But the operation was conducted to-night with business severity and silence.
The two leaders sat opposite to each other, in what might have appeared to the rest of the band a scarcely veiled surveillance of each other's actions.

When the examination was concluded, and, the more valuable inclosures put aside, the despoiled letters were carried to the fire and heaped upon the coals.

Presently the chimney added its roar to the moaning of the distant hillside, a few sparks leaped up and died out in the midnight air, as if the pathos and sentiment of the unconscious correspondents had exhaled with them.
"That's a d--d foolish thing to do," growled French Pete over his cards.
"Why ?" demanded Chivers sharply.
"Why ?--why, it makes a flare in the sky that any scout can see, and a scent for him to follow." "We're four miles from any traveled road," returned Chivers contemptuously, "and the man who could see that glare and smell that smoke would be on his way here already." "That reminds me that that chap you've tied up--that Collinson--allows he wants to see you," continued French Pete.
"To see ME!" repeated Chivers.

"You mean the Captain ?" "I reckon he means YOU," returned French Pete; "he said the man who talked so purty." The men looked at each other with a smile of anticipation, and put down their cards.

Chivers walked towards the door; one or two rose to their feet as if to follow, but Riggs stopped them peremptorily.