The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-07-24
IA UNION VIRGINIA. WEDNESDAY MORNING, JULY a. 1867

sit was he upon the litter--or the devil
rather. your honor The new husband Of
| my poor wife has told me that he will bring
her back when she becomes old. Is this just
and christian 2
"He emerged from the kitchen, brinine
four or Eve large slices of broiled meat upon
a wooden plate.
"'Eat, gentleman said he; eat in all Sc
curity'
"Wc attacked vigorously the beef which
had been sold by the Golden Daggers
have very good teeth myself; as for Benoit,
he would eat the leg Of race horse. Never
theless, all our efforts to masticate these Cali
fornia viands were in vain.
"Our host locked at us out of the corner Of
his eye, and talked as much as he could.
"sIf the gentleman have come to seek for
gold, said he, i beg leave to advise them to
so to the north. Here the country is worth
nothing can scarcely earn scanty living.
ss'But what is this meat 2 said Benoit,
discouraged. ! had already pushed back my
plate.
.''It is beet! graciously replied our host.
Good beef. A little tough, because there
has frost here during the late nights. Yes,
yes, the country is barren. There is nothing
to do. I had. However, found a little spot
| had fixed stakes around my claim, and sent
my notice to Monterey. was proprietor Of
this; but the Irish are born to suffer. The
Golden Daggers came down. They dug up
the earth. The sand remains: the gold is
gone. May God reward each according to
his desertsv
aBenoit threw two dollars upon the table
at the moment when he arose.
"'If we were to pay for your beef accord
ing to its deserts, my good friend, said he,
you would receive beating with stick
"The Irishman first pocketed the dollars,
and then exclaimed:
"sAh! who could have believed that their
honors would not be satisfied Such good
beef! Give me the six other dollars, gentle
men. Do not do a wrong to poor unfor-
tunate. Look you. If you give me the six
other dollars and;t is little enough for such
yiands, will show youa way to traverse the
mountains without encountering the Golden
Daggcrs.'
"Benoit had already his hand in his pocket.
/ stopped him by a gesture
"'On the contrary, said I, I am curious
to sec these Golden Daggers. will give
you the six dollars if you will show me the
shortest rout to reach them
"The Irishman recoiled even to the door of
his kitchen.
"sCuriourY replied he, curious. ] do
not desire to say to the gentleman that the
devil possesses him. You do not know that
the Golden Daggers care but little more for
the life of man than for the seed of gourd
Curious? 10 see yourself hung to macaw-
tree, your honor? Or to be thrown from q
high rock? Or to be cut up into morsels, if
they are, as I believe. Infatuated at the loss of
the mayer? No, no! By my faith l will not
show you that. It would not be the act of a
Christain-unless you should give me twelve
dollars as more just recompensc
'sBenoit made gesture Of energetic refusal,
but put twelve dollars upon the table.
"sMay heaven protect your honors? cried
she Irishmau. The river cannot long be
concealed from those who wish to drown them
selves. You take path by which the Vecinos
have descended. At FIVE hundred steps from
here you will find large maple-tree split by
thunderbolt. Turn to the right. aud follow
the gorge which you will see between the
rocks. Keep the gorge up to where the pur-
pie conyolyulus ceases to bud between the
trees. Bear to the right again, and mount
the slope as straight as you can. Fyou come
to snow before the sun sets, you can see the
smoke Of large hut
"He opened his door, and went out. :
"sI do not ask you to reposs in my poor
house on your return said he shaking his
head sadly 1t viii be useless, and you con-
not say that you have not been warned
Those who mount high do not descend, May
heaven protect your honors; l go to pray fol
the.repose Of your souls
ssHe reclosed the door. At the turn Of the
path we found the second lion killed by the
Vecinos. 1t was easy to see where the good
Irishman of the cot had got his meat. Two
loins of meat were lacking in the TANKS Of the
lion. Such good beef!
".Have you really fancy to make visit
to these Golden Daggers z asked Benoit, witt
certain inquietuds.
| mI have come to see everything l an
swered, if you wish to remain under shelter
I will 60 alone
Soon we came to the maple-tree that has
been struck by lightning. On the right ;
gorge disclosed itself, blacks as the entrance
Of cavern. Benoit hesitated moment
Bah 7 said he, 'one can get along with every
body but gendarmes. Forward Y"
4 CHAPTER HI.
THE LEGEND OF THE GOLDEN DAaaERs.
i The rogue Benoit was decidedly success
among the guests of themarchioness. Eeyery
body was seated except the Viscount Henr
and Mr.. George Leslie. But it mattered bu
little whether the latter was seated or stand
ing; nobody paid any attention to him.
| George Leslie seemed profoundly interest
cd in the narrative of the viscount. He fol
lowed him with close attention; and two o.
three times the preston of his countcnanct
changed. Since Mr.. George Leslie had him
self been an inhabitant f Western America
one could not be astonished at the interes
A which he felt in the narrative ofthe ylscount
i Without recalling the passages which par
ticularly struck him, We may say that wher
NJ. de Iilliers spoke Of the percentage desig
mated BY the name Of the mayor, whom ths
Yeciuos Of Sonora carried upon litter, hi
head envcloped in handkerchief Of rcdsllk
| ~ ~: ,,uo~oJ his ovas while a scar