"Why, yer'll kill yer team, smash ther old box, and crush yerself to atoms." "I believe I can drive the road at night," was the firm response. "It's ther wust piece of road on ther whole Overland Trail." "It is a bad one, but I will depend upon my team mainly and risk it." "Why do you do it?" "I have an idea that it will be safer." "How so?" "Well, if there were road-agents on the trail to hold me up to-morrow, I'll miss them, that is all." "Right you are, pard; but I don't believe they is as dangerous as traveling this trail to-night." "I'll let you know what I think upon my return," was Harding's answer, and he drove on once more. Night had come on, and he well knew the dangers before him from a mistake in driving. He had been over the road perhaps half a dozen times, always riding upon the box, but upon his last run as driver he had most carefully noted every foot of the way. The night was dark, but he knew that he had the instinct of his team to depend upon, and this was more than half the battle. He was determined to push through and save his load of gold, and if he did make a successful run over that part of the trail by night, he would do what no other driver had done, and on this account his pride was at stake. So he started boldly yet cautiously upon his way, and when the sun was just rising in W---- the stage-agent there was awakened by wheels dashing up to his door and heard the call: "The coach from Last Chance has arrived." He was up in a hurry and congratulating the young driver upon his night drive, while he said: "Do you know I feared you would be held up to-day, for a party of desperadoes lately left W----, and I felt most anxious about you." "Yes, they are on the trail waiting for me now, not knowing that I slipped by in the night. I'll get together a band of brave fellows and go back after them," and an hour after Harding was mounted upon a fine horse and leading a dozen men back upon the trail he had safely driven over in the night. CHAPTER XVIII. A MYSTERIOUS SOUND. The stage-agent at W---- was right in declaring that the coach might be held up on the rough trail that was always driven by daylight, for the party he feared were some wild fellows who had ridden into the settlement two days before and stated that they were on their way to the mines. They were well mounted and armed, had several packhorses with them, and, though not having the excuse of drinking to make them dreaded, had carried on in a way that caused all peaceably disposed persons to dread them. Who they were no one knew, and when they left the place honest men breathed more freely and congratulated each other that no tragedy had occurred, as a reminder of their visit.