"Hear, hear!" came the response. "Go ahead, Bill. Name yer men, and let's get this business fixed up."
Pritchen's eye gleamed with a triumphant light at this turn of affairs. He made a show of refusing such an important task, but the men would not listen.
"Come, man," said Perdue, "stick to yer job. Ye kin do it, and all 'ill be satisfied."
"Well, if you want me to do it," replied Pritchen, "you'll have to put up with my choice. I'll do the best I can, and I want no back jaw when it's done."
"All right, Bill, never fear. Go ahead."
Pritchen looked slowly round the room as if weighing each man carefully in his mind.
"Mickie O'Toole," he said, "will you stand by and help with this job?"
"Sure," came the reply. "To the very last."
"And find the rope too, Mickie?" laughed one.
"If you're the thafe, begorra, I'll find the rope, tie the knot, and give the first pull."