88 ATTEMPT AT ROBBERY. 



them by threats to go about their own business. 

 CalHng to my three companions, we agree to 

 keep close together, and cautioning our attend- 

 ants to do the same, we take an opportunity, 

 when we are walking away, quickly, though well 

 in battle array, to turn round sharply, seeing 

 them determined still to follow us, and ask what 

 they want. Powder they must and will have. 

 " Very well then you shall not. If you had re- 

 quested some powder as a favour, we would not 

 hesitate to give you some ; but since you demand 

 it in a menacing manner, you shall not intimidate 

 us into granting your request." They become 

 still more indignant and furious, but seeing that 

 we are determined not to yield, and that our four 

 double-barrelled percussions are more than a 

 match for their eight rusty fire-locks, wisely retire, 

 at first sulkily, and then grumbling in a loud 

 voice, talking and calling in a very high key to 

 their friends on an opposite mountain, hoping 

 probably to intimidate us, by threatening to come 

 down upon us in greater numbers. 



The manner in which these mountaineers talk 

 to each other at the distance of half a mile or 

 more, is curious, and at first seems difficult ; but it 



