ive large, heavy chests, gold ornaments, a pearl necklace!
they certainly are worth trying for."

The brigand and his little companion then went to a secret place in the
thick pine grove, and set to work industriously, removing a few large
stones, a quantity of branches, and finally the five or six boards they
had concealed, disclosing a large hole that looked like a grave. It was
not very deep, and Agostino, jumping down into it, stooped and lifted
out what seemed to be a dead body--dressed in its usual every-day
clothes--which he flung down upon the ground beside the hole. Chiquita,
who did not appear to be in the least agitated or alarmed by these
mysterious proceedings, seized the figure by the feet, with the utmost
sang-froid, and dragged it out of Agostino's way, with a much greater
degree of strength than could have been expected from such a slight,
delicate little creature. Agostino continued his work of exhumation
until five other bodies lay beside the first one--all neatly arranged
in a row by the little girl, who seemed to actually enjoy her lugubrious
task. It made a strange picture in the weird light of the nearly full
moon, half veiled by driving clouds--the open grave, the bodies lying
side by side under the dark pine trees, and the figures of Agostino and
Chiquita bending over them. But the tragic aspect of the affair soon
changed to a comic one; for when Agostino placed the first of the bodies
in an upright position it became apparent that it was only a sort of
a scarecrow--a rude figure intended to frighten timid traveller--which
being skilfully disposed at the edge of the grove, partly hidden among
the trees, looked at a little distance exactly like a brigand--gun and
all. Indeed it really was dressed in the garments of one of his old
comrades, who had paid the penalty of his crimes on the gallows. He
apostrophized the figure as he arranged it to his liking, calling it by
name, relating some of the brave deeds of its prototype, and bewailing
the sad fate that had left him to ply his nefarious trade single-handed,
with a rude eloquence that was not wanting in pathos. Returning to where
the others lay, he lifted up one which he reminded Chiquita, represented
her father--whose valour and skill he eulogized warmly--whilst the child
devoutly made the sign of the cross as she muttered a prayer. This one
being put in position, he carried the remaining figures, one by one,
to the places marked for them, keepin