ottle which he carried in his pocket.

"Look to the man," he cried, assuming the leadership at once; and in
obedience to orders I knelt beside him, and placed my hand upon his
heart. He was cold, and his heart was motionless. As I withdrew my hand,
I felt that my fingers were moist and sticky. I tried to discover what
adhered to them, but the darkness was too great.

"Give me the matches, Smith," I said, quickly. "We will strike a light,
and investigate this affair."

A large quantity of drift wood was lying on the bed of the gulch, and
well dried by the hot summer's sun. I cut a few shavings, and a bright
fire was soon under headway, and cast its ruddy glare upon the group
collected around the cart, which was broken in half a dozen different
places, and had, apparently, been thrown from the banks above.

As soon as sufficient fuel was added, we turned our attention to the
woman whose head Smith was holding. Her eyes were closed, and her teeth
clinched like those of a person in a fit. There was not a vestige of any
color in her face, while her garments appeared as though they had
experienced rough usage, and were torn in a dozen different places. In
spite of the strong decoction which Smith had poured down her throat,
she did not revive, or appear to comprehend what was said to her; and
after rubbing her hands for a while, and finding that it did no good, I
devoted a few moments to an examination of the body of the man.

I now comprehended the meaning of the sticky substance which adhered to
my hand, for upon his breast were two large, ragged wounds, either of
which was sufficient to let out the life of a man, and from each had
oozed his blood until it had congealed in large lumps, and was held,
bag-like, by his thick flannel shirt.

"There has been murder committed here," I cried, holding up my hands,
stained with the vital fluid of the dead man.

"There has been more than murder," replied Fred, in a low tone. "There
has been violence offered to a woman."

"Impossible," I cried, with a shudder at the thought.

"Look and convince yourself, then," Fred said, seizing a burning brand
and holding it so that the light was thrown upon the face and body of
the insensible woman.

Upon her neck was a large, discolored spot, and a near examination
revealed the impression of finger-nails, as though she had been seized
with no gentle hand, and choked, until forced to yield compliance to
unholy wishes and desires.

Upon