"Sure I will, son."
"How much do you want for the job?"
"Sure, yer honor, I'll lave that entoirely to yez. It's thirty mile out and thirty mile in, and the divil's own track, and there's the wages and the horses, and there's lavin' me own worruk and—"
"That's all right, Paddy. Name your price and, if I think it's worth it, I'll pay it."
"Cash down, son?"
Paddy had evidently been bitten before. "Cash down, Paddy." I showed him a roll of notes.
"Make it foive pounds, son, and I'll do it."
"Right, Paddy! When will you start?"
"To-morrow morning, son."
"No, Paddy—to-night."
"Holy God, to-night!"
"Now!"
"Now!" Paddy could not get any other word out.
"Now, Paddy, and I'll give you five pounds and another five pounds when you've done the job."
"But, son, it's as dark as the mouth of Hell and me horses are down the river."
I counted out five pounds and toyed carelessly with them. Paddy brought his fist down on the table and cried, "By God, I'll do it."
When I saw he meant business, I handed him the five pounds and told him about Cameron and Hughes intending to get ahead of us.
"Them two damn fools! Why, son, they couldn't find the Buchanan track in the dark to save their skins. It's all they can do to get there by daylight, and I know a short cut round by the Limestone track and Sandy Creek that'll cut off an hour and a half at least."
Then I told him of my plan. He was to round up his horses, saddle the one he intended to ride and tie it up in the bush out of sight. He was to bring in another horse already saddled and hitch him to the
