dangers: but, on
stooping down, I perceived it was an old leather pocket-book which once
had been red, but by time and dirt was almost black.

More than once he clutched this in his hand, with a wild energy, as if
it was his heart's treasure; and then the great drops of sweat would
start out upon his forehead, and his parted lips would quiver with
agony. In one of these struggles he tore the book from the cord,
and, opening it, seemed to seek for something among its contents.
The rapidity of the movement, and the seeming collectedness of every
gesture, made me believe that he was awake; but I soon saw that his
great and staring eyeballs were not turned to the spot, but were fixed
on vacancy.

His motions were now more and more hurried; at one time his fingers
would turn over the papers in the pocket-book, at another he would grope
with his hand along the ground, and pat the earth down with his palm, as
if, having buried something in the earth, he would conceal every trace
of it from discovery; and at these moments the Spanish word _oro_, gold,
would escape him in a half-sigh; and this and the word "Guajaqualla"
were the only ones I could catch; but my mind retained both for many a
day after.

At last he crushed the papers hurriedly together and closed the
pocket-book; but in doing so, a single slip of paper fell to the ground.
I leaned over, and caught it; and by the light of the fire I read the
following lines, which were in print, and apparently cut from the column
of a newspaper:--

ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS REWARD.

Any one will be entitled to the above reward who may detect
or give such information as may lead to the detection of
Menelaus Crick, a negro slave, aged forty-eight; he stands
six feet two high; broad chest and shoulders, the right
higher than the left; has marks of the lash on back, and two
cutlass scars on the face; the great toe of the left foot
is wanting, and he walks occasionally with difficulty, from
a gunshot wound in the spine.

As he is a fellow of resolute character and great strength,
all persons are hereby warned not to attempt his capture,
save in sufficient numbers. He was last seen at San Luis,
and is supposed to have gone in the direction of
Guajaqualla, where it is said he worked once as a gold-
washer.

Address: The Office of the "Picayune "--Letter--T. G--
B--. New Orleans.