Amanonahandsomehorsedressedinredcameprancinguptous，lookinghardattheladiesinthelitter，andpassedaway。Thentwootherssaunteredup，onehandsome，anddressedinredtoo，andhestaredintothelitterwithoutceremony，begantoplaywithalittledogthatlaythere，askedifwewereInglees，andwasansweredbymeintheaffirmative。Paolohadbroughtthewater，themostdeliciousdraughtintheworld。Thegentlefolkshadhadsome，thepoormuleteerswerelongingforit。TheFrenchmaid，thecourageousVictoire（neversincethedaysofJoanofArchastheresurelybeenamoregallantandvirtuousfemaleofFrance）refusedthedrink；whensuddenlyaservantofthepartyscampersuptohismasterandsays：\"AbouGoshsaystheladiesmustgetoutandshowthemselvestothewomenofthevillage！\"
ItwasAbouGoshhimself，theredoubtedrobberSheikhaboutwhomwehadbeenlaughingandcrying\"Wolf！\"allday。Neverwasseensuchaskurry！\"March！\"wastheinstantordergiven。WhenVictoireheardwhoitwasandthemessage，youshouldhaveseenhowshechangedcountenance；tremblingforhervirtueintheferociousclutchesofaGosh。\"Unverred’eaupourl’amourdeDieu！\"gaspedshe，andwasreadytofaintonhersaddle。\"Nebuvezplus，Victoire！\"screamedalittlefellowofourparty。\"Pushon，pushon！\"criedoneandall。\"What’sthematter？\"exclaimedtheladiesinthelitter，astheysawthemselvessuddenlyjoggingonagain。
ButwetookcarenottotellthemwhathadbeenthedesignsoftheredoubtableAbouGosh。Awaythenwewent——Victoirewassaved——andhermistressesrescuedfromdangerstheyknewnotof，untiltheywerealongwayoutofthevillage。
Didheintendinsultorgoodwill？DidVictoireescapetheodiouschanceofbecomingMadameAbouGosh？Ordidthemountainchiefsimplyproposetobehospitableafterhisfashion？Ithinkthelatterwashisdesire；iftheformerhadbeenhiswish，ahalf-
dozenofhislonggunscouldhavebeenupwithusinaminute，andhadallourpartyattheirmercy。Butnow，forthesakeofthemereexcitement，theincidentwas，Iamsorrytosay，ratherapleasantonethanotherwise：especiallyforatravellerwhoisinthehappyconditionofbeingabletosingbeforerobbers，asisthecasewiththewriterofthepresent。