I've come to git a reward. Now, if ye'll be
dacint, ye shall have part of it."

Although Jim saw that Mike was apparently in sport, he knew that the
offer of a cash reward for his own betrayal was indeed a sore temptation
to him.

"Did ye tell 'im anything, Mike?" inquired Jim, solemnly.

"Divil a bit."

"An' ye knowed I'd lick ye if ye did. Ye knowed that, didn't ye?"

"I knowed ye'd thry it faithful, an' if ye didn't do it there'd be
niver a man to blame but Mike Conlin."

Jim said no more, but went to work and got a bountiful supper for Mike.
When he had finished, he took him over to Number Ten, where Harry and
Turk were watching. Quietly opening the door of the cabin, he entered.
Benedict lay on his bed, his rapt eyes looking up to the roof. His
clean-cut, deathly face, his long, tangled locks, and the comfortable
appointments about him, were all scanned by Mike, and, without saying a
word, both turned and retired.

"Mike," said Jim, as they retraced their way, "that man an' me was like
brothers. I found 'im in the devil's own hole, an' any man as comes
atween me an' him must look out fur 'imself forever arter. Jim Fenton's
a good-natered man when he ain't riled, but he'd sooner fight nor eat
when he is. Will ye help me, or won't ye?"

Mike made no reply, but opened his pack and brought out a tumbler of
jelly. "There, ye bloody blaggard, wouldn't ye be afther lickin' that
now?" said he; and then, as he proceeded to unload the pack, his tongue
ran on in comment. (A paper of crackers.) "Mash 'em all to smithereens
now. Give it to 'em, Jim." (A roasted chicken.) "Pitch intil the
rooster, Jim. Crack every bone in 'is body." (A bottle of brandy.)
"Knock the head aff his shoolders and suck 'is blood." (A package of
tea.) "Down with the tay! It's insulted ye, Jim." (A piece of maple
sugar.) "Och! the owld, brown rascal! ye'll be afther doin Jim Fenton a
bad turn, will ye? Ye'll be brakin 'is teeth fur 'im." Then followed a
plate, cup and saucer, and these were supplemented by an old shirt and
various knick-knacks that only a woman would remember in trying to
provide for an invalid far away from the conveniences and comforts of
home.

Jim watched Mike with tearful eyes, which grew more and more loaded and
luminous as the disgorgement of the contents of the pack progressed.

"Mike, will ye forgive me?" said Jim, stretching out his hand. "I was
afeared the money'd be too many for ye; but barrin' yer big foot an' t