Page:Hornung - Irralies Bushranger.djvu/132

 mind—and you come to the township and the police-barracks. But you'd much better let me go!"

"Not I, my good friend. I've heard a good deal of you young Australians; let me see one of you stick to his post! In ten minutes I shall be off; but I must first go and fetch my valise. Come along, Mr. Inexorable Young!"

And they were gone; their voices dwindled and died; and Irralie was peering at her ruffianly companion with an admiration sanctioned and concealed by the night.

"He was frightened to be left in charge of you!" she said. "He's not the man I took him for, after all. But be quick—the horse! the horse!"

They crept round to the stable-door, and found a piebald mare standing saddled in the stall.

"Venus," said Irralie, blowing out the match. "She shows, but she can go! Did you listen to those directions?"

"Yes."