lked away. The footpath being
narrow, they were obliged to go in single file. Menalee walked behind
Talaloo. After having gone a few paces, the former drew his pistol,
pointed it at the back of his countryman's head, and pulled the trigger,
but it missed fire. Talaloo hearing the click, turned round, saw the
pistol, and immediately fled; but his enemy was swift of foot, soon
overtook him, and the two grappled. A severe struggle ensued, Timoa and
the woman standing by and looking on, but rendering help to neither
party.

The two combatants were pretty well matched. The pistol had fallen at
the first onset, and for a few minutes it seemed doubtful which should
prove the victor, as they swayed to and fro, straining their dark and
sinewy forms in deadly conflict. At last the strength of Talaloo seemed
to give way, but still he retained a vice-like grasp of his antagonist's
right wrist.

"Won't you help me?" gasped Talaloo, turning an appealing glance on his
wife.

"No," cried Menalee, "but she will help me to kill Talaloo."

The hardened woman picked up the pistol, and going towards her husband
struck him on the head. Menalee quickly finished with his knife what
the murderess had begun.

For a few minutes the three stood looking at the murdered man in
silence, when they returned to the settlement and told what they had
done. But the assassin's work was not yet over. Another of the
natives, named Ohoo, had fled to the woods, threatening vengeance
against the white men. It was deemed necessary that he too should be
killed, and Menalee was again found to be a willing instrument. Timoa,
who had exhibited such callous indifference at the murder of Talaloo,
was his fitting companion. They soon found Ohoo, and succeeded in
killing him.

Strange to say, the mutineers, after these foul deeds, dwelt for a long
time in comparative peace and harmony. It seemed as if their worst
feelings had found full vent and been expended in the double murder. No
doubt this state of hollow peace was partly owing to the fact that the
native men, now being reduced to four in number, felt themselves to be
unable to cope with their masters, and quietly submitted to the
inevitable.

But by degrees the evil spirits in some of the party began to reassert
their power. McCoy and Quintal in particular became very savage and
cruel. They never hesitated to flog or knock down a native on the
slightest pretext, insomuch that these unhapp