the needed slumber which his
weary brain and body demanded, whether the accuser's voice was not
sounding in his ears, whether he did not start with affright at fancied
dangers, and find his lonely life a burden, heavy and sorrowful!

It was now nearly eight o'clock, and the stage would not leave for
Helena until midnight, and Manning, having nothing else to do, sought a
few hours' sleep in order to be better prepared for the long journey
before him. The distance from Bozeman to Helena was about ninety-five
miles, and from what he had heard the roads were in a terrible
condition. Heavy rains had fallen recently, and the mud in some places
along his journey was said to be nearly axle deep. Undaunted by the
gloomy prospect before him, however, Manning rested quietly, and, when
the time for starting arrived, he was fully refreshed and eager for the
long ride before him.

Profiting by his past experience, he now secured an inside seat, as he
would be better protected from the chilling night winds so prevalent in
this mountainous country, and would perhaps, be able to sleep at
intervals during the hours which would ensue before daylight.

The other passengers in the coach were three men who were interested in
mining in the neighborhood of Helena, and who, like himself, were bound
for that place. They were all, however, rather wearied with their
journey from Billings, and very much disposed to sleep. Manning,
therefore, stowed himself away in one corner of the coach, as
comfortably as he was able to do, and nodded and dozed fitfully until
they arrived at the breakfast station at Gallatin, a little town on the
river.

After an hour's rest and a change of horses, they pushed on again. From
this point onward they found the reports about the condition of the
roads fully verified. The stage lumbered along through the deep, muddy
roads, and ever and anon the passengers would be required to alight, and
assist in lifting the wheels from a particularly soft spot, where they
were threatened with being inextricably mired. As may be imagined, a
journey under such circumstances was far from being a pleasant one, but
they all submitted with good nature to a state of affairs which was
beyond their power to remedy. As it was, they fared much better than a
party of travelers whom they met upon the road. They were returning from
Helena, and when crossing a narrow bridge over one of the mountain
streams, had the misfortune to have their coa