stuffed and fallen scarecrow. As
is common in men stricken suddenly down by accident in the fullness of
life, the clothes asserted themselves before all else with a hideous
ludicrousness, obliterating even the majesty of death in their helpless
yet ironical incongruity. The garments seemed to have never fitted the
wearer, but to have been assumed in ghastly jocularity,--a boot half off
the swollen foot, a ripped waistcoat thrown over the shoulder, were like
the properties of some low comedian. At first the body appeared to be
headless; but as Brice cleared away the debris and lifted it, he saw
with horror that the head was twisted under the shoulder, and swung
helplessly from the dislocated neck. But that horror gave way to a more
intense and thrilling emotion as he saw the face--although strangely
free from laceration or disfigurement, and impurpled and distended into
the simulation of a self-complacent smile--was a face he recognized! It
was the face of the cynical traveler in the coach--the man who he was
now satisfied had robbed it.

A strange and selfish resentment took possession of him. Here was the
man through whom he had suffered shame and peril, and who even now
seemed complacently victorious in death. He examined him closely; his
coat and waistcoat had been partly torn away in his fall; his shirt
still clung to him, but through its torn front could be seen a heavy
treasure belt encircling his waist. Forgetting his disgust, Brice tore
away the shirt and unloosed the belt. It was saturated with water like
the rest of the clothing, but its pocket seemed heavy and distended. In
another instant he had opened it, and discovered the envelope containing
the packet of greenbacks, its seal still inviolate and unbroken. It was
the stolen treasure!

A faint sigh recalled him to himself. The girl was standing a few feet
from him, regarding him curiously.

"It's the thief himself!" he said, in a breathless explanation. "In
trying to escape he must have fallen from the road above. But here are
the greenbacks safe! We must go back to your uncle at once," he said
excitedly. "Come!"

"Are you mad?" she cried, in astonishment.

"No," returned Brice, in equal astonishment, "but you know I agreed with
him that we should work together to recover the money, and I must show
him our good luck."

"He told you that if you met the thief and could get the money from him,
you were welcome to it," said the girl gravely, "and you HA