had, at the time of its
precipitation, reached a line almost parallel with the place upon which
it stood, and in this way achieved their escape without injury. Their
number was few, however; and not one half of the fifteen, who commenced
the ascent, ever reached or survived its attainment.

Ralph gained the summit just in time to prevent the completion of the
foul tragedy by its most appropriate climax. As if enough had not yet
been done in the way of crime, the malignant and merciless Rivers, of
whom we have seen little in this affair, but by whose black and devilish
spirit the means of destruction had been hit upon, which had so well
succeeded, now stood over the body of the Georgian, with uplifted hand,
about to complete the deed already begun. There was not a moment for
delay, and the youth sprung forward in time to seize and wrest the
weapon from his grasp. With a feeling of undisguised indignation, he
exclaimed, as the outlaw turned furiously upon him--

"Wretch--what would you? Have you not done enough? would you strike the
unresisting man?"

Rivers, with undisguised effort, now turned his rage upon the intruder.
His words, choked by passion, could scarce find utterance; but he spoke
with furious effort at length, as he directed a wild blow with a
battle-axe at the head of the youth.

"You come for your death, and you shall have it!".

"Not yet," replied Ralph, adroitly avoiding the stroke and closing with
the ruffian--"you will find that I an not unequal to the struggle,
though it be with such a monster as yourself."

What might have been the event of this combat may not be said. The
parties were separated in a moment by the interposition of Forrester,
but not till our hero, tearing off in the scuffle the handkerchief which
had hitherto encircled the cheeks of his opponent, discovered the
friendly outlaw who collected toll for the Pony Club, and upon whose
face the hoof of his horse was most visibly engraven--who had so boldly
avowed his design upon his life and purse, and whom he had so
fortunately and successfully foiled on his first approach to the
village.

The fight was over after this catastrophe; the survivors of the guard,
who were unhurt, had fled; and the parties with little stir were all now
assembled around the scene of it. There was little said upon the
occasion. The wounded were taken such care of as circumstances would
permit; and wagons having been provided, were all removed to the
vill