with all my heart for the generous manner you have thought fit to signify your approval of my poor services; but when you come to talk of my courage, I know very well there is not a man in this room but would have acted precisely as I did under the like circumstances. I can only further say, that if any of you ever come across my new quarters, there you will find a bushman's welcome, and, if you prefer it," glancing towards the salver, "I'll serve up your mutton on a silver dish. Now I ain't going to make a fool of myself as I did at the inn t'other day, and down I go like poor old Pidgeon the Darkey." Here Dodge pitched himself into his seat, and after the cheering had subsided, he was requested to enlighten his audience respecting his allusion to Black Pidgeon.
"Ah," Dodge said, squaring himself and drinking a glass or two of wine, "it ain't a very lively after-dinner yarn, there's too much water in it. I happened to be in the neighbourhood of Port Philip Heads when the 'William Salthouse,' on entering, struck on a reef and went down. She had lots of good stuff aboard her, and 'twas a cruel temptation to the few settlers who then lived on the borders of the bay, when they went out for a fishing cruise, to see down below 'em (for the water was mostly as clear as crystal,) so many good casks of liquor all ready for tapping. Many attempts were made to raise some, but they all failed; and at last an ingenious friend of mine, who could turn his hand to anything, made a kind of gigantic auger which was infallibly to do the business; but the sands about the vessel were a favorite cruising ground for sharks, and as them cattle don't stand on much ceremony, it was a long time before he could make up his mind to trust himself amongst them. However, one clear day we went off together, and there below us lay the best bait you can set for a bushman. No sharks were to be seen, and down went my friend armed
