The next moment he received the greatest surprise of his life.
“For Heaven’s sake!” said a voice at his elbow. “Is it possible there is a person in this place who can speak English too?”
Barney turned like a flash.
“Tare an’ ’ounds!” he gasped. “Who the divil are yez?”
“On the other hand, let me ask the same question.”
Barney was facing a young man, tall, straight and handsome.
He was dressed in the garb of a native hunter, and carried a rifle. A moment previous he had crept out of a niche in the wall just to Barney’s right.
The two white men stood gazing at each other in amazement.
“Well, I niver!” gasped Barney. “Yez are not one of these haythins that own this place, are yez?”
“No. Are you?”