coining bogus dollars, robbing stores,  and
breaking out of prison.  Last time I saw him
was at Little Rock, Arkansas, in the Supreme
Court, under trial, and but for a rogue of a
lawyer——"

Here my friend's reminiscences were cut
short by the abrupt question, put by a gentleman
whose mouth was very full, and who had a
huge clasp-knife in one hand, and a pound or
two of beef in the other: " Captain Dave, when
are we to paddle over with them hosses?"

"We'll see about it," answered the chief.
"Some one must go over to scout fust. I
expect the brutes will be a nation deal safer when
they git into Missouri, and out of sight of the
river."

These words were a revelation. The general
pressed my elbow. "They're horse-thieves,
mister."

This announcement of the quality of our
unconscious hosts was by no means calculated to
dissipate my apprehensions. I listened, nervously
enough, to an animated debate which now ensued
amongt he membersof the gang, as to the propriety
of hurrying over the stolen horses to the Missouri
shore, or of lying concealed for some days, until
the first fury of the pursuers should be baffled
and spent. Opinions varied. The only person
of the male sex who took no part in the argument,
was the old farmer-looking man whom I
had heard addressed as Mr. Stone. He sat
quiet, having finished his meal and resumed his
pipe, and we could see nothing but his
respectable-looking grey head, and the silvery wreaths
from his soapstone meerschaum, inasmuch as
his face was towards the outer door. Mrs. Stone,
his better-half, took an active part in council,
urging a stay on the island, since there had been
"nothing but scurrying here and stampedeing
there for weeks, and her darters were worrited
and worn out with it." It was curious, but
this notable woman's character appeared little
if at all changed by lawless companionship
and outlaw life. In the midst of robbers she
was still the shrewish hard-working housewife,
and I could see no remorse written on her
parchment cheeks. With her daughters it was
different. The eldest was evidently melancholy
and ill at ease. She sat a little apart, never
replied save with a monosyllable to any remark
or rough compliment, and her downcast eyes and
colourless face told of regrets and scruples that
her mother did not share. The younger girl
showed the same mental condition, but in a minor
degree. Her answers were short, but pert, and
she occasionally exploded into a giggle at some
jocular sally of the Massachusetts man, or the
German, who were the wits of the assembly.
But one glance from her sister's sad dark eyes
checked her rising spirits, and she subsided
into gloom again. We listened with
considerable interest to a discussion which
materially affected our safety; but over which we
could exercise no influence whatever. We
gathered from the discourse that another hut
existed, not far off, which was assigned to the
Stone family, but that the rest of the association
had no residence on the island save the log-house
in which we were concealed, and no couches but
those heaps of brush and flowering grasses
on which we were growing fearfully uneasy.
The horses, we also learned, were hidden hard
by, in a cache dug where the scrub grew thickest,
and which was effectually masked from careless
eyes by a sort of broad trap-door of osier work
and sassafras boughs. Here it was customary
to conceal them—they were all stolen from
owners in Tennessee—until an opportunity
occurred for transporting them to Bolivar or
Greenville, in Missouri, where certain
accomplices of the band resided, and whence they
were sent to St. Louis, to be sold to emigrants
bound for California.

Very unwillingly did we thus acquire possession
of the secrets of those desperate men, every
fresh admission or unguarded word serving to
increase our danger, until at last we heard with
dismay the final award of Black Dave, the
captain.

"We'll jest stop. This location's good, and
nobody knows of it [we trembled], and, as
Marm Stone says, the gals are tired some, and
we'd all be the better of rest. So we'll jest
keep close for a few days, and then absquotilate
with the hosses, and scurry for
Bolivar."

There was a growl of assent, overtopped by
the shrill voice of Mrs. Stone, who clamorously
expressed her approval. I glanced at the general's
face. It was white but firm; and the
compressed lips and brightening eye told of a new
resolve.

"It's a bitter pill, sir, 'tis, but we must gulp
it," he whispered; "we must give ourselves
up, and the sooner the better. It will go harder
with us if we were found cachèd than if we come
out bold."

This was logical, but startling. I demurred
for an instant, suggesting the possibility of our
making our way out at the back of the cabin
by cutting a hole with our knives in the
comparatively thin roof. But our deliberations were
unexpectedly cut short. Up to this time the
party had contented themselves with eating and
reposing, but now a huge can of water and
some lemons and sugar and some fresh sprigs
of mint were produced, and a cry was set up for
whisky.

"Where did you stow away the stone jars
with the Monongahela, Marm Stone?"

Mrs. Stone replied that the jars were "under
the brush of the beds," and bade the Massachusetts
man fetch them. He rose at once, took up
a pine torch, lighted it, and advanced. " Now,"
cried Jeremiah, rising to his feet; and we both
stepped out into the lighted circle, causing the
startled bearer of the torch to drop the blazing
brand in his surprise.

"Dog-gone it all," yelled one of the gang,
"the Philistines are on us!"

With wild shouts and curses, the ruffians
scrambled up and clutched their weapons.

"Hurroo, boys, it's only two spy varmints!"
thundered Black Dave, who was really a bold