A small boy ran back and forth upon the banquette, calling for help. Supposing it to be some street quarrel, I endeavoured to separate the parties by remonstrance. The man fell dead in his tracks, without a groan. His comrades, hearing me re-cock, took to their heels, and disappeared up a neighbouring alley. The whole scene did not occupy the time you have spent in reading this relation of it.

Before he could re-cock, Talaloo leaped through the doorway, followed by his friend Timoa, and took shelter in the woods. The other four men begged for mercy, said that the two who had just left were the instigators as well as ringleaders in the plot, and promised to hunt them down and murder them if their own lives should be spared.

To re-cock the weapon, take a more deadly aim, and pull the trigger, was the work of three seconds; but again the flint proved faithless. Cheenbuk, however, divined the meaning of the attempt, and sprang upon his foe to prevent a repetition of the action, though he was now practically unarmed, for the little stone knife which he carried in his bosom was but ill suited for deadly combat.