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Rh if you will give me your word of honour that you will not drug me."

"I shall not drug you unless you defy me. You think you will escape," he added, "but I warn you that you won't find that easy."

She went back to her cave. The day wore on. Curiously enough, her spirits rose at the thought of the wild night ride before her. Anything was better than imprisonment here. She heard Trant moving about in the larger cave, and supposed that he was making preparations for departure. She wondered what the robbers had done with their booty—wondered where they had put Lady Waveryng's diamonds—wondered. Oh, did he know that she was held captive in his secret lair? She could not bear the thought. She had tried to keep it away—had tried to blunt her senses to the horror. Now it overcame her. She writhed in shame for him—in agony for herself.

It was four o'clock. Trant came to the opening of her cell. "Come out," he said, "I have made some tea. It is not good for you to stay in there."

She obeyed. He was standing in the larger cave, and had laid the table with biscuits and tea. The light from the crater streamed into the cave. She saw that there were valises lying ready packed, and that the cave had been put in order, also that Trant was dressed for a journey. He drew forward the settle, laid a blanket upon it, and placed a rough footstool. There was a certain tenderness in his way of doing this, and in the manner in which he looked at her. "You have been crying," he exclaimed; "and I would give the world to make you happy."

"Let me go, then," she said; "take me back to Ina."

"You ask me the one thing I cannot do for you. I could die with you. Give you up I cannot."

She sank into silence. He pressed her to drink the tea, but she refused. He proceeded to fill his flask, and to put up some bread and salt beef, and tea, and sugar in ration bags, which were laid by the valise. Then suddenly came a