wenty-four hours after beginning the siege."

Mr. Brown pointed to the horses, as though intimating we could eat them
if pressed,--but Day shook his head.

"Tain't the grub that we should need as much as something else. Give me
a well of water and the horses, and I'll agree to hold this island agin
all the bushrangers in the country. Don't you know that when the sun
begins to scorch a covey's head he must have water in his stomach, or
he'll soon kick the bucket? We could eat the animals, but we must have
something to drink likewise, or else we'd have fits, and like as not
kill each other. No, no, we can't stand a siege and hope to escape, and
I think what I have proposed is the very best plan."

We hardly knew what reply to make our acquaintance, who seemed
determined to run his head into the lion's den, but the thought suddenly
struck Mr. Brown that if the shepherd meant to thus expose his life he
deserved to get large pay for it, and as my friend was one of those kind
of men who liked to have every thing understood, he considered that it
was his duty to touch on that particular point, and find out what his
views really were.

"We could afford to pay something for the risk that's run, in case you
undertook the task, but we are not rich by any means, although you may
think so by our appearance," my friend said, with a complaisant glance
at his person, which he imagined was dignified, forgetful that he had
dismissed the uniform of an inspector, and wore nothing but a flannel
shirt and duck trousers.

"Humph," muttered the ghost. "I should almost be ashamed to change
places with either of you. As for reward, first wait till I ask for one.
I will promise not to claim any thing more expensive than a bottle of
brandy, and a few pipes of 'bacca, and those I shan't ask for unless you
come this way again, which isn't likely."

"If we don't come we can send," cried Mr. Brown, eagerly, "and I promise
that you shall have a gallon of as good brandy, and half a dozen pounds
as good tobacco as can be found in Ballarat, if you can get those d----d
bushrangers clear of this part of the country so that we can escape.
There they go again, with their eternal _co-hoo-pe._ What in the devil's
name do they mean by that, I wonder?"

"It is the signal for them to extend, and keep a sharp lookout," I
replied, recollecting the signal perfectly well, having heard it many
times.

"Then I have no time to waste, as the funeral undertaker sa