coward. He would not dare to use it. Your share of the robbery of the
body shall be these MSS.; you can sell them to some poor devil of a
printer, and pay yourself for your day's work."

Saying this he threw the bundle of MSS. at my feet; but I disdained to
touch them. Observing this, he gathered them up safely and replaced them
in his pocket. "As you are unarmed," he said, "it would not be safe for
you to be seen in this neighborhood during daylight. We will both spend
the night here, and just before morning return to Auburn. I will
accompany you part of the distance."

With the sangfroid of a perfect desperado, he then stretched himself out
in the shadow of a small tree, drank deeply from a whiskey flagon which
he produced, and pulling his hat over his eyes, was soon asleep and
snoring. It was a long time before I could believe the evidence of my
own senses. Finally, I approached the ruffian, and placed my hand on his
shoulder. He did not stir a muscle. I listened; I heard only the deep,
slow breathing of profound slumber. Resolved not to be balked and
defrauded by such a scoundrel, I stealthily withdrew the vial from his
pocket and sprang to my feet, just in time to hear the click of a
revolver behind me. I was betrayed! I remember only a flash and an
explosion - a deathly sensation, a whirl of the rocks and trees about
me, a hideous imprecation from the lips of my murderer, and I fell
senseless to the earth. When I awoke to consciousness it was past
midnight. I looked up at the stars, and recognized Lyra shining full in
my face. That constellation, I knew, passed the meridian at this season
of the year after twelve o'clock, and its slow march told me that many
weary hours would intervene before daylight. My right arm was paralyzed,
but I put forth my left, and it rested in a pool of my own blood. "Oh,
for one drop of water!" I exclaimed, faintly; but only the low sighing