Bill meanwhile was flying back over the five miles that lay between him and Buttercup with all the speed he could obtain from his horse.

He rode into the street at a full gallop, his hat lost and his hair flying, and did not stop until he was at the door of the house where Missoo lived.

He was known by this time as one of Harry’s friends, and it was generally known that the two went riding together.  To see him coming back in such a fashion was sufficient to make them all wonder, and in the first fear that Harry had met with an accident, there was a rush after Bill all adown the street.

“What’s the matter?” “Where’s Gent?” “Is he hurt?” were some of the most prominent of the questions.

“Where’s Missoo?” asked Bill, in a loud voice.

“Here he is,” was the answer from the window of the house.  “Whar’s Gent?”

“They’re taking him to Virginia City on a charge of arson, Missoo.  Hoyt’s there!”

Missoo understood in a moment, and lifted his hand to still the roar of voices that rose on the announcement made by Bill.  Silence came at once.  They all knew Missoo would waste no words then.

“I know all about it, boys,” he said.  “Gent mustn’t go ter Virginny City, nohow.  Bill, how many on ’em?”

“Five.”

“Ten men ter go with me after Gent,” continued Missoo.

And Bill wondered at the stern, quiet way of the man.  Every man there was eager to go, and Missoo saw it.

“All right, boys!  Ev’ry man thet kin git a horse let him go.  And a horse fer me.  No time ter spare.  Quick!”

In fifteen minutes a dozen of the best mounted, led by Missoo, who should not have been out of his room, rode out of the town in the midst of the wildest excitement.  Fully fifty men straggled behind as best they could, and perhaps half as many more followed on foot.

“We’ll bring him back, boys, if we have ter go ter Virginny City an’ razee the town,” said Missoo.

And the answer was a yell that made Bill sure that Missoo meant what he said and was taken at his word by his followers.

[TO BE CONTINUED.]

A PRINCE OF CEYLON.

Ceylon is so far away, and the Ceylonese so little known to civilized people, that we are apt to imagine them as half-clad barbarians.  But they have adopted many modern customs which curiously intermingle with their native habits.  A recent traveler thus describes a native prince: 

“He wore black trowsers and a coat, a white waistcoat and a heavy, round black cap.  On his coat, at the sleeves as well as down the front, and on his waistcoat, were numerous buttons, each one of gold, with a gleaming diamond for a centre.  Round his waist was a heavy gold girdle of massive links, with two loops in front which went to form a watch-chain, long enough and strong enough for his highness to hang himself with.  The third and fourth fingers of each hand were loaded with rings, set with brilliants and precious stones.  In the waistcoat pocket the top of a cigarette case was showing, and, when he pulled it out for a smoke, there was a big cluster of brilliants in the centre of the concave side.  His walking-stick had a gold cross-head, and on the other side his initials were set with diamonds and rubies.”