Year: 1874

of which the robbers never seemed
to think or care about. Where the
smoke escaped. sound might escape
and If be could only over hear them
and thwart their plans, SOW distrust.
jealousy, hatred among them, their
punishment would be begun. their
misery and unhappiness assured.
Cautiously, yet boldly be went TO
work, knowing full well that ! mis-
step would defeat his plans and dis
covery be followed by cruel death.
Securing long aud good rope, and
making himself some strong adiusta-
BILE hooks be sought out a place Of
ascent to the top of the rock, after
long patient and dangerous search.
The hideous, deadly rattlesnake
seemed to be in league with the ruff
fans below and swarming in the
clefts and erevices, made his task
an arduous, and to less determined
man an impossible one. Nourished
by the greatful heat ascending from
the outlaws fires, they were differ
ent and more dangerous than the
usually sluggish snakes in other
places in the mountains. Other dan
gers and difficulties had to be over
come before be could begin to test
the different places he had selected
for listening to their ordinary brutal
and blasphemous talk, and the clear
commanding tones of the leader as be
detailed the task and defined the du-
ties of each one. He soon learned
enough to enable him to defeat some
welllaid and most promising schemes
and thenceforward had little Difficult
ty in hearing all be cared to hear.
The captain gave his orders in
louder, fiercer tone. The men growl-
ed about him and quarreled with
each other. Distrust, hatred, malice
and all uncharitsbleness were at work
in their hearts. Every evil passion
was at work, gnswing ike a serpents
tooth, and each separate one had be-
come demon to lash, goad and
scourge the wretches who formerly
had prided in their possession. Their
small but villainous community from
self satisfied, exultant, purse proud
one was fast becoming, dissatisfied
cowardly and utterly miserable. The
self complaceney ofvillainous success
was succeeded by as near an approach
to remorse as they were capable ofieel-
ing Superstition, that imperfect resem-
blance to the conscience of the upright.
was lashing them with its shadowy
terrors, fearful from their very indis-
tinctness. Sleep instead of being a
pleasant release and a sweet restorer
became a constant and far from light
punishment for their former
crimes. If only honest men could
realize ever so family. the constant
and increasing torment of their lives
dishonest gain would have no charms
for them forever.


After numberless failures, to the
thieves, utterly unaccoutable, and
which they were disposed TO credit
some supernatural agency with,
two of the gang Unexpectedly en-
eountered man with several hund-
red dollars in specie, of which they
robbed him and in hot haste made
their way to the cavern, fearing pur-
suit, recapture, they scarce knew
what, so timid were they becoming.
This unexpected success cast q food of
sunshine over the den, and they boast
fully asserted that their luck had
cha nged. all would go right again.
They sung, danced and shouted de-
claring that the "Mexicans,p as they
called the silver. would bring good
luck ito the Minions of the Moon" {"
DoLPH from his crevice in the rock
heard and inwardly ragged at their
rejoicings. lie beard the captains
voice say ing: ''Let the sack lie
there boys, until tbe others come, then
we'll divide the swag, and have a
roaring carouse to night. But well
drink good luck and plenty of it, to
these gay boys. So come on my
hearties,h Instinctively divining
that they would leave that room or
part of the cave to drink, and in all
probability the successful ones would
tell the whole story over their cups,
be resolved to cheat them out of
their "Swag" or perish in the at
tempt.


ITO BE- Continued