They listened, but heard nothing, save the sighing of the night wind among the trees, and they went towards the spot from which Monteagle had fallen, and followed the track of the displaced stone, which was marked by broken boughs and torn herbage, down the hill. About fifty yards down they found our hero lying against a bush, which had arrested his further progress. The night was too dark for them to perceive the full extent of the injuries which he had received, but the inertness of the body when lifted from the ground, gave but faint hope that vitality remained. A rude litter was made of boughs, and the crushed body being placed upon it, was borne down the hill and across the meadows to a little ranch not far from the place. -------------- CHAPTER XVI A rude chorus that was being sung, or rather shouted by several coarse and desperate-looking men, who were seated around a table in a back room of a very low cabaret, and which was never visited only by the most depraved persons who resided in, or resorted to the neighborhood. They were thieves, and if anything could be judged from their countenances, they were capable of doing the most desperate deeds. The table was covered with glasses containing gin, rum, and brandy, and of which they had all been evidently partaking very freely, and they were smoking as hard as they were able. There was a large wood fire upon the hearth; and the red glare it cast upon their features, gave them almost a supernatural appearance, and altogether the scene was as effective as one of those that are often represented in a melodrama. Obscene jokes and songs had been freely indulged in, and it did not seem as if they were inclined to leave off for some time. It was night, and the wind blew boisterous without, but the ruffians were making such a riot, that they heeded it not; and they were evidently determined to enjoy themselves to the most unlimited extent. ‘Drink away, my lads,’ said one Mike, raising the glass to his lips as he spoke;—‘drink away; we ought to be merry, for Fortune never smiled more brightly upon us than she has done for some time past.’ ‘Ay, you say right, Mike,’ observed a tall, dark whiskered man, whom the thieves called Joe; ‘but leave us alone for doing business, and for availing themselves of fortune’s favors when they are to be obtained. Cap’n a toast!’ ‘Ay, a toast; a toast;’ responded the others. Mike raised a large glass, filled to the brim in his hand, and said;— ‘Well, my lads, I will give you a toast, and that shall be, Success to our dare-devil gang!’ ‘Bravo! bravo!’ shouted the thieves. ‘Here’s to the dare-devil gang!’ ‘A capital toast,’ said Mike; ‘and well responded to. With your leave, I will propose another.’ ‘Ay, ay, a toast from Mike,’ shouted two or three of the thieves, amongst whom he was a particular favorite; ‘a toast from Mike.’ ‘Fill your glasses then, my boys,’ said Mike; ‘bumpers! bumpers!’