uncil, and debating violently what
sort of death poor Nancy should die, but could not agree. They supposed
her words were deserving of instant punishment, and each man thought his
method of taking her life the more praiseworthy. The discussion saved
Nancy, for we were enabled to reach the spot before the fellows could
make up their minds.

Even in that dreadful moment the tongue of Nancy did not lose its
bitterness, and she was bold enough to boast that her words would come
true, and them what she had told as a vision would prove a reality.

"Now, then, men, rush on, but don't use your pistols unless necessary.
Let us make them prisoners," whispered Mr. Wright.

We answered back that we were ready, and dashed forward just as the
ruffians had decided that to hang the woman would be a more pleasant
spectacle than to burn her.

"Hurrah for Ireland," shouted Mike, springing into the clearing where
the enemy were encamped.

The bushrangers were so taken by surprise that they had no chance to
gain possession of their weapons, or to beat a retreat. One fellow, when
he saw us emerge from the bushes, drew his knife and struck at Mike; but
it was the last blow that he ever made, for the enraged Irishman
shortened his spear, so that he could use it to more advantage, and then
drove it through the body of his opponent, and from the squirming
wretch's back protruded the barbed point. The fellow threw his arms
wildly over his head, and fell to the ground, and with his last breath
cursed his slayer and the whole of mankind.

There was not much for us to do, although every man present, including
the two natives, performed the limited part assigned with fidelity and
despatch.

The ghost, whose true English instincts would not allow him to be
outdone by Mike, made the welkin ring with shouts for England and
himself at the grand charge, and then had deliberately knocked down the
most burly of the robbers, and placed his foot upon his breast, and hold
him there until the melee was ended.

Of course, the other robbers were easily disposed of, for we were two to
one; but even after we had them securely pinioned, they taunted us with
cowardice, and dared us to meet them in open fight, where they could
stand some chance for their lives. Their complaints were unheeded,
although Mike and the ghost both expressed a wish to meet two of the
men, and give them fair play, according to the well-known rules of the
prize ring of London, of whi