“It’s close to your heart he struck,” said Mike, alluding to the blow of the knife.  “An inch would have been the death of ye.  Long life to ye.”

“I have to thank you for your efforts in my behalf,” I replied, and when I shook his hand I left a gold piece in it.

“Bedad, if ye wish, I’ll go back and give ’urn another lick,” Mike exclaimed, with enthusiasm, when he felt the weight of the coin.

Before I could reply, Mr. Wright left the house, and hurried towards us.

“Let me, in the first place, apologize for the rudeness of my servant, and, in the second place, thank you for punishing him as he deserves.  Mr. Brown has given me a very impartial account, of the affair.”

“And did he tell what I did, bedad,” cried Mike.

“Yes, I am glad to think there is one man in my employ who knows how to back my friends when I am absent.  Mike, from this night your wages are raised one pound per month, and you shall have Kelly’s place, whom I intend to discharge.”

This news excited all the Irishman’s enthusiasm, and we left him bidding defiance to the moon, and wondering how he should spend all his money.

“The fellow whom you punished for insolence, has long held the position of a bully,” Mr. Wright said, “owing to his quarrelsome disposition, and readiness to use a knife on slight occasion.  I have overlooked several faults in hope that he would improve in disposition, but I see that my leniency is lost, and as soon as his head is healed, he goes to Melbourne.”

I begged him not to discharge the man on my account, but Mr. Wright was firm and obstinate as any Englishman, when once resolved on a project, so I let the matter drop, and when we reached the house, Jackson informed us that our second supper was ready, and that Nancy was impatient for something to eat.

“Where have you two men been wandering?” cried Mr. Brown, who was pacing the room like a hungry bear.  “Supper has been ready ten, minutes; a long time for famished people to wait”

We did not waste precious time in excuses, for it was near three o’clock in the morning, and I felt anxious to finish, and get that rest which I so much needed.

“Let the men close the doors and windows, and set a guard over our prisoners,” Mr. Wright said, addressing Jackson, who stood in readiness to attend to our wants.

“And one more request,” my friend said, as we took our seats at the table, “when we once get to sleep, be kind enough to let us rest until we wake of our own accord.  For the past three days our naps have not been very long or sound.”

“Every thing shall be as you desire, gentlemen.  Now fall to, and don’t forget that there is a lady present.”

Unless our host had alluded to the fact, it is probable that we should have forgotten it, for Nancy was so well disguised in men’s apparel that she looked like a respectable farmer.