Chewing such bitter cud as this, I had probably ridden a good mile, when suddenly I heard the sound of human voices, and looking up, discovered three men, mounted, and just in front of me. They had hauled up, and were seemingly awaiting my approach. A buzzing conversation was going on among them. "That's he!" said one. "Sure?" was the question of another. A whistle at my very side caused me to turn my head, and as I did so, my horse was caught by the bridle, and I received a severe blow from a club above my ears, which brought me down, almost unconscious, upon the ground. In an instant, two stout fellows were upon me, and busy in the praiseworthy toil of roping me, hands and feet, where I lay. Hurt, stung, and utterly confounded by the surprise, I was not prepared to suffer this indignity with patience. I made manful struggle, and for a moment succeeded in shaking off both assailants. But another blow, taking effect upon my temples, and dealt with no moderate appliance of hickory, left me insensible. When I recovered consciousness, I found myself in a cart, my hands tied behind me, my head bandaged with a red cotton handkerchief, and my breast and arms covered with blood. A stout fellow rode beside me in the cart, while another drove, and on each side of the vehicle trotted a man, well armed with a double-barrelled gun. "What does all this mean?" I demanded. "Why am I here? Why this assault? What do you mean to do with me?" "Don't be obstropolous," said one of the men. "We don't mean to hurt you; only put you safe. We had to tap you on the head a little, for your own good." "Indeed!" I exclaimed, the feeling of that unhappy tapping upon the head, making me only the sorer at every moment--"but will you tell me what this is for, and in what respect did my good require that my head should be broken?" "It might have been worse for you, where you was onbeknown," replied the spokesman,--"but we knowd your situation, and sarved you off easily. Be quiet now, and----" "What do you mean--what is my situation?" "Well, I reckon we know. Only you be quiet, or we'll have to give you the skin."