Therefore, Black Donald preferred quietly to abduct his victim, so
as to leave no trace of her "taking off," but to allow it to be
supposed that she had eloped.
He resolved to undertake this adventure alone, though to himself
personally this plan was even more dangerous than the other.
He determined to gain access to her chamber, secrete himself
anywhere in the room (except under the bed, where his instincts
informed him that Capitola every night looked), and when the
household should be buried in repose, steal out upon her, overpower,
gag and carry her off, in the silence of the night, leaving no trace
of his own presence behind.
By means of one of his men, who went about unsuspected among the
negroes, buying up mats and baskets, that the latter were in the
habit of making for sale, he learned that Capitola occupied the same
remote chamber, in the oldest part of the house; but that a guest
slept in the room next, and another in the one opposite hers. And
that the house was besides full of visitors from the city, who had
come down to spend the sporting season, and that they were hunting
all day and carousing all night from one week's end to another.
On hearing this, Black Donald quickly comprehended that it was no
time to attempt the abduction of the maiden, with the least
probability of success. All would be risked and most probably lost
in the endeavor.
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