362 WILD SPORTS IN THE FAR WEST. 



killed four, by the day named, the other two had shot 

 two each, Brogan only one. He concluded by giving 

 the names of all the horse-stealers, twenty -six in num- 

 ber, and well-known names, having the modesty to 

 leave out his own. 



Brogan, Avho had listened to it all with a contemp- 

 tuous smile, was now questioned ; all attempts to make 

 him confess were in vain ; he denied having had any 

 share in the crime, and was tied up to a tree and 

 dreadfully beaten. It was a horrible sight. At first 

 he gave vent to volleys of oaths and abuse ; then he was 

 silent for a long time, and bore the severe blows with 

 wonderful finnness ; at length he gave a deep groan, 

 and called out, " Oh, my poor wife and children." 



Two negi'oes now made their appearance with spades 

 and dug a grave ; they were followed by a v»dute man 

 with a cord in his left hand, and a piece of tallow, with 

 which he kept greasing the cord in his right, looking 

 as unconcerned as possible all the time, though he 

 knew it was intended to hang the poor wretch. This 

 seemed rather too severe, and several of us now stepped 

 forward, and persuaded those who seemed most open to 

 pity, that if they had resolved to hang the man, they 

 ought not first to have lacerated him so dreadfully: 

 this seemed evident to the others, so it was put to the 

 vote, and his life was spared on condition that he left 

 the country within four weeks, and never returned to 

 it again. He made no promise, and as he was cast off, 

 he fell senseless on the grass. 



I had seen quite enough. Hogarth and I trotted 

 off to the mountains to think seriously about our 



