The sheriff seized a heavy axe and began to destroy the still. The copper caldron was cut and battered beyond the possibility of repairs; the long pipes, usually called a worm, were twisted and broken; the iron of the furnace was shattered into fragments.
Old Bowen groaned and cursed alternately as he saw the work of years melt away before his eyes. Then he began to execrate the authors of his misfortune. The two boys, whom he had wished to kill had, no doubt, divulged the secret of the cave—why had he spared them? Why had he spared a Howard? The Howards had stood between him and his fortune for years; their upright, honest lives were a constant reproach to him; they had sheltered his runaway slave; Zachary Howard had spurned him, threatened to chastise him; Owen had saved the war message. If he could but take revenge! If he but had them in his power for a single hour! But even revenge was denied him, and he could but curse his enemies and bemoan his fate.
While the miserable wretch indulged in these fierce, but useless thoughts, Owen and Martin, the objects of his hatred, appeared in the dim, ruddy light at the door. With a frenzied cry of rage that rang through the rocky arches of the cave, and startled the sheriff, plying his work of destruction, Bowen snapped the rope that bound his hands, and jumped to his feet; but before he could disentangle himself and rush at the boys, Mr. Lane had seized him and laid him helpless on the floor.
"What brought you here?" the sheriff asked the boys, as he knelt with one knee upon the breast of his prisoner.
"We came to help you, Mr. Lane, for we feared you were in trouble," replied Owen.
"How did you find the way?"
"Find the way!" gasped old Bowen. "They were here—last fall—and promised—on their oath—to tell no one. If I had only killed them, I should not be a ruined man to-day," continued he, in half smothered tones.
"And we kept our word, Mr. Bowen," said Owen, in a faltering voice.
"Believe them, Mr. Bowen; they told no one," said the sheriff.
"Then—then——" stammered the captive, "Jerry and Stayford—have—have proved traitors! The whole—whole world is against me!"