possession of their property, but even of their privacy as
well. It is with deep regret that on this occasion we are obliged to
make an exception. For in the present instance, the lady, out of the
gentleness of her heart and the politeness of her sex, has burdened
herself not only with the weight but the responsibility of a package
forced upon her by one of the passengers. We feel, and we believe,
gentlemen, that most of you will agree with us, that so scandalous and
unmanly an attempt to evade our rules and violate the sanctity of the
lady's immunity will never be permitted. For your own sake, madam, we
are compelled to ask you for the satchel under your seat. It will be
returned to you when the package is removed."

"One moment," said the professional man indignantly, "there is a man
here whom you have spared,--a man who lately joined us. Is that man,"
pointing to the astonished Key, "one of your confederates?"

"That man," returned the spokesman with a laugh, "is the owner of the
Sylvan Hollow Mine. We have spared him because we owe him some
consideration for having been turned out of his house at the dead of
night while the sheriff of Sierra was seeking us." He stopped, and
then in an entirely different voice, and in a totally changed manner,
said roughly, "Tumble in there, all of you, quick! And you, sir" (to
Key),--"I'd advise you to ride outside. Now, driver, raise so much as
a rein or a whiplash until you hear the signal--and by God! you'll know
what next." He stepped back, and seemed to be instantly swallowed up
in the darkness; but the light of a solitary bull's-eye--the holder
himself invisible--still showed the muzzles of the guns covering the
driver. There was a momentary stir of voices within the closed coach,
but an angry roar of "Silence!" from the darkness hushed it.

The moments crept slowly by; all now were breathless. Then a clear
whistle rang from the distance, the light suddenly was extinguished,
the leveled muzzles vanished with it, the driver's lash fell
simultaneously on the backs of his horses, and the coach leaped forward.

The jolt nearly threw Key from the top, but a moment later it was still
more difficult to keep his seat in the headlong fury of their progress.
Again and again the lash descended upon the maddened horses, until the
whole coach seemed to leap, bound, and swerve with every stroke. Cries
of protest and even distress began to come from the interior, but the
dri