to begin, `Once upon a time--'"

"Hist, Ned, is that a grizzly?"

Both riders drew up abruptly, and grasped their rifles.

"I hear nothing," whispered Ned.

"It must have been imagination," said Tom, throwing his rifle carelessly
over his left arm, as they again advanced. The gloom of the locality,
which was deepened by the rapidly-gathering shades of night, quieted
their spirits, and induced them to ride on in silence. About fifty
yards further on, the rustling in the bushes was again heard, and both
travellers pulled up and listened intently.

"Pshaw!" cried Ned, at last, urging his horse forward, and throwing his
piece on his shoulder, "we are starting at the rustling of the night
wind; come, come, Tom, don't let us indulge superstitious feelings--"

At that moment there was a crash in the bushes on both sides of them,
and their horses reared wildly, as four men rushed upon them. Before
their steeds became manageable, they were each seized by a leg, and
hurled from their saddles. In the fall, their rifles were thrown out of
their grasp into the bushes; but this mattered little, for in a close
struggle pistols are better weapons. Seizing their revolvers, Ned and
Tom instantly sprang up, and fired at their assailants, but without
effect, both being so much shaken by their fall. The robbers returned
the fire, also without effect. In the scuffle, Ned was separated from
his friend, and only knew that he maintained the fight manfully, from
the occasional shots that were fired near him. His whole attention,
however, had to be concentrated on the two stalwart ruffians with whom
he was engaged.

Five or six shots were fired at a few yards' distance, quick as
lightning, yet, strange to say, all missed. Then the taller of the two
opposed to Ned, hurled his revolver full in his face, and rushed at him.
The pistol struck Ned on the chest, and almost felled him, but he
retained his position, and met the highwayman with a well-directed blow
of his fist right between the eyes. Both went down, under the impetus
of the rush, and the second robber immediately sprang upon Ned, and
seized him by the throat. But he little knew the strength of the man
with whom he had to deal. Our hero caught him in the iron grasp of his
right hand, while, with his left, he hurled aside the almost inanimate
form of his first assailant; then, throwing the other on his back, he
placed his knee on his chest, and drew his bowie-knife.

E