“Don’t harm her,” exclaimed the younger woman, removing her hands from her face, and endeavoring to shelter the person of her companion; but the bushrangers were regardless of her entreaties, and pushed her aside with rudeness.

I did not stop to see more.  I rapidly made my way back to Mr. Wright and party, who were anxiously expecting me, for they had begun to grow alarmed at my absence.

“Not a moment is to be lost,” I said.  “Follow me, and make no noise.”

“What is up?” demanded Mr. Wright, who perhaps did not like to have his command usurped so rudely, although he did not object.

“I cannot stop to explain now.  Haste, or there will be murder committed,” I replied.

No more questions were asked, and in less than five minutes after we were in motion we were near enough to the bushrangers to witness their operations.  They were holding a council, and debating violently what sort of death poor Nancy should die, but could not agree.  They supposed her words were deserving of instant punishment, and each man thought his method of taking her life the more praiseworthy.  The discussion saved Nancy, for we were enabled to reach the spot before the fellows could make up their minds.

Even in that dreadful moment the tongue of Nancy did not lose its bitterness, and she was bold enough to boast that her words would come true, and them what she had told as a vision would prove a reality.

“Now, then, men, rush on, but don’t use your pistols unless necessary.  Let us make them prisoners,” whispered Mr. Wright.

We answered back that we were ready, and dashed forward just as the ruffians had decided that to hang the woman would be a more pleasant spectacle than to burn her.

“Hurrah for Ireland,” shouted Mike, springing into the clearing where the enemy were encamped.

The bushrangers were so taken by surprise that they had no chance to gain possession of their weapons, or to beat a retreat.  One fellow, when he saw us emerge from the bushes, drew his knife and struck at Mike; but it was the last blow that he ever made, for the enraged Irishman shortened his spear, so that he could use it to more advantage, and then drove it through the body of his opponent, and from the squirming wretch’s back protruded the barbed point.  The fellow threw his arms wildly over his head, and fell to the ground, and with his last breath cursed his slayer and the whole of mankind.

There was not much for us to do, although every man present, including the two natives, performed the limited part assigned with fidelity and despatch.

The ghost, whose true English instincts would not allow him to be outdone by Mike, made the welkin ring with shouts for England and himself at the grand charge, and then had deliberately knocked down the most burly of the robbers, and placed his foot upon his breast, and hold him there until the melee was ended.