On the first arrival of these
unwelcome visitors, I had taken a valuable watch which I wore from my
waistcoat pocket, and slipped it into my boot; but when they fell to
beating in the heads of our guides, I bethought me that the few dollars
I carried in my purse might not satisfy them, and replaced it again in
readiness to be delivered at the shortest notice. These precautions
were, however, unnecessary. The third ruffian, who had continued to
make the circuit of the diligence with his musket in his hand, paused
a moment in the road a-head of us, and having placed his head to the
ground, as if to listen, presently came and spoke in an under tone to
his companions. They stood for a moment over the mayoral, and struck his
head with the butts of their muskets, whilst the fellow who had before
used the knife returned to make a few farewell thrusts, and in another
moment they had all disappeared from around us.
In consequence of the darkness, which was only partially dispelled in
front of the diligence by the lantern, which had enabled me to see what
occurred so immediately before me, we were not at once sensible of the
departure of the robbers, but continued near half an hour after their
disappearance in the same situation in which they left us.
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