cking the handcuffs. "There, you are
free. Go and tell the dissatisfied miners that we will never plot
against them, although it is probable that we shall not take up arms in
their defence. We are traders, and have done with fighting, and wish to
remain neutral."

The fellows stared in unfeigned astonishment at Fred, and then around
the store, as though hardly convinced that they had heard the welcome
intelligence.

"Is your honor serious?" asked the Irishman.

"Quite so--go; but if another attempt is made to burn us out, we have
weapons that we know how to use. Say so to those with whom you plotted."

"I won't say that I'm sorry for what I've done, 'cos no great harm has
happened any how," said the Englishman, who appeared to possess more of
an education than his companion; "but I'll say this--had we burned your
store down, and then learned that you was not agin us, I should have
felt bad, and would have tried to right it in some way. We are poor
devils at best, and ain't got much in common, but we are all liable to
make mistakes, and so we supposed that we were really doing something
for the cause."

"It's little I thought it was ye," said the Irishman, who seemed
determined also to offer an excuse. "Faith, had I known it was the two
rael gintlemen who healed me sores, it's little I'd thought of setting
ye on fire. Long lives to ye, and don't be afraid of bad luck after
this. It's Paddy O'Shea who will fight for ye to the longest day that he
lives."

We received the apologies with due dignity, and without placing too much
stress upon what was said by the men; and at last they concluded to take
their departure, but just as they got to the door, and while Fred was
unlocking it, O'Shea expressed a desire to whisper a few words to my
friend.

"If ye have such a thing as a thimble full of whiskey in the store,
perhaps ye will give us a drink?" he said.

Fred hesitated for a moment, but at last concluded that it would be a
cheap riddance by giving them a drink. He drew a couple of stiff glasses
from the barrel, and they swallowed the liquor with a relish that would
have delighted the heart of a manufacturer.

"Ah, how I should like to drink such stuff as that all day, and have
nothing to do!" cried Pat; and he glanced fondly towards the barrel, as
though anticipating another invitation, but he didn't get it.

They still hesitated about going, and the two villains looked first at
one and then at another, as thou