‘Half a dozen troopers are coming along the hill,’ she said.

‘Bluff them!’ said Ryder quickly.  ’If they insist on searching, swear the boy was hurt at a blast.  Cover his shoulders.  Show no surprise in any alteration in my appearance.  I am a customer.’  ’He snatched his coat and revolver, and sprang into the next tent.’

At that moment the sound of horses’ hoofs was heard on the gravel, and a voice cried ‘Halt!’ Mrs. Kyley’s broad figure filled the doorway.

’How many of those blackguard rebels are you hiding in your tent, Mother Kyley?’ said the sergeant.

’Is that you, Sergeant Wallis?  Was there ever so attentive an admirer?  You’d follow me to the world’s end for the love you have of me.  I’ve a dozen rebels inside.  Come and be introduced.’

A tall bearded digger with a loaf of bread under his arm had slouched from the business tent, and stood watching the scene with incurious eyes.

‘Who the devil are you, and where did you spend last night, my man?’ said the trooper.

’I’m a party by the name of Smith, Ephraim Smith—­called Eph.  I spent last night in my bunk, bein’ too damn drunk to join the boys down there, worse luck!’

‘Your license, Mr. Ephraim Smith.’

The license was handed up, and found correct.  ’You had too much discretion to burn your license with the rest of the seditious blackguards, at any rate, Mr. Smith.’

As it happens.’

‘And your ruffianly husband, Mrs. Kyley?’

‘I haven’t such a thing about me; but if you mean Ben Kyley,’ said Mary, ’come down in your private capacity, sergeant, and put the question to him in the same gentlemanly way.  I’ll hold your coat and see you get fair play, if I have to referee the argument myself.’

‘Where is Kyley, you harridan?’

’He went out an hour ago to watch the murder and manslaughter going on down at Eureka, Sergeant Wallis, and if you miscall me again, you Vandemonian pig-stealer, I’ll drag you from your horse and drown you in a tub of suds!’

Wallis struck his horse with his open hand, and rode away, followed by his men, laughing back at the seemingly furious Mrs. Kyley, whose assumed anger, however, suddenly gave place to a broad grin as they passed from sight, and she winked a mischievous aside at the bearded digger.

‘My oath, but that’s a beautiful beard you have,’ she said.  ’I’ve a mind to see how it would suit me.’

’Get a doctor to Done as quickly as you can.  There are several among the diggers who’ll stand by you,’ said Ryder, disregarding Mary’s levity.  ‘You’ll look after him?  You can draw on me for money to any amount.’

‘I’ll look after the poor boy, and I won’t draw on you for a sixpence.’

‘He’s with good friends, I know.’

’He is.  There’s a girl in there who would work the fingers off her two hands to serve him.’

’I will call again when I can, and as often as I can, but I’m in no little danger myself.