ouldn't have that woman tied to me for all the money in China. That
English bloke said there was a big fortune for me in England. Well, if I
have to take Peggy Donohoe with it, it can stay. I'll live here with the
blacks and the buffalo shooters, and I'll get my livin' for meself, same
as I got it all my life; but take on Peggy again I will not. Now, that's
Domino--that's the dead finish. I won't go with you, and I won't give
you no information. And I'm sorry too, 'cause you seem a good sort of a
young feller--but I won't do anything that'll mix me up with Peggy any
more."

Hugh ground his teeth with mortification. Then he played his next card.

"There's a man they call Flash Jack--do you know him?"

"Perhaps I do, and perhaps I don't," said the sage in a surly tone.

"Well, he told me to ask you to help us. He said to tell you that he
particularly wanted you to give evidence if you can."

"Want'll be his master, then," snarled the old man.

"He said he would put the police on to a job about some cattle at
Cross-roads," said Hugh.

The rage fairly flashed out of Considine's eyes.

"He said that, did he?" he yelled. "The rotten informer! Well, you tell
Flash Jack from me that where he can put me away for one thing I can put
him away for half-a-dozen; and if I go into gaol for a five-stretch he
goes in for ten. I ain't afraid of Flash Jack, nor you either. See that,
now!"

Hugh felt that his mission had failed. He pulled out the summons as a
last resource, and passed it to the old man.

"What's this?" he said.

"Summons to give evidence," said Hugh.

"Victoria by the Grace of God," read the old man, by the flickering
firelight. "Victoria by the Grace of God, eh? Well, see here," he
continued, solemnly putting the summons in the fire and watching it
blaze, "if Victoria by the Grace of God wants me, she can send for
me--send a coach and six for Patrick Henry Considine, late Patrick Henry
Keogh! And then I mightn't go! There'll be only one thing make me go
where I don't want to go, and that's a policeman at each elbow and
another shovin' behind. I'd sooner do a five-stretch than take Peggy
back again. And that's the beginning and the end and the middle of it.
And now I'll wish you good night."

CHAPTER XXVI. THE SAVING OF CONSIDINE.

At grey dawn all the camp was astir. Hugh looked from under his
mosquito-net, and saw old Considine over the fire, earnestly frying a
large hunk of buffalo meat. He wa