'I haven't such a thing about me; but if you mean Ben Kyley,' said Mary, 'come down in your private capacity, sergeant, and put the question to him in the same gentlemanly way. I'll hold your coat and see you get fair play, if I have to referee the argument myself.'
'Where is Kyley, you harridan?'
'He went out an hour ago to watch the murder and manslaughter going on down at Eureka, Sergeant Wallis, and if you miscall me again, you Vandemonian pig-stealer, I'll drag you from your horse and drown you in a tub of suds!'
Wallis struck his horse with his open hand, and rode away, followed by his men, laughing back at the seemingly furious Mrs. Kyley, whose assumed anger, however, suddenly gave place to a broad grin as they passed from sight, and she winked a mischievous aside at the bearded digger.
'My oath, but that's a beautiful beard you have,' she said. 'I've a mind to see how it would suit me.'
'Get a doctor to Done as quickly as you can. There are several among the diggers who'll stand by you,' said Ryder, disregarding Mary's levity. 'You'll look after him? You can draw on me for money to any amount.'
'I'll look after the poor boy, and I won't draw on you for a sixpence.'
'He's with good friends, I know.'
'He is. There's a girl in there who would work the fingers off her two hands to serve him.'
'I will call again when I can, and as often as I can, but I'm in no little danger myself.