h us in the Duval affair for putting us to so much trouble?"

"Yes, and that is one reason why I wish to get through with this job as
soon as possible. We must get back in time for the League meeting somehow."

"We'll have to ride like the d----l, then; for the meeting is on Friday
night week."

"Well, we must be there if it is next Friday night, and we must finish our
work before we go."

"I'm with you."

"And then, if Duffel don't assist us to fix Duval, or at least, if he don't
let us have our own way in the matter, we will raise Hadley's ghost before
his eyes, and threaten to 'blow' on him."

"He'll do it."

"He shall do it."

"Well, as that's settled, let's go to sleep."

"Yes, for we have a hard day's ride before us to-morrow."

* * * * *

The shades of evening were gathering over the rugged steeps and deep dells
of the Alleghanies, as two horsemen, leaving the summit of the mountains,
descended to a deep, dark valley, shaded and environed by a dense growth
of pine and other wood, on the eastern slope leading to the Atlantic. As
they entered this dismal looking spot, one of them broke the silence by
remarking:

"This is the place."

"Shall we rob him after he is dead?" inquired the other.

"Certainly. He has a pile about him; and it was for this I was trying, when
he accused me of attempting to rob him, and resenting the accusation
brought on the quarrel, and with it the insult. Yes, I must have his life
and his money, too."

"I'm with you. But hold! What's that? Horses' feet, as I'm alive. He's
coming; we must be quick to our place of concealment."

In the briefest possible time their horses led out of sight of the road,
and hid away among the bushes, while the two murderers took their stand at
the side of the road in ambush, to await the arrival of their victim.

They had only a few minutes to wait, when other two horsemen made their
appearance, and took their stations exactly as they had done, but about a
hundred yards further up the mountain.

"What the d----l does this mean?" inquired one of the other.

"I don't know, unless some others have an eye on the gold, as well as
ourselves."

"That's it, I'll warrant. Good! They may do the murdering, and we'll rush
up in time to secure the booty, by frightening them away. Then we can take
the body to the next tavern, and tell how we came upon the robbers and
murderers, just as they had finished their work.--Good