"Hark!"
The party listened attentively, and distinctly heard the sound of the rumbling cart.
"Quick! Forward!" cried Hayward, as he dashed onward. In a few moments they came in sight of the cart, and there, sure enough, were seated the sister of Hayward and the maiden, Alibamo.
A cry of joy broke from the lips of Margrave. It was heard by Branch. The villain for a moment was confused, but it was no time for delay. He seized Miss Hayward in his arms, and, springing from the cart, ran along with her as easily as if she had been an infant.
Alibamo sprang into her brother's arms, with a cry of rapture, but he only paused a moment. Branch ran directly toward a narrow pathway, which was the only passage to the valley below, and which wound down the steep by the side of a sharp, rocky ledge. Beneath this ledge was a frightful chasm, at the bottom of which were a hundred sharp rocks, which had been broken off the height, and fallen into the depths below.
"Ah! I will triumph yet!" cried Branch, as he reached the ledge, and was about to spring down the narrow pathway. But, Fall-leaf confronted him, and Branch sprang back.
"Ah! the rock—the precipice!" he cried, and darting for the ledge he stood upon its very verge.
As Hayward and his friends approached, Branch raised the helpless maiden high over his head, and leaning forward he cried:
"If you advance another step, Hayward, or permit any of your party to do so, I will hurl your sister into the depths below, and thus dash her to pieces!"
Hayward was within a few feet of Branch, but he stopped instantly.