Part 41 (1/2)
”When I get the money,” he said to hio or not I don't care for the boys, but I'd like to give this Yankee a good flogging, he's so confoundedly sarcastic Plague take it, the fellow doesn't knohen he's down, but talks as if he was on equal terh Fletcher did not know it, the train of bushrangers had steadily advanced to the neighborhood of the place where the governnorant that they were so near But Obed knew it, and he atching his opportunity to apprise his friends of his situation
Harry had noticed the sa Lest he should make a pren of silence
Harry understood, and see fast with excitement
CHAPTER xxxIII
THE TABLES ARE TURNED
It was certainly an oversight in Fletcher not to have ascertained the situation of the government encampment He was under the impression that it was in a direction opposite to that in which they were , and this deterer, and tranquil in h his situation was critical
Obed was puzzled to knohat ence to his coestion The ned doubtless to use in case of eencies It was of rather peculiar shape
”That's an odd whistle you've got there, et it?”
”In Melbourne,” answered the fellow unsuspiciously
”I think I've seen one like it in the States Let er allowed Obed to take it in his hand
Suddenly Mr Stackpole put it to his ave a sharp, loud whistle that awakened the echoes in the forest
Like a flash Fletcher turned froer with a frown Obed had dropped the whistle, and alking on with an innocent look
”What is this foolery, Hogan?” demanded Fletcher sharply ”Don't you know better than to whistle?”
”I didn't, lieutenant,” answered Hogan ”It was this man here”
”The Yankee?”
”Yes”
”How did he get the whistle?”
”He asked to look at it”
”What does this et riled, squire,” said Obed imperturbably ”I just wanted to try it, that's all I had a whistle once a little like it When I orkin' for old Deacon Plummer in New Hampshi+re----”
”Confound old Deacon Pluht have you shot for what you've done?”
”Shot for whistling! Well, that beats all I ever heard of I say, squire, your laws are stricter than any I ever came across I didn't think I was doin' any harm”
”I will overlook it this tiain, I'll have you tied to a tree and whipped”