, "an' it's
only jokin' ye are?"

"Truth I tell ye, Petrick--every word o' 't. Ye see the oats weer jest
then sellin' at fifty cents the bushel, an' thet paid us. We made a
lettle suthin', too, by the speekolashun."

"But how did yez get the other inds pointed at all--at all?"

"Oh! thet weer eezy enough. I invented a machine for thet, an' run 'em
through in less'n no time. When they kim out at t'other eend o' the
machine, _I kednt meself a told 'em from oats_!"

"Och! now I comprehend. Arrah! an' wasn't it a quare thrick? Be my
sowl, it bates Bannagher all to paces! Ha, ha, haw!"

Wingrove and I could hold in no longer, but joining in the loud
cachinnation--as if we had been its echoes--sprang forward to the front.
Infantry and rifleman bounded to their feet, with a simultaneous shout
of "Indians!" and dropping their spits and half-eaten _appolas_ of meat,
dashed into the bushes like a pair of frightened rabbits! In an
instant, both were out of sight; and their whereabouts was alone
indicated by the rattling of the branches as they passed through them.
I was apprehensive of losing them altogether; and regretted not having
used more caution in approaching them. At that crisis, an idea came to
my aid; and giving out an old signal, well-remembered by the _ci-devant_
rangers, I had the gratification of receiving a double response. The
utterance of the signal had brought them to an instantaneous halt; and I
could hear them exchanging surmises and exclamations of astonishment, as
they retraced their steps towards the fire. Presently, a pair of short,
snub-nosed faces were seen peering through the leaves; while from the
lips of their owners burst simultaneously, "The cyaptin'!" "The
capting!" with various other phrases in their respective _patois_,
expressive of surprise and recognition.

A few words sufficed to explain all. As we had surmised, the men were
deserters. Neither attempted to deny what, in time of peace, is not
considered a very heinous crime; and for which, just then, the
"Californian fever" was considered an ample justification. It was no
affair of ours. I was only too rejoiced to join company with the
runaways, of whose loyalty to myself I had proofs of old. Their guns--
more especially the rifle of Sure-shot--would be a valuable addition to
our strength; and, instead of crawling along under the cover of night,
we might now advance with more freedom and rapidity. It was determined,
the