
"You see I came prepared this time! I was fully resolved to bring matters
to an issue at any rate, and more especially if you persisted in your
insulting course of address. You have done so; the cup of your
transgressions is full, and the time of your probation expired. Now comes
the judgment!"
He had expected to see her turn pale and tremble, and, perhaps, become a
suppliant for more time to consider the matter; but with the exception of a
little closer compression of the lips, and, if possible, a little more
determined expression, he saw no change pass over her countenance. If
terror she had, it was kept out of sight. She made no reply, and he
proceeded:
"You think because your dagger served you once it will do so again; but it
will not. I could execute my plans immediately and at once have you
helplessly in my power; but I prefer to give you one more and the last
opportunity of deciding for yourself. Know, then, that as soon as I find
this offer rejected, I will send the contents of this pistol through your
right arm, and if that is not enough I have another in my pocket here,
which shall pay the same respects to your left arm. You will then be at my
mercy as completely as though you were an infant. I leave your own fancy to
picture what will follow, understanding my intentions as you do. With this
certain doom before you, will you, Eveline Mandeville, consent to be my
wife, now or at some future day?"
"I WILL NOT!"
The reply was clear, bold, decided, without a tremor of voice or the
quivering of a muscle. The fiendish wretch was awed by her courage, but
having, as he said, resolved to bring matters to a crisis, he went on:
"You have chosen your fate, be the consequences upon your own head!" He
raised the pistol.
"Will you throw away that dagger and permit me peaceably to approach you?"
"_No!_"
"I will ask you three times, and with your third refusal I shall fire; so
beware! Will you throw away the dagger?"
"_No!_"
"This is the third and last time I shall ask the question," and he repeated
it slowly: "Will you throw away t-h-e d-a-g-g-e-r?" and he brought the
weapon to his eye.
"NO!"
There was a pause of a second, and then a flash of fire, a cloud of smoke,
and the report of a pistol told that his threat was executed. The brutal
monster waited a moment for the smoke to clear away from his vision, not
liking to venture upon that ominous looking dagger until assured of a
bloodless victory. Poor, despicable coward!
As he kept his eye fixed toward the spot where Eveline stood, eager to see
the result of the shot, he felt something strike his breast, and, turning
his eyes downward, he beheld the glittering dagger glance along his left
side! A button had turned its course and saved his life! He sprang away,
uttering an affrighted oath, and grasped for his other pistol. It was not
in his pocket! and there he stood unarmed, before the unhurt but outraged
woman he had attempted to destroy!
Eveline, though excited, was unusually self-possessed during all the
interview just related. She felt the imminence of her danger, but it only
aroused her faculties to a more acute observation of every incident and
circumstance that might, by any possible chance, be turned to advantage.
When she saw that Duffel was resolved to put his threat in execution, she
determined to make him the victim instead of herself, if it were possible
to do so. In speaking of this reserved pistol he unconsciously placed his
hand in his pocket--a side coat pocket--and drew the weapon up, so that the
breech rested upon the upper and outer edge of the receptacle in the
garment. Eveline noticed this, and in a moment her plan of action was
formed. She did not like the thought of killing a human being, but as
Duffel had proceeded to such extremes, she felt that if it was not her duty
to slay him under the circumstances, she would, at least, be justifiable in
so doing. She, therefore, settled it in her mind to go to this extreme
length, much as she shrank from a deed of blood, in case the monster fired
at her. She took in the idea at once that a puff of smoke would conceal her
movements for a moment, and, under its friendly cover, feeling sure of her
ability to avoid the shot, she would smite the villain to the heart and
seize the pistol at the same instant, to use in case the thrust should
prove ineffectual. Having her mind divided between the two acts, both of
which must be done in the same breath, she did not aim the dagger with as
much precision as under other circumstances she might have done, and the
result was as already stated; the pistol, however, she safely secured; and
when she saw Duffel feel for it, and perceived his disappointment and alarm
at not finding it, she said:
"Here it is, sir, and for once you are in my power! It is now my turn!"
The miscreant cowered before her determined gaze.
"Prepare for your end!"
"I crave your mercy."
"_Mercy!_ You, vile, unmanly wretch! did _you_ show mercy?"
"I was excited,--spare me!"
"Down on your knees, then, and beg for your life!"
He hesitated to demean himself thus, she raised the pistol, and there was a
fire in her eye which spoke volumes to the craven soul of the poltroon. He
obeyed, fell upon his knees and begged his life at her hands, promising to
liberate her if she would grant his prayer. When he ceased pleading, and
paused for her reply, she answered:
"Know, base coward, that, woman as I am, I would scorn to take the life of
an unarmed enemy. I was only trying you to ascertain how low you would
degrade and how debasingly demean yourself to beg for mercy. I would have
made you swear to take me from this place, but I knew you would perjure
yourself the moment an opportunity afforded, and I did not care to burden
your guilty soul with another crime. For the same reason I decline
accepting your proffer to take me away. I know you would prove treacherous,
and I will not trust myself in your hands. Go, now, and remember that the
next time you enter this room in my presence, you die! I will not permit
another insult of the kind; no, sir, _never_! Open that door and leave!"
He obeyed; she followed him with the pistol presented, until he was out of
the captain's room. He closed the door into the outer cave with a slam, and
locked it, and then called out:
"Madam, you were a fool for not securing the keys while you had me in your
power. I now curse and defy you, and swear that I will make you repent this
day's work in the dust and ashes of humiliation. I shall not come alone
next time, but with fifty men; and you _shall_ be overpowered and feel the
weight of my vengeance! I'll wring your proud heart till it bleeds, and in
your degradation will scorn you!"
She did not wait to hear more of his harangue, but hastened back into her
room, shut and bolted her door, placed every movable object in the
apartment against the one by which Duffel had entered, and then entering
the secret passage, ran to the mirror to see if the villain left. She had
been there but a few minutes when he passed, cursing as he went, and
swearing to be revenged.
The reader may wonder why Eveline did not shoot the wretch when she had him
in her power, but the truth was, she knew nothing about using fire-arms,
and feared to make the attempt, lest, failing, she should be again in his
hands. She knew, too, that it would not be prudent to trust herself to be
led out of the cave by him, as the moment he met one of his followers he
would betray her, and she would be again a prisoner. Still she would have
made this venture, had not the secret passage held out to her a more
hopeful mode of escape.
All these considerations, dangers and probabilities flashed through her
mind with the fleetness of thought, and she came to conclusions with the
same rapidity. Doubtless, she pursued the best course. She could presume on
Duffel's cowardice, but she dare not trust his word or his oath.
So soon as her persecutor passed out from the cave, as shown by the mirror,
she hastened back to her room to make preparations for leaving the den of
infamy in which she had been confined, feeling well assured that but a few
hours would be suffered to elapse, ere Duffel, with as many adherents as he
deemed necessary to accomplish his ends, would return, to wreak his
pitiless vengeance upon her. Making everything ready for her departure, she
awaited the darkness of the approaching night, that in its friendly mantle
she might find protection and shelter. But ere the light of day had
withdrawn, she again ventured out into the stream for the purpose of more
fully reconnoitering the place, and fixing in her mind the relative
position of things, obstacles and distance, and to obtain such knowledge in
general as might facilitate her escape.
Night came; she left her room, the common door locked and bolted, the
secret one clogged with the furniture of the room, so that it would require
the united strength of several men to force it open. The door of the secret
passage which she had learned to open and shut from both sides, was closed
after her, and alone she passed along that damp aisle, paused a moment
before the mirror to note whether it reflected the scene without, and
seeing upon its face but blank darkness, she opened the last door between
herself and the world into which she was going, closed it as she passed
through its portals, descended the stairs, reached the outer extremity of
the passage, put out her lamp, and the next minute stood on the pebbles at
the margin of the stream. A brief survey of the coast in all directions
satisfied her that she was not observed, and without more delay she moved
down the stream as rapidly as the nature of the ground and her want of
experience in such places and mode of travel would permit.
It was about a mile from the starting point before she reached the first
recession of the high bank, that afforded an opportunity to leave the
stream, which she improved without delay, and after a laborious ascent of
an inclined plane, more than a hundred yards in extent and quite steep, she
found herself on the high bluff, with the cave in the distance.
But now a new and before unthought of difficulty faced her. She was in a
wilderness, with no compass by which to direct her course, and no friendly
guide to conduct her to the habitations of men. For a moment she was almost
paralyzed by the magnitude of this untried danger, and hope well nigh fled
from her breast. But rousing her energies she boldly looked her fate in the
face, and committed herself into the hands of that Providence who had so
often befriended her in former times of peril, and then shaping her course
as well as she could by the stars, she plunged into the dense forest, with
her face, as she believed, toward home, which she hoped to reach some time
the next day.
Alas for her hopes! in less than an hour she was totally bewildered and
lost in the wilderness! She felt her loneliness and helplessness now more
than when facing her malignant enemy; and to add to the horrors of her
situation, howls of wild beasts soon greeted her ears!