Thank you, and G.o.d bless you, my _friend_,' Roland said, giving his hand to the robber. It was the first time that he had ever used such a term toward the outlaw. The poor outcast felt that one word, 'friend,'--uttered as it had been with such peculiar emphasis--more than any other experience in his whole chequered and evil life. His face quivered with emotion, and his eyes became moist with tears.

Yes, that word strung his nerves up to cords of steel, and set a seal upon his resolutions that nothing upon earth could move.

The morning broke cheerfully enough. Troops of shining white clouds held themselves shyly aloof in the liquid blue sky. The ice upon Silent Lake gleamed and sent out radiating lines of light, fine as the threads of a spider's net. Troops of blue jays went in silly procession from tree to tree, and some of them came about the camp of the robbers and began feasting upon the morsels of fish and meat scattered around. Roland was early astir; and he saw the sun through the pines, its face seeming as if covered with blood. This was not an auspicious sign; and little as our hero was given to belief in omens, he could not help being impressed by the spectacle.

But when the great orb got above the tops of the trees its face changed from quivering crimson to bra.s.s; and with the change the foreboding pa.s.sed from the mind of our hero.

'How my beautiful Aster used to glory in the spectacle of the setting or rising sun,' he thought. 'I have ridden through York [now of course Toronto, AUTHOR] when the whole west was a ma.s.s of crimson fire; and once grasping my hands pointing to cloud-specks in the arc of red, she said, "_See the spots. They look like drops of blood_," while her beautiful eyes grew larger and shining with poetic fervor. Alack-a-day!

I wonder if I shall ever see my love again?'

His reverie was ended by the appearance of Nancy, and immediately afterwards of Silent Poll, both of whom busied themselves preparing breakfast.

When that meal was ended the chief sauntered about smoking, and at last stood before Roland.

'I have to talk seriously with you this morning,' he said, in a tone that was intended to be conciliatory as well as authoritative.

Roland had placed his back against the trunk of a large pine, with his hand--carelessly, as it would seem--in his hip pocket, and he looked the chief steadily in the face, as he replied:

'I am ready to hear what you have to say.'

'It is soon said, I purpose now to bring all those plans of mine to fruition. There is a young woman whom I purpose carrying here to-night.

I do not know anything about the interior arrangements of the house, nor of the habits of the family. But you may sometime have met the lady, and could therefore help my plan. Will you consent to do this?'

The look of mingled indignation and scorn upon Roland's face was simply beyond description when he heard this barefaced and monstrous request.

'So far is such an act from me,' he replied, looking into the eyes of the libertine robber, 'that I refuse to discuss a proposition so odious and full of infamy.'

'That is your answer?'

'Aye, it is.'

'Dog! is it for this that I have spared you?' and he drew hastily from his sheath a knife with a long, keen blade, and raised it.

But Roland was equally as quick as the desperado; and holding his pistol in the very face of the robber, he said:--

'Move that hand, villain, if you dare!' and as he said these words he moved gradually back, for Murfrey was coming towards him.

The chief saw that there was no glory for him in such a scene as this. He lowered his arm, and beckoned Murfrey back to his place.

'I was in a rage,' he said, looking at our hero,' because you refused this favour; but I did not mean to strike.' His looks, however, as he spoke, belied the declaration. 'I will need you,' he said, nodding to The Lifter; 'and you come, of course,' to Murfrey. Roland said nothing, but sat apart, his weapon in his pocket, ready for immediate use. But he did not need it, as the three robbers speedily left the den and pa.s.sed out into the wood.

As the evening fell that day, the robbers, disguised as three log-choppers, with axes upon their shoulders, approached a large, comfortable and rather imposing residence. In this house, to judge from the cautious looks of the party, dwelt the object of the expedition.

How to obtain the girl was the problem that now presented itself.

At first it was proposed that The Lifter should go in and enquire the distance to Sloan's tavern, a well-known rendezvous for lumbermen in the neighbourhood. But this plan was rejected. These desperate men would have no hesitation in boldly forcing their way into the house with axes uplifted, but the girl might not be there; and the enterprise, for the future, would be rendered more difficult.

The robbers, as has been said, were standing in a group among a pine-clump that stood a couple of perches from the road. In this same clump stood two horses saddled and one harnessed to a sled. The latter was the chiefs horse, and of course the vehicle was intended for carrying away the prize. While the villains stood together, planning a way out of the dilemma, the jingle of sleigh-h.e.l.ls was heard upon the road leading down to the dwelling.

'Suppose she should be in this,' exclaimed the chief. 'Let us down to the roadside. I know the old chap's pair, a dappled gray and a chestnut.' By the roadside they posted themselves, the sleigh moving swiftly along to the merry tune of the bells, made far more merry by 'the icy air of night.'

The moon was nearly full, but while it waded through the heavy cloud-ma.s.ses half the world was dark. It would seem that Diana ought to keep her fair, chaste head in nubibus when any of her maidens stand in danger. But she has often been known to suddenly illuminate a dark place, and show the a.s.sa.s.sin a victim.

On the memorable night which I am describing she must have been in one of her heartless fits. Perhaps she was thinking of some of Endymion's flirtations with the rosy-cheeked mountain la.s.ses, when ranging among the pastoral hills. Be this supposition correct or not, just as the approaching sleigh reached a hundred paces of the gate by which the robbers were concealed, a flood of moonlight burst upon the road.

'The very pair, by heavens!' exclaimed the Chief, excitedly. 'Three persons; she is there, too!' The sleigh had now reached very near the roadside; and one of the men jumped out to open the gate.

'You attend to him,' the Chief whispered to Joe; 'you gag the girl's mouth with this handkerchief,' to The Lifter; 'Come.'

The robbers rushed out and Murfrey felled his man to the ground with a blow of his axe-handle. The chief pinioned his man and stopped his mouth, not before he had cried out twice:

'Highwaymen! Help!'

The Lifter was not so dexterous in his work, for the girl gave several shrieks before he succeeded in stopping her mouth. At first he had not the heart to bind this beautiful girl, who looked at him with such frightened, appealing eyes. But in spite of the hesitation on The Lifter's part, the terrible business was despatched with wonderful swiftness. The chief seizing the girl in his arms bore her lightly as if she were an infant to his own sled, and placed her upon it, holding her there with one arm, while with the other he held the reins; then giving the word to his followers, the band was speedily flying over the frosty road towards their lair. When they reached the edge of the swamp, the dawn was breaking in chilly, silver streaks, and the robbers dismounted.

'Why am I torn away from my home?' the girl asked as soon as the bandage was removed from her mouth. 'Where are you taking me?'

'To my home, to be my bride,' the robber replied, bending suddenly down to kiss her. But she evaded his polluting lips, and stood looking from one to the other of the rest for help. The Lifter turned away his head; for he was sick and sore at heart.

'Now, my dear girl,' the Chief said, 'we have to get to my home immediately. It lies in yonder bush. Will you walk, or shall we be obliged to carry you. I do not care to take my horses to the wood.'

'G.o.d have mercy upon me! G.o.d have mercy upon me!' was all that the unfortunate girl could say.

'Do not lament so. You will not find me such a tyrant.'

But despair had now chilled her heart. She did not hear the words he spoke, and looked about her bewildered and helpless.

'We had better be moving, Miss,' Murfrey said, walking to her side; for it was arranged that the Captain should stay behind to blind the track made by the single sled, and, with the deaf-mute, put pursuers on the wrong scent. He was very skilful at this sort of thing and the rest were not. Hence his remaining behind.

The captive did not seem to hear the words addressed to her, but stood there most hopeless and _distrait_ in the opening dawn, tears streaming out of her beautiful eyes.

Murfrey turned away for a moment to speak with his leader as to what he ought to do. This gave The Lifter who was standing near an opportunity to whisper in her ear, for he had drawn quite close to the girl.

'Fear not! I am your friend. Another captive at home. He will help to release you. I'm forced _now_ to act like this. Fear not! and don't speak.' She looked into his face, and by the earnest, anxious gleam in his eye, she felt instinctively that he told the truth.

'Why should he tell falsehoods about it?' she mused, they can carry me whether I want to go or not.'

'Come,' The Lifter said, and meekly she followed him.

'This augurs bad for you at the beginning,' Murfrey said with a chuckle. 'Your son seems to have the inside track already. She is following him tamely as a poodle.' 'He's the devil at coaxing,' the robber replied. 'You can't tell _what_ yarn has prevailed with her. Be off now, and take good care of my pretty bird. Don't you think she's a beauty; a what 'ill I call her? a Diana! yes, that must be her name. Now go and take care of Diana of the Swamp.' The chief had become jocose; for here was the lovely prey safe within the toils. A minute later he called.

'Here, Joe' and Murfrey came. 'If you get a chance to make an end of that d--d fellow Gray, do so. I do not, want the two to begin coddling. He does not know her, I suppose, but if she found him with his handsome face, bad luck to it, likewise a captive, it would be "love at first sight" with a vengeance.'

'If the thing is possible, rely upon me.' Then the ruffian sped away through the woods.

When Roland arose that morning The Lifter came to him.

'The hour is come,' he said, 'if you are to save the girl.'

'Is she here?' he asked with astonishment,