"Five large, heavy chests, gold ornaments, a pearl necklace! they certainly are worth trying for." The brigand and his little companion then went to a secret place in the thick pine grove, and set to work industriously, removing a few large stones, a quantity of branches, and finally the five or six boards they had concealed, disclosing a large hole that looked like a grave.

It was not very deep, and Agostino, jumping down into it, stooped and lifted out what seemed to be a dead body--dressed in its usual every-day clothes--which he flung down upon the ground beside the hole.

Chiquita, who did not appear to be in the least agitated or alarmed by these mysterious proceedings, seized the figure by the feet, with the utmost sang-froid, and dragged it out of Agostino's way, with a much greater degree of strength than could have been expected from such a slight, delicate little creature.

Agostino continued his work of exhumation until five other bodies lay beside the first one--all neatly arranged in a row by the little girl, who seemed to actually enjoy her lugubrious task.

It made a strange picture in the weird light of the nearly full moon, half veiled by driving clouds--the open grave, the bodies lying side by side under the dark pine trees, and the figures of Agostino and Chiquita bending over them.