My friends, promise me, on your honor, that the life of Roland de Montrevel will be sacred to you." With unanimous voice, all stretching out their hands, they replied: "We swear on our honor!" "Now," resumed Morgan, "let us look at our position under its true aspect, without deluding ourselves in any way.

Once an intelligent police force starts out to pursue us, and makes actual war against us, it will be impossible for us to resist.

We may trick them like a fox, or double like a boar, but our resistance will be merely a matter of time, that's all.

At least that is my opinion." Morgan questioned his companions with his eyes, and their acquiescence was unanimous, though it was with a smile on their lips that they recognized their doom.

But that was the way in those strange days.