“The spear is not poisoned, I hope,” I said to Mr. Wright.

“No, if it had been, I should have objected to its use.  The fellows are born to be hanged, so there’s no danger of their dying any other way.”

As soon as the bushrangers were on the other side, we carried the women across, and then picked our way to the house, tired and sleepy, and extremely desirous of a taste of the punch which we had left behind.  Our prisoners no longer objected to obeying Mike’s injunctions, and he was quite proud of his authority over them.

Kala, swift of loot, had hastened on in advance of us, and announced our arrival to the inmates of the house, and as we drew near, the laborers flocked towards us with cheers of triumph at our success, and words of scorn for the prisoners.

So much did the men sympathize with the women, that they insisted upon carrying them to the house; and although Nancy kicked and scratched when she found a pair of strong arms around her, she was obliged to succumb, and was ultimately landed in the dining room, half angry, and yet half pleased, at her conveyance.

The noise awakened the parrot, and he added his voice to the general uproar.

“More bushrangers! more bushrangers!” the bird shouted; “I told you so; I see ’em! rascals! rascal! steal sheep, ho, ho!”

“Keep quiet, Poll,” said Mr. Wright.

“I won’t!” promptly responded Poll; and he was as good as his word, for as long as we talked he would, although sometimes his speeches were not quite apropos while the ladies were present.

“I don’t know how you can change your clothes, ladies,” Mr. Wright said, seeing that, they stood in great need of such an arrangement; “the fact of it is, I never had the fortune to have a wife, so women’s garments are unknown in my poor house.”

“Give ’em men’s,” shrieked the parrot; “who cares?”

“The first sensible words that you have spoken to-night, Poll,” the master exclaimed.

“Is it?” was the brief ejaculation of the bird, as though inclined to doubt the truth of that remark.

“If you will retire to a room that shall be allotted to you during your stay here, I will provide you with such garments as I have.  They are dry and clean and you can use them until your own are in proper order.  No one will notice the change, for, believe me, we all sympathize too deeply in your misfortunes to feel aught but pity.”

“As for myself,” replied Nancy, promptly, “I shall feel extremely obliged, for I have worn damp garments so long that I am almost like a mermaid.  But this poor thing,” pointing to Betsey, “only desires to lay her aching head upon a pillow, and forget her misery.”

“Haven’t got one in the house,” promptly responded Poll.

“She needs food.  Let her come to the table after you have made such alterations as are necessary.”

“So do I,” croaked the bird.

“If you will have a cup of tea made, I am confident that it will benefit her more than food.  As for myself, I don’t fear to confess that I am hungry, and shall eat heartily,” Nancy said.