of it was insolence, and right well has it been
punished," replied Mr. Brown. "But come into the other room, and I'll
tell you the whole story."

Our host followed the ex-inspector to the room where we had supped,
while I left the now quiet crowd as soon as possible, and passed out of
doors with Mike at my heels.

"It's close to your heart he struck," said Mike, alluding to the blow of
the knife. "An inch would have been the death of ye. Long life to ye."

"I have to thank you for your efforts in my behalf," I replied, and when
I shook his hand I left a gold piece in it.

"Bedad, if ye wish, I'll go back and give 'urn another lick," Mike
exclaimed, with enthusiasm, when he felt the weight of the coin.

Before I could reply, Mr. Wright left the house, and hurried towards us.

"Let me, in the first place, apologize for the rudeness of my servant,
and, in the second place, thank you for punishing him as he deserves.
Mr. Brown has given me a very impartial account, of the affair."

"And did he tell what I did, bedad," cried Mike.

"Yes, I am glad to think there is one man in my employ who knows how to
back my friends when I am absent. Mike, from this night your wages are
raised one pound per month, and you shall have Kelly's place, whom I
intend to discharge."

This news excited all the Irishman's enthusiasm, and we left him bidding
defiance to the moon, and wondering how he should spend all his money.

"The fellow whom you punished for insolence, has long held the position
of a bully," Mr. Wright said, "owing to his quarrelsome disposition, and
readiness to use a knife on slight occasion. I have overlooked several
faults in hope that he would improve in disposition, but I see that my
leniency is lost, and as soon as his head is healed, he goes to
Melbourne."

I begged him not to discharge the man on my account, but Mr. Wright was
firm and obstinate as any Englishman, when once resolved on a project,
so I let the matter drop, and when we reached the house, Jackson
informed us that our second supper was ready, and that Nancy was
impatient for something to eat.

"Where have you two men been wandering?" cried Mr. Brown, who was pacing
the room like a hungry bear. "Supper has been ready ten, minutes; a long
time for famished people to wait"

We did not waste precious time in excuses, for it was near three o'clock
in the morning, and I felt anxious to finish, and get that rest which I
so much needed.

"Let the m