The snow, it may be added, was always kept removed
from the covering of that portion of the tunnel over which the
intruder must pass before he could reach the open-air rendezvous of
the robbers.
One evening, as Roland sat in his room reading, Nancy entered with
fight tread, and took her seat beside him.
'I think that the chief will soon require your services.'
'How comes this?'
'To-morrow I think he sets out upon the expedition of which you have
already heard some mention. The girl is to be brought here to-morrow
night; and he believes that you can assist him in two ways, first by
turning your knowledge of the district to be visited to account: and
second, by acting as a decoy for the young lady.'
'I shall die before he force me into such a work.'
'As I expected. Of course you will refuse, and he will rave and
rage. See to it that you are armed, for he would shoot or stab you as
he would a dog when he finds that you thwart him in a matter that he
has so much at heart.'
'I shall be prepared, Nancy. When do you think he will make his
request?'
'I should judge to-morrow morning.'
'Nancy, it seems to me that the time is not far away when we shall
escape from this pit of infamy.
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