would you?" she asked, her dark face looking grim
and sardonic in the wavering light of the fire, which was kept up by
throwing on wood that had long laid exposed to the hot sun of Australia.

"To be sure I would; and, while you are about it, tell my fortune.
Whether I shall be rich and marry a princess, like them old fellers,
hundreds of years ago, that we read about in some book, blast me if I
know the name of it. Come, fire away while I smoke my pipe, and try to
kill a few of these d----d mosquitoes that have got bills longer than a
criminal lawyer in full practice in Old Bailey."

The man filled his pipe with tobacco, an example that was followed by
those who had finished gorging, and after he had lighted it, he turned
his head in the direction of the prisoners, as though signifying that he
was ready to listen.

"The only wife that you will marry will be the gibbet," the old woman
said, spitefully.

"Peace, you old hag," cried the bushranger, angrily. "How dare you talk
to me in that sort of way?"

"I thought that you wanted to hear what I have been dreaming about?" she
replied, with a sneer.

"So I do, but don't you mention gibbets, do you hear, 'cos you might
provoke me, and then you would dangle from one of these trees, a
scarecrow that would cause old Wright much wonder. Now you go ahead."

"I dreamed that I was in a crowd of excited people, who were walking
towards a prison where they said an execution was to take place. I went
with them, for I felt that I had received so many injuries at the hands
of men that it would be joy to my wounded heart to see them suffer. I
struggled until I reached the front ranks of the crowd, and then waited
patiently until a procession, headed by soldiers with solemn music, left
the prison and marched towards the scaffold."

"Didn't I tell you not to talk about such things?" cried the bushranger,
fiercely.

"Then I will not;" and the woman remained silent.

"Let her go on with the yarn," the other robbers exclaimed. "Let her
tell what she likes about hanging coveys, if she pleases. Fire away, old
woman."

Thus commanded, she resumed the subject of her pretended dream.

"I thought that I saw three prisoners, with faces covered with black
crape, march with trembling steps towards the scaffold, while the
hangman, who walked beside them, continually shouted, with a voice so
loud that it was heard by every one, 'Behold, these men are about to be
executed for murder and r