Year: 1861

charcoal burner, should the latter be listen
ing, he dismounted and silently retraced his
steps. He arrived at the place where he had
left his friend, the charcoal burner, but the
latter was not to be seen. The stranger has
tened back to his horse and remounted.


1T is as expected, he muttered, ''this
road makes a large bend here, and BY cut.
ting across he can reach his hut before me.
| care little, though, as 'forearmed, we
shall see who'll come out first. conpre-
bend why he refused my gold piece--he
considers il as his own, and thinks he might
as well take it altogether. But | must hur-
ry on and finish this business before night


So saying he put spurs to his horse and
rode away. ienminutes sharp riding brought
the charcoaler's cabin in view. As he first
caught sight OF it. he thought he detected u
man face pressed against one of the win
dows: Of this, however, he could not be
certain, as the face, if such it was, instantly
disappeared, AT the sound of his horse s
hoofs' an old woman appeared in the door
way and gazing curiously at him waited till
he rode up. The horseman could not help
thinking that the woman was most fitting
companion for her husband. The express
sion OF her cOuntenance was even more villain
GUS he did not stop to criticise her appear
ance, but courteously sauted her. saying !:


81 believe, Madam, that you are the wife
Of a. charcoal burner, whom met up the
road"


The woman answered in the affirmative. -
Then Twill tell you that am bound for
p, which L wished to reach before
nightfall. He told me of lane which is
much shorter than the regular road, which
he said you could point out to me-"


Certainly. If this is all Monsieur wishes,
he is easily satisfied. You may see, little
way up, that large tree, which towers above
the rest. Just beyond that large rock and
the lane enters the road on the other side of
1t: AS it is very narrow and newly grown up
with bushes, you would hardly notice it
But with these directions you can hardly
fail"


Never you fear. l shall not miss the
road"


is that all Monsieur wishes?"


" believe so; but stop minute. l offer
ed your husband piece of gold, but he re-
fused to take it. Perhapsyou may be more


The old woman greedily took the rroffer-
ed coin, saying;


Pierre is too sensitive. We might both
starve before he would take cent. I"


u see. you differ from him little, re-
turned the horseman, laughing. He then
put spurs to his horse and rode on. In a
few minutes he reached the rock alluded to,
and could then preceive the entrance to a
narrow lane, .artfully concealed by bushes.-
lie soon made his way through them, and
when once into the lane found it little wider
than he expected. 1t also became free OF
bushes as he proceeded. He stopped mo-
ment to examine the printing of his pistols,
muttering:


"My worthy friends are rather sharp
They do not do their mudering in the open
road where spilled blood might lead to their
detection but inveigle the unfortunate trav-
eler into the dark lane, where he may be
safely put out Of tn way and none be the
wiser oft AT any rate, | am fully prepar-
ed for therS and they will not put me out
OF the way without struggle. F."


Having seen that his arms were ready for
use, he rode slowly forward, keeping care
ful watch on each side of the road, that he
might not be surprised As long as the
woods kept open as they were he had no fear,
as there was no hiding place for a man.
Ere long the woods began to get thicker and
more sombre. Little hillocks covered with
bushes became frequent, until at last thev
became long range skirting each side of the
road. The horsenan felt that the time
which was to try him was near at hand and
he dropped the reins until his hand covered
a holster pistol, which he firmly grasped,
though In such manner as person would
not notice, and he assumed an air of care
lessness, though his watch was now keener
than ever. AT length he came to place
which he felt certain contained his enemy.
Nature seemed to have adopted this place
for the purpose OF concealment. The rocks
which skirted the road at this place were
about breast high and so perpendicular as
to have the appearance of wall They
were covered with growth of bushes sc
thick as to be nearly impervious. The tai
trees on each side of the road twined theil
tops together, forming a natural roof O
leaves and branches, andrendering the place
dark and dismal.


1t was indeed scene sufficient to appal
b the stoutest heart; but the horseman, al


though he knew the next moment might bt
} his last, rode forward with as careless an all
as he might have done had he been travel


ing the streets of populous city His hant
; still grasped the butt of pistol, and hi
r keen eyes still searching each covert Sud


IDENTIFY u pistol shot rang out upon the air
and his hat fell to the ground with bulle
hole through it, not more than an inch abov,
where his head had been. Instantly turn
ing in the direction of the sound, he behelC
t slight wreath of smoke curling up from be


hind bush, and without moments hesi


tation he leveled his pistol and fired. Th
g aim was terribly fatal. A wild shrek ran,
j upon the air, and the next moment ther
y sprang from behind the tree, not the char
r coal burner as be expected, but his wife
g The blood was. flowing copiously from he


forehead, and she presented horrible spec
G tacle. She tottered to the edge of the wa


of rocks, and fell into the road-a corpse.
o Had known it to be woman, the horse
d man muttered, 81 never would have fired


But it is too late to moralize. What ca
70 have become of the charcoal burner?''
It As he spoke he turned around quickl
}, and encountered the object of his thoughts


Il was lucky for him that he was SO quicl
ct The charcoal burner held cleaning knii


in his hand, already uplifted ready to strik,
" While the horseman's attention had bee


engaged by the tragical end of the womal
" he had silently crept up behind him. IT
n would-be assassin sprang forward making
IN desperate pass at his breast The horsemi


still held the discharged pistol in his han
K and, with its long barrel managed to par
ce the blow.
ed He then buried his spurs deep into Il
h horses side and the gOadcd beast spra,