“We are gettin’ through all safe,” he said to his companion beside him. “It’s about time for them rascals to show up again, and I didn’t know what might happen.” They were nearing a sharp turn with a ledge of rocks beside it and he was gathering up the reins the better to manage his horses round the curve, when suddenly the word “Halt!” rang out on the air, and a man wearing a mask came from some quarter no one could tell where, he moved so rapidly and with so much assurance. Stepping to the horses’ heads he stopped them and pointing a revolver at the driver, bade him make no effort to go on. “Little Dick!” was whispered among the terrified passengers, who never thought of disobeying his command, “Hands up, every one of you!” They all went up, except those of Inez, close to whom the bandit was standing. At the sound of his voice she started violently, and clutched at the veil upon her hat trying to tear it off. “I am very sorry, my good people, to disturb you, and I assure you none of you will be harmed, nor shall I detain you long if you at once give up whatever valuables you may have on you persons,—money, watches and jewelry. Perhaps I’d better search you myself, as it is not convenient for you to use your hands while you are holding them up. Step out quietly and it will soon be over. These two young ladies first, please. Shall I help you?” He bowed toward Inez and Fanny, extending one hand to them and with the other covering them with his revolver. Fanny was paralyzed with fear, and half sliding from her seat, tried to hide behind Inez, to whom she said, “Oh, what shall we do?” Inez made no reply. She had succeeded in tearing the veil from her face, which was white as a corpse, while in her eyes was a look of horror, but not of fear. Turning toward the man inviting her so politely to descend she gave a shriek more appalling than the word “Halt!” had been, and bounding from the stage in front of him, struck his arm so heavy a blow with her fist that his revolver was thrown at a little distance from him and lay upon the ground. Both started for it, but Inez reached it first. Snatching it up she looked steadily into his eyes, which the mask did not conceal. “Go,” she said, “or I will shoot you like a dog. I always said I would kill any one I found doing this dirty work, and I have found _you_!” Then, to the passengers, who, in their fright, were still holding up their hands, she continued: “Drop your hands! Cowards! to fear this one man! You see I am not afraid of him.” The man stood as if turned into stone, until she said to him again, “Go, I tell you, before I fire, or Nero sees you. He is here.”