THE NORTHERN MYSTERY 263 



posed of Mexicans, he compelled one of 

 them to saddle the fleetest horse in the 

 corral, and throwing himself across its back, 

 galloped away into space, cool and undis- 

 turbed as ever. 



The friends from whom I obtained the 

 story of this all-too-marvellous youth told 

 me how one nightfall, when the whole 

 country was ringing with the escape of Billy 

 the Kid, a poor boy, representing himself as 

 making his way on foot to some point to 

 obtain work, knocked at the door of their 

 somewhat lonely habitation, and begged for 

 food and shelter. Obeying the customary 

 command to ' hand up ' his guns the pair 

 of pistols to which allusion has been made- 

 he was allowed to enter and take his seat at 

 the family supper-table. 



So quiet and inoffensive, and also so 

 young, did he appear, that not the faintest 

 suspicion was aroused, and the conversation 

 turning on the outlaw, the notice of his 

 escape was produced, to which a so-called 

 likeness of the fugitive was attached. Billy 

 inquired of the mistress of the house if she 



