out 'em?" asked Nosey.

"Oh, no, not to-day!" answered Baldy. "Time enough yet. I ain't in
no hurry to be an informer."

Nosey eyed him with unusual savagery, and said:

"Now didn't I tell you to say no more about your blasted sheep, or
I'd see you for it? and here you are again, and you can't leave 'em
alone. You are no better than a fool."

"Maybe I am a fool, Nosey. Just wait till I get a light, and I'll
leave your hut and trouble you no more."

He was standing in the middle of the floor cutting his tobacco, and
rubbing it between the palms of his hands, shaking his head, and
eyeing the floor with a look of great sagacity.

Nosey went outside, and began walking to and fro, thinking and
whispering to himself. It was a habit he had acquired while slowly
sauntering after his sheep. He seemed to have another self, an
invisible companion with whom he discussed whatever was uppermost in
his mind. If he had then consulted his other self, Julia, he might
have saved himself a world of trouble; but he did not think of her.
He said to himself: "Now, Nosey, if you don't mind, you are going to
be in a hole. That old fool inside has found out something or other
about the sheep, and the peelers will have you, if you don't look
out, and they'll give you another seven years and maybe ten. You've
done your time once, Nosey, and how would you like to do it again?
Why couldn't you leave the cursed sheep alone and keep out of
mischief just when you were settling down in life comfortable, and
might have a chance to do better. Baldy will be telling the peelers
to-morrow all he knows about the sheep you stole, and then they'll
fetch you, sure. There's only one thing to stop the old fool's jaw,
and you are not game to do it, Nosey; you never done a man yet, and
you are not game to do it now, and you'll be damned if you do it, and
the devil will have you, and you'll be hanged first maybe. And if
you don't do him you'll be lagged again for the sheep, and in my
opinion, Nosey, you are not game. Yes, by the powers, you are,
Nosey, damned if you ain't. Who's afeered? And you'll do it quick
--do it quick. Now or never's your time."

While talking thus to himself, Nosey was pacing to and fro, and he
glanced at the axe every time he passed the door. The weapon was
ready to his hand, and seemed to be inviting him to use it.

"Baldy is going to light his pipe, and while he is stooping to get a
firestick, I'll do him with th