eeks and disquiet looks might have
betrayed them. In a very short time they found it convenient, as on a
former occasion, when seeking the life of the same man, to go out to see
after their horses.

"Well, Dick!" said Bill, when they were alone, "What now?"

"D----n me, ef I didn't think the dead had come to life, when I first seen
that feller! He must be bullet proof, for I placed my pistol plumb ag'in'
him when I fired. I'm half a mind to believe yet that it's his ghost."

"But it is not his ghost, that's certain, though I could have sworn that he
was dead; and we must get rid of him, some way, or he'll play the d----l
with us."

"I think the best thing we can do is, to leave the gal in his care, and cut
stick for Virginny as straight as we can shoot."

"Nonsense! We can easily get old Sampson to kill him for his money, and
that will save us from any further fear of his revealing our secret."

"I don't like this bizness of killin'; 'taint human, no way you can fix
it."

"Come, Dick, don't make a fool of yourself. I want you to stand by me now,
like a man."

"I shall have nothing to do with killin' Hadley; you may jist put a peg
there, and say no more about it."

"Well, let me alone, then, and don't interfere with my plans, and I'll do
it myself."

"Ef it's to be done at all, better let old Sampson do it. I'd a good deal
rather his hands should be made red with Hadley's blood than mine. The
truth is, Hadley is a first rate chap, and it's a mean, cowardly act to
take his life." "Come, come! no more of that sort of talk. If you don't
want to help me, just let me alone; with old Sampson's aid, I can get along
without you; but I don't see what has come over you, of late."

"Well, I ken soon tell you that I'm down on this wimen bizness, and allers
have been; and it is mean, low, dirty work--this steelin' poor things--any
way you ken fix it, and I've told you so often. I don't believe any good
will come of it in the end, either; ef I could have my way, there
shouldn't, that's certain. Ef you _will_ go ahead, why, go; but I tell you
no good will come of it at last. I would be glad ef you would quit now; but
I'll not stand in your way, becoz I've agreed to stand by you already."

With this understanding, the rascals returned to the house--if house it
could be called--and very soon afterward intimated that they would retire.

"As the stranger seems very tired," said Bill to the host, "we will
willingly remain unt