"You can't depend on many of these long-faced canters, anyhow."
Then the robbers searched Mr. Breckenridge, and from him they obtained a plethoric pocketbook, containing one thousand dollars, and an elegant gold watch, and a very valuable diamond pin.
So they went from one to another of the passengers, until the eight gentlemen of the respectable party of travellers had been politely plundered. Then the turn of the ladies came.
"Hand out your pocketbook," said the leader to the first lady approached.
"Yes, sir, here it is," replied the frightened lady, handing him her money.
The robber took it, opened it, and examined the contents by the light of the stage lantern. Then he came back to the lady, and asked if that was all the money she had. She replied that it was. He then inquired where she was going. She told him to Houston.
"Here, madam, take your money. We regret the trouble we have given you."
So they went to the other two ladies, and from one they got a watch, some jewelry, and about one hundred dollars in cash. From another they received some valuable jewelry, and a considerable sum of money.
Their work was now completed. During the two hours they held the passengers under guard, they sometimes made jesting remarks, and at other times threatening ones. The least want of alacrity in obeying their orders was sure to subject the passengers to the direst threats. The robbers took with them the lead-span of horses when they rode away.
The whole amount of cash taken from the passengers exceeded three thousand dollars, besides several gold watches, and considerable jewelry of value. The amount taken from the mail bags was several hundred dollars.