for advising him to put his head in a rabbit-hole,
vigorously announcing that he wished his ---- head was there instead
of his own. "Aa cud hae run if ye hadn't persuaded me t' hide heor."

"Hae patience!" responded the voice from without.

"Patience be d----!" said he; "Aa wish aa had them ---- Government
men heor. Aa wad make short work o' them, the ---- rascals!"

"Whisht," said his companion; "they're comin' this way!"

In a few seconds Jimmy's posterior became the subject of some vigorous
thrashing. He was dragged, yelling, from his retreat, and confronted
with the men he had so recently sworn to murder. They asked if he was
Jimmy Stone. He replied in the affirmative, and added--

"Aa thowt it was Jack Dent aa was taakin' tee. He cum heor wiv us."

"Where is he now?" inquired the officer.

"Hoo am aa t' knaa?" said Jimmy; "but the Lord help him when aa dee
cum across him. He's betrayed me. Nivvor more will aa put me heed in a
rabbit-hole!"

His soliloquy was cut short by his captors putting his hands in irons
and conveying him to where their colleagues were; and Jimmy would have
been included amongst the convicts but for the magnanimous
intercession of Turnbull, who informed his captors that they were to
leave Jimmy to him. He was working out a scheme whereby his knowledge
would be invaluable to the Service. So James was not sent to the
Colonies.

A well-known farmer, who was accustomed to make friendly calls on the
Turnbull family, was caught in the act of bolting with a cartload of
unlawful merchandise. He was sent to Australia, but not as a convict.
Turnbull had found some useful purpose for him also, and he was
advised to get out of the country, lest it became too hot for him.

A couple of ladies had attracted special attention; not that they were
bellicose, but because in consequence of their abnormal bulk they
created some suspicion that they had concealed beneath their
crinolines more than their ordinary form. They were asked
unchivalrously to undo their clothing, and with comic dignity and
superb self-possession they defiantly declined. They were then told in
the name of the Queen that if they did not undress voluntarily it
would have to be done for them, whereupon they adopted the old dodge
of weeping and calling themselves unprotected women, whose characters
were being assailed by men whom it was not safe for females to be
amongst, making the sandy hollows resound with their artificial
shrieks