"You forget that firewood is dear at Ballarat," and he chuckled as he spoke, as though amused at the thought.
"Thin we'll have it chaper before long," returned the other; and by his language we knew that he was an Irishman.
They worked for a few seconds, and after a match was lighted and thrust into the pile of kindlings, and then the incendiaries crawled towards us as fast as possible, for the purpose of escaping, and getting clear of the flames, which already began to shoot up and crackle, as they gathered headway.
CHAPTER LI.
ATTEMPT TO BURN THE STORE.
As the heads of the incendiaries emerged from beneath the building, and even before they had time to gain a footing, we threw ourselves upon them, and pinned them to the earth in despite of the powerful struggles which they made to escape; failing in which, their hands sought for their knives, but we saw the movement, and succeeded in defeating it.
"Yield in peace," cried Fred, "or you will fare worse," addressing his antagonist, the Irishman, who replied with an oath, and a fierce thrust of a long knife.
"Is that your gratitude?" continued Fred, who easily avoided the meditated blow. "Then I will begin in earnest."