The wagon stands as stoutly on its all-fours as the first day it was built." "I did that, sir, and did it, I thought, to the very mark.

I calculated to leave enough solid to bear them to the night, when in our circuit we should come among them just in time to finish the business.

The wood is stronger, perhaps, than I took it to be, but it won't hold out longer than to-morrow, I'm certain, when, if we watch, we can take our way with them." "Well, I hope so, and we must watch them, for it won't do to let the old fellow escape.

He has, I know, a matter of three or four hundred hard dollars in his possession, to buy lands in Mississippi, and it's a pity to let so much good money go out of the state." "But why may we not set upon them now ?" inquired one of the youngest of the party.
"For a very good reason, Briggs--they are armed, ready, and nearly equal in number to ourselves; and though I doubt not we should be able to ride over them, yet I am not willing to leave one or more of us behind.
Besides, if we keep the look-out to-morrow, as we shall, we can settle the business without any such risk." This being the determination, the robbers, thus disappointed of their game, were nevertheless in better humor than might have been well expected; but such men are philosophers, and their very recklessness of human life is in some respects the result of a due estimate of its vicissitudes.

They rode on their way laughing at the sturdy bluntness of the old wagoner, which their leader, of whom we have already heard under the name of Dillon, related to them at large.