Southern shield., 1853-02-26
ish spoken; but be quick, we must not lose

here are more of them than thought, ane he fellows carry long and sharp knives.
 The two followed the course ofthestrean 'apidly and silently for about four hundred 1aces further, when Pearson, who led the way, stopped suddenly, and pointed to sev sral pickaxes and hammers which lay scat cred around, in part of the rivers bed which was completely dry.
 ''ltS here, by heaven !" he cried, grasp ing TEompson's shoulder convulsively, "Wt are at the spot"
 N And what is that dark thing yonder stng under that bush?' asked Thompson while bending forward, he approached, tt examine the object which had attracted his attention.
 But with cry of terror and astonishmen, le leaped backwards, for, but a few inches listant from his own, he beheld the dark flashing eyes of human being, who at the anne moment sprang 10 his feet, with a .rawn knife in his hand, and uttered loud ,ry for help.
 "The d-l' exclaimed Pearson, who at he first movement oi the stranger, had also [rawn his knife from its sheath, "the d-l p g cried. and sprang upon the Spaniard- ;his act would probably have proved fatal b him. had not the rifle which he held in is left hand, accidentally turned aside the Pre thrust of the assaulted stranger, who,
 the same moment, felt the broad knife | the hunter in his breast, and fell with a ud cry to the ground; but even in falling, F drew pistol from his girdle, and dis larged it at Pearson as he started back. I"The ball missed indeed the oneat whom lwaS aimed; it hit, however, the left hand
 his comrade, who stood near him, which e latter had just raised to dispatch their
 emy by blow with the butt of his rifle. lHThompson's arm sunk powerless to his
 e, and his rifle fell clattering upon the mes, and like tiger he sprang upon the
 rtally wounded Spaniard, and plunged
 broad blade three times into his breast,
 len Pearson grasped his arm, and drew l n back.
 ItCome. comep' cried the latter, "leave
 Il, he has enough; but the d-ls will
 kpon our trail-come, come! 1 would
 hemake acquaintance with their five
 knN for all the silver mines in the world"
 nm wounded" whispered Thompson,
 breing heavily; "my hand is shattered
 in ces."
 etter the hand than head," cried Pear
 soErinding his teeth, while he raised the
 rifirom the ground, and reached it to his
 dised companion. "Come in five min
 utdt will be too late." and followed by
 Thpson, who felt the magnitude of the
 dasr, he ran short distance up the bed
 ofe river, and then clambered up the prpce, on the right bank, in order, if
 poole, 10 reach the top of the mountain
 bee their pursuers, and when on the oth-
 erie 10 effect their escape under cover off
 thight.
 ith his wounded hand concealed in hisl bon, Thompson, stihing his pain, keptI ell 10 his companions heels, and in few ments both had disappeared in the 2 gmy shadows of the wood; but at the s;. instant a rustlng was heard in the tket, and five dark forms emerging from u bushes appeared upon the scene off bd which had just been left by the fugi- ii.
 cry of horror escaped their lips as they b,ld the body of their murdered comrade, they glanced keenIy around to dscov- che authors of the deed, that they might sifce, them to their vengeance; then a I'd, commanding gesture from their lead eldmonished them to silence, and like so my figures hewn from dark marble, the n stood breathless, and listened for the sltest sound, in the silent forest, that laround them, hushed in hallowed repose.
 deathike stiffness prevailed for few nnents, when suddenly the cracking of dbranch fell upon their ear-then anoth- end with loud cry of joy, like hounds tt scent their flying enemy, the panther, five powerful forms sprang up along the aost precipitous ascent, and with ven- Ance gleaming in their eyes, followed , direction from which the sound pro- ,ded.
 Thompson, embarrassed by the injury lich he had received, had stumbled and len, and by this mishap had brought their rsuers upon the track of the fugitives, 10 had already reached the lowest height table..land, and.were hurrying, at the top their speed. towards grove of chesnut es, which stood darkly before them. en they heard the steps of the feetest of ir enemies close behind them. In good e Pearson drew his companion aside , 3 a small ravine, which had been formed , a spring leaping from the rock, and near ( ich scarcely three paces distant from s m, yawned dark abyss, from which | top of tall hickory reared itself. At a instant a long, dark form, sprang past r m, and hastened toward the grove. A il ond, third followed, and the two last s already climbed the verge of the terrace
 were about to take the same course, an One Of tham uha+har iron, choDco o