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16 wished of all things to be admitted into the band.

The bait was swallowed with avidity; the arriero was joyfully accepted as a comrade, and his treasure was hailed as an acquisition to their stores. It was decided, after an animated debate, that the money—being portable, should be placed in the captain's care, for the instant requirements of the troop; but that the bars of silver—being heavy, should remain upon the back of the mule until next day, when they would make arrangements for exchanging them for coin. Then the whole company, elated with the success of their enterprise, proceeded with their new comrade to a secret resort among the mountains, where they passed a night of boisterous carousing: singing, swearing, and quarrelling, as is usual in such scenes of drunkenness and debauchery.

Every member of the band, excepting our brave arriero, fell at length into a state of sodden slumber; he had anticipated such a result, and hastened to take advantage of it: stealthily relieving the captain of the money he had appropriated, he quickly led away his