"Oh, no! Don't use such ugly language. We just want to relieve you of a burden--that's all, old sock." "You don't call that robbery?" asked the Bishop. "Come, now, old coon! Dry up, or you'll not have an opportunity to ask any more nonsensical questions. Hand out your money!" The Bishop reluctantly complied. "Now that watch of yours!" they further commanded. "What! Will you not allow me to keep my watch. It is a gift and dearly prized. You would not rob an humble minister of Christ of his timepiece, would you?" queried the Bishop. "So, ho! You are a parson then, judging from the cut of your buckskins--or a priest--it makes no difference. Well, Christ didn't have any watch, and he didn't ride in stages either. He walked about to do his Father's will, and wasn't arrayed in fine clothes, and didn't fare sumptuously every day. What use has a preacher for a watch? Go and travel like the Master. Out with that watch! No more words--not one, mind you! We are not Christians, we are Philistines." The Bishop was constrained to give up his watch--a valuable and much prized one. "Anything more? Out with it." The Bishop protested that he had nothing more of value about his person. They, however, made a personal examination before they were satisfied, one of them remarking: "You can't depend on many of these long-faced canters, anyhow." Then the robbers searched Mr. Breckenridge, and from him they obtained a plethoric pocketbook, containing one thousand dollars, and an elegant gold watch, and a very valuable diamond pin. So they went from one to another of the passengers, until the eight gentlemen of the respectable party of travellers had been politely plundered. Then the turn of the ladies came. "Hand out your pocketbook," said the leader to the first lady approached. "Yes, sir, here it is," replied the frightened lady, handing him her money. The robber took it, opened it, and examined the contents by the light of the stage lantern. Then he came back to the lady, and asked if that was all the money she had. She replied that it was. He then inquired where she was going. She told him to Houston. "Here, madam, take your money. We regret the trouble we have given you." So they went to the other two ladies, and from one they got a watch, some jewelry, and about one hundred dollars in cash. From another they received some valuable jewelry, and a considerable sum of money. Their work was now completed. During the two hours they held the passengers under guard, they sometimes made jesting remarks, and at other times threatening ones. The least want of alacrity in obeying their orders was sure to subject the passengers to the direst threats. The robbers took with them the lead-span of horses when they rode away. The whole amount of cash taken from the passengers exceeded three thousand dollars, besides several gold watches, and considerable jewelry of value. The amount taken from the mail bags was several hundred dollars.