And every man leaped to his feet, with looks of wild delight and
questioning.
And the next instant the door was flung wide open, and the outlaw
chief stood among them!
Steve stopped rolling and curled himself around Black Donald's neck,
exclaiming:
"It's you--it's you--it's you!--my dear, my darling--my adored--my
sweetheart--my prince!--my lord!--my king!--my dear, dear captain!"
Steve, the lazy mulatto, rolled down upon the floor at his master's
feet, and embraced him in silence.
While Demon Dick growled forth:
"How the foul fiend did you get out?"
And the anxious faces of all the other men silently repeated the
question.
"Not by any help of yours, boys! But don't think I reproach you,
lads! Well I know that you could do nothing on earth to save me! No
one on earth could have helped me except the one who really freed
me--Capitola!"
"That girl again!" exclaimed Hal, in the extremity of wonder.
Steve stopped rolling, and curled himself around the feet of his
master and gazed up in stupid astonishment.
"It's to be hoped, then, you've got her at last, captain," said
Demon Dick.
"No--heaven bless her!--she's in better hands. Now listen, lads, for
I must talk fast! I have already lost a great deal too much time. I
went first to the cave in the Punch Bowl, and, not finding you
there, came here at a venture, where I am happy to meet you for the
last time--for to-night we disband forever!"
"'Twas our intention, captain," said Hal, in a melancholy voice.
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