dy to vouch for our disintertestedness, he
continued: "You see when I was overhauling your traps last night--"

Here Mr. Brown groaned, as he thought of the liquor which had been
carried off, and how acceptable it would be at the present time.

"I found a lot of matches, so I took half that you had," continued Day,
"which I consider an honest transaction, 'cos I know coveys who would
have carried all off and not thanked ye. I've got some honor, if I am a
shepherd."

"Especially when you drank all my brandy," Mr. Brown remarked.

Day scorned to notice the insinuation, but continued:

"I thought how convenient them 'ere matches would be, and I didn't
scruple to take 'em, 'cos I knew that if we were acquainted you would
divide, and be glad to accommodate me."

We didn't tell Day the maledictions we had showered upon his head, or
how we should have treated him had we caught him with our puck. We
thought that as he had been of service to us we would withhold our
expressions of dissatisfaction. Day continued:

"I had the matches in my pocket when I seed that black devil get ready
to kill his man, and a thought struck me that if the bushranger was
'gentleman Sam,' I'd better look out how I played pranks with him, 'cos
he's as bold as a lion, and nearly about as strong. I thought that if I
was to frighten him I'd got to put on the extras, and I jist collected a
few dried twigs, lashed them on the head with dried kangaroo sinews,
tougher than an undertaker's heart, and when I found that it was about
time for the coffin, I jist lighted the wood works with a match, and
there I was all shining bright like an angel."

"If you resemble an angel, I don't wonder at the few visits they pay the
earth," grumbled Mr. Brown, who, now that the danger was nearly past,
was disposed to quiz the man who had been so serviceable to us.

"Well, I 'spose there is some difference 'twixt us," returned Day, "for
if all angels got burned as bad as I have been they would leave out the
fire when they went visiting."

"Well, well," replied my companion, consolingly, "you have been an angel
to us, Day, and if I had only a portion of the good liquor which you
carried off last night I would drink your health and bathe your wounds."

"Would you, though?" demanded Day, with animation.

Mr. Brown reiterated his statement, although in a languid manner, for he
did not exactly approve of the midnight depredation which our friend had
been guilty of.