'Stranger, you have made me your friend. You are a man.'
Meanwhile the old woman had begun to storm and gesticulate.
'What has the place come to?' she screamed, 'if the master is to be bullied before us all. Is there no one here who will take this impudent upstart and tie him up?'
Nobody moved.
'Pack of cowardly curs,' she screamed, 'to allow a thing like him to frighten you so.'
'Peace, mother,' interposed the Captain. 'Some things are to be punished, others to be tolerated. I think you may safely allow, all these matters, to remain with me. For the present let nothing further be said about this business.' The old woman subsided with a scowl; and Murfrey's eyes gleamed like a beast who has resolved that his prey shall not escape him. The robbers threw themselves around on dried bushes strewn about for such purposes; but Roland and The Lifter took their guns and set out through the bush to hunt partridge.
'You saved my life to-day,' The Lifter said, as he looked in our hero's face; 'and if ever the opportunity comes I will show you that, wicked as I am, I can be grateful.'
'Peace. There is nothing to be said on that point. You saved my life; and we are square.'
'Ah, but it was different. I did it among my friends; you among your enemies.'
'I should like to ask you a favour in return for what you consider my generosity, then,' Roland said, looking at his companion.