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356 "Trant," said Frank. "Pompo was his instrument. You know best what motive he had for revenge."

"It is I who am the cause of it all," moaned Elsie. "It is I who have ruined you, and made him mad for revenge."

"My poor Elsie!" answered Blake, with intense tenderness. " Say rather that it is I who have ruined you."

She caught his hand and passionately kissed it. "Come," she said, dragging him forward, "we are going to save you, Frank and I; we have come for that. The horses are hidden in the scrub. Only let us get out of the mountain before the police come, and all will be well. You have Abatos, and you will ride for your life over the border, and get off into some ship or boat from Myall Heads. I have thought it all out as we rode here. You must bribe the cedar-cutters. And that's the thing,—have you money? I had forgotten "

"Yes, I have some money hidden here," he said, "plenty. That is what I came for to-night."

They walked back to the cave, and he went into the inner chamber where she had slept, and which she now was certain had been his sleeping-place also. She heard a sound of falling stone and a scraping of iron, and went in to him.

"Oh, quick, quick! Can I not help you?"

"I have it," he answered, and she saw him pull out a box which had been hidden in a crevice of the rock, and take from it a bundle of notes and some gold, which he stowed into his breast pocket.

"I am ready," he said. "But first, Elsie, my darling, tell me. whatever happens, that you forgive me for the blight I have brought upon you."

"Forgive you! I love you. I would die for you. I will live for you and with you. I love you," she repeated. "Is not that enough? But here again I make the vow I have made in my heart: I will never belong to another man. If they put you in prison I will wait for you to my life's end. If you die I will be faithful to you for eternity."

He caught her in his arms and pressed one hurried, passionate kiss upon her lips. She tore herself from him, and