Year: 1859

1 say, stranger pursued the first, CIV
ing him hearty shake, think you
must be even sounder sleeper than my
SELF


Still no movement-no answer.


What ails the felIow?' mentally que
ried our traveller, as he turned his quiet
companion over in the straw; and at the
same moment the horse, aroused by his
masters voice, started to his feet, with a
loud whinny. Good heaven p continued
the speaker, as by the faint but increas-
ing light he looked upon the ghastly face
of the human form beneath him there
is something wrong here-the man is
dead !-Ha murdered, as I livep He
quickly added, with a visible shudder, as,
bending more closely over him, he discov-
cred traces of blood upon his garments.


There was a small hole through his
vest; and hastily barring his breast, our
traveller discovered that he had been shot
through the heart, and had probably died
almost instantly. But who had done the
deed? and for what purpose? He felt
in his pockets, which were empty, and
reasoned that the man had been murdered
for his money. Such murders were too
common in Texas at that day to excite
any great surprise our hero had been
accustomed TO ust such scenes through
his whole eventful career; but he felt
highly indignant at what he considered
the barbarity of numbering and robbine
a man, and leaving him to decompose
above ground, in place where it was
not unlikely he would prove an annoy
ance to respectable travellers. In con-
nection with this murder, he thought ol
his own narrow escape of the preceding
day, and argued that his stopping-place
might be the temporary quarters of a
gang of desperadoes in which case pru-
dence would seem to advise him to be
upon the road as quick as possible.


Accordingly, he turned away from the
murdered stranger, after pushing the
straw somewhat over the body, and made
a step toward his horse; but Just as he
did SO, his eye, glancing through fssure
IN the old ruin, fell upon two men COM
ing up the road, whose appearance gave
no token that they would prove any very
agreeable companions. Both carried RI
fes, and it was reasonable to suppose
they were otherwise armed, and the first
thought of our hero was to mount his
horse and dash away. But he was nc
coward; he had been through many q
desperate struggle, with heavy odds
against him, and there was kind of bit.
ter satisfaction in thinking that one oI
these men might be his amiable friend Of
the ambush. With the rapid decision o.
which he was remarkable, he resolved tc
remain, and conceal himself behind por.
ton of the wall, from whence he could
have view of whatever might occur
within, should the ruffians, as he believed
them to be, see proper to enter. To To-
cate himself in the desirable position wa.
but the work of a moment, and from
there he found he could see the road anC
the interior of the building, and yet no
himself be exposed to the casual glance


As his horse continued at intervals tC
whinny, he knew he must soon be hearc
by the approaching party, and he wa
anxious to see what effect this would pro
duce upon them. He had not long t,
wait, for the men were advancing Will
rapid strides, and a louder whinny thai
usual seemed TO reach their ears, when
stopping suddenly, and looking hastil,
around them, one of the two, after al
apparently brief consultation with tn
other, pointed his finger towards tn
building. With this they turned at one
from the road, and gliding among som
bushes, approached the place at a quick
stealthy pace. From the change in thei
position, the stranger was now in som
danger of being discovered; but as
was not yet light enough to distinguis
objects at any considerable distance, h
threw himself fiat upon the ground, t
await the result, and this rather as a ma
inclined to act boldly, than as one actual
ed by any feeling of fear.


1t was perhaps couple of minute
from this time, ere the two men, issuin


from a near cluster of bushes, glided u


to the main entrance and looked caution.


ly in.


| say, Bill whispered one, but lou


enough for the listener to hear, : l knor


all about it, now; that thar's the boss @


the feller as tux shot at yesterday


and eff he's got any rocks, they're our'n