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rare occasions； when we have been honored with the presence of the fair
sex； it has been our invariable custom not only to leave them in the
undisturbed possession of their property； but even of their privacy as well。
It is with deep regret that on this occasion we are obliged to make an
exception。 For in the present instance； the lady； out of the gentleness of
her heart and the politeness of her sex； has burdened herself not only with
the weight but the responsibility of a package forced upon her by one of
the passengers。 We feel； and we believe； gentlemen； that most of you
will agree with us； that so scandalous and unmanly an attempt to evade our
rules and violate the sanctity of the lady's immunity will never be
permitted。 For your own sake； madam； we are compelled to ask you for
the satchel under your seat。 It will be returned to you when the package
is removed。〃
〃One moment；〃 said the professional man indignantly； 〃there is a man
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here whom you have spared；a man who lately joined us。 Is that man；〃
pointing to the astonished Key； 〃one of your confederates？〃
〃That man；〃 returned the spokesman with a laugh； 〃is the owner of the
Sylvan Hollow Mine。 We have spared him because we owe him some
consideration for having been turned out of his house at the dead of night
while the sheriff of Sierra was seeking us。〃 He stopped； and then in an
entirely different voice； and in a totally changed manner； said roughly；
〃Tumble in there； all of you； quick！ And you； sir〃 （to Key）；〃I'd advise
you to ride outside。 Now； driver； raise so much as a rein or a whiplash
until you hear the signal and by God！ you'll know what next。〃 He
stepped back； and seemed to be instantly swallowed up in the darkness；
but the light of a solitary bull's…eyethe holder himself invisiblestill
showed the muzzles of the guns covering the driver。 There was a
momentary stir of voices within the closed coach； but an angry roar of
〃Silence！〃 from the darkness hushed it。
The moments crept slowly by； all now were breathless。 Then a clear
whistle rang from the distance； the light suddenly was extinguished； the
leveled muzzles vanished with it； the driver's lash fell simultaneously on
the backs of his horses； and the coach leaped forward。
The jolt nearly threw Key from the top； but a moment later it was still
more difficult to keep his seat in the headlong fury of their progress。
Again and again the lash descended upon the maddened horses； until the
whole coach seemed to leap； bound； and swerve with every stroke。 Cries
of protest and even distress began to come from the interior； but the driver
heeded it not。 A window was suddenly let down； the voice of the
professional man saying； 〃What's the matter？ We're not followed。 You
are imperiling our lives by this speed；〃 was answered only by； 〃Will some
of ye throttle that dd fool？〃 from the driver； and the renewed fall of the
lash。 The wayside trees appeared a solid plateau before them； opened；
danced at their side； closed up again behind them；but still they sped
along。 Rushing down grades with the speed of an avalanche； they
ascended again without drawing rein； and as if by sheer momentum； for
the heavy vehicle now seemed to have a diabolical energy of its own。 It
ground scattered rocks to powder with its crushing wheels； it swayed
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heavily on ticklish corners； recovering itself with the resistless forward
propulsion of the straining teams； until the lights of Three Pine Station
began to glitter through the trees。 Then a succession of yells broke from
the driver； so strong and dominant that they seemed to outstrip even the
speed of the unabated cattle。 Lesser lights were presently seen running to
and fro； and on the outermost fringe of the settlement the stage pulled up
before a crowd of wondering faces； and the driver spoke。
〃We've been held up on the open road； by Gd； not THREE MILES
from whar ye men are sittin' here yawpin'！ If thar's a man among ye that
hasn't got the soul of a skunk； he'll foller and close in upon 'em before they
have a chance to get into the brush。〃 Having thus relieved himself of his
duty as an enforced noncombatant； and allowed all further responsibility
to devolve upon his recreant fellow employees； he relapsed into his usual
taciturnity； and drove a trifle less recklessly to the station； where he grimly
set down his bruised and discomfited passengers。 As Key mingled with
them； he could not help perceiving that neither the late 〃orator's〃
explanation of his exemption from their fate； nor the driver's surly
corroboration of his respectability； had pacified them。 For a time this
amused him； particularly as he could not help remembering that he first
appeared to them beside the mysterious horseman who some one thought
had been identified as one of the masks。 But he was not a little piqued to
find that the fair unknown appeared to participate in their feelings； and his
first civility to her met with a chilling response。 Even then； in the general
disillusion of his romance regarding her； this would have been only a
momentary annoyance； but it strangely revived all his previous suspicions；
and set him to thinking。 Was the singular sagacity displayed by the
orator in his search purely intuitive？ Could any one have disclosed to him
the secret of the passengers' hoards？ Was it possible for HER while
sitting alone in the coach to have communicated with the band？
Suddenly the remembrance flashed across him of her opening the window
for fresh air！ She could have easily then dropped some signal。 If this
were so； and she really was the culprit； it was quite natural for her own
safety that she should encourage the passengers in the absurd suspicion of
himself！ His dying interest revived； a few moments ago he had half
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resolved to abandon his quest and turn back at Three Pines。 Now he
determined to follow her to the end。 But he did not indulge in any further
sophistry regarding his duty； yet； in a new sense of honor； he did not
dream of retaliating upon her by communicating his suspicions to his
fellow passengers。 When the coach started again； he took his seat on the
top； and remained there until they reached Jamestown in the early evening。
Here a number of his despoiled companions were obliged to wait； to
communicate with their friends。 Happily； the exemption that had made
them indignant enabled him to continue his journey with a full purse。
But he was content with a modest surveillance of the lady from the top of
the coach。
On arriving at Stockton this surveillance became less easy。 It was the
terminus of the stage…route； and the divergence of others by boat and rail。
If he were lucky enough to discover which one the lady took； his presence
now would be more marked； and might excite her suspicion。 But here a
circumstance； which he also believed to be providential； determined him。
As the luggage was being removed from the top of the coach； he
overheard the agent tell the expressman to check the 〃lady's〃 trunk to San
Luis。 Key was seized with an idea which seemed to solve the difficulty；
although it involved a risk of losing the clue entirely。 There were two
routes to San Luis； one was by stage； and direct； though slower； the other
by steamboat and rail； via San Francisco。 If he took the boat； there was
less danger of her discovering him；