CHAPTER LXXVII.
CAPTURE OF THE BUSHRANGERS.
"I've not been asleep, but still I've had a dream," Nancy replied to the insulting taunt of the robber.
"Hullo, here's a go. An old woman can dream with her eyes open. Tell us what it was all about, old Tabby."
The woman looked sternly at her tormentor, but did not deign to reply; but the robbers were not disposed to have her rest in peace.
"Come, Tabby, tell us the dream," cried the first speaker.
"You would know it, would you?" she asked, her dark face looking grim and sardonic in the wavering light of the fire, which was kept up by throwing on wood that had long laid exposed to the hot sun of Australia.
"To be sure I would; and, while you are about it, tell my fortune. Whether I shall be rich and marry a princess, like them old fellers, hundreds of years ago, that we read about in some book, blast me if I know the name of it. Come, fire away while I smoke my pipe, and try to kill a few of these d——d mosquitoes that have got bills longer than a criminal lawyer in full practice in Old Bailey."