Thrice Wedded, but Only Once a Wife — page 175: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

166 THRICE WEDDED. ment I did not recognize you,” replied Fredrich, smiling calmly. ‘‘And you have broken your oath never to reveal to mor- tal 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 suffi- - cient proof? Who is your companion in this hazardous ex-— pedition?” “Tf you remember rightly, my oath was worded thus— that I would never tell any one where the entrance to cave was to be fourd. 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. ‘‘T'hat 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 in- solence, and from a mere boy? Seize him, and bind him instantly!” he cried, turning to his band, and fairly foam- ing at the mouth with rage. Several men sprang forward to do his bidding, while he - shouted to the rest: — ‘To arms, all of you! There is a traitor in the camp, T’ll swear.” ‘‘Hold!” The word was echoed from a dozen different points of that enormous room, and instantly the drapery was swept aside from as many places, and from each entrance emerged five or six stalwart men, with pistols cocked, and otherwise armed to the teeth. very smuggler stood mute and terror-stricken; they saw at once the fearful odds against them, and knew that resis- tance would be useless. In sullen silence they awaited the result of this fearful and unexpected interruption of their wedding gayeties. “Hdgerton, place your men in position, and shoot the first man that moves or resists,” commanded Fredrich - Weimher, in a clear, ringing tone. = Ronald Edgerton and about twenty-five men filed along _ oe