Page:Hornung - Irralies Bushranger.djvu/145

 in any case. And I'd much rather not tie you to a tree. But it's either that or setting me on my way. What do you say?"

"I am in your hands," she replied; but a great thought was leaping in her heart. On foot she was utterly at the mercy of this infamous armed man. But she was a first-rate horse-woman, and in the saddle she might at least elude him.

"This is about as much as I can carry on one arm, and your spirit compels me to leave the other one free in case of need," said Stingaree. "I must therefore ask you to be so good as to carry my valise. It is very ungallant, but you leave me no choice." The valise lay on the ground. Irralie picked it up. Its heaviness surprised her, and the contents rattled under her arm.

"Its weight don't represent its worth," remarked the bushranger, opening the door for Irralie with his revolver-point. "It would be an uncommon poor haul but for those Quandong diamonds. And now I