"Nonsense" said Hugh; "Is this the way you show your resolution? Here's a fellow," turning round to Slinger and pointing to Dodge, "who would face any created thing in the shape of a man, running away from a handbill, which after all I believe is genuine, at least I know that a certain Giles Dodge deserves the praise of the colonists for the part he played in the capture of the bushrangers. Come sit down, let us talk this matter over."
Accordingly the subject was fully discussed amidst volumes of tobacco smoke, and Dodge at length expressed a determination to "chance it, like Major Oakes did. Perhaps you never heard of the Major: well then, he was a rum old colonial magistrate who, whenever a doubtful case was brought against a convict servant, used to escape the bother of a long inquiry by delivering this invariable judgment, 'Hum! ha!! yes, give him five-and-twenty, and chance it. Bring up the next.'"
In due time the trio arrived on the banks of the picturesque Yarra Yarra River, a short distance above Melbourne, and here Dodge's heart completely failed him: nothing short of his companions first going into the town and inquiring into the genuineness of the bill they had seen would satisfy his scruples.
Raymond and Slinger soon found themselves in their own quarters, and on making known the share they had taken in the late affray, were soon crowded upon by numbers of their townsmen, all eager to get some genuine intelligence about the late stirring event. Conspicuous among them was Mr. Nailem, and on the name of Dodge being mentioned, he spoke in enthusiastic terms of the nerve and spirit he had displayed. Such an opportunity was not to be let slip, and the two friends being quite convinced that Dodge might make his appearance with perfect security, Mr. Nailem was informed of the proxi-
