Nancy looked at the chief as if to ask his permission, but he merely
said:

'I have no concern in the affairs of this whelp.'

'Then I will go,' the girl said, and darting below, she soon
returned with a flask. Forcing open The Lifter's mouth, Roland poured
in about half a glass of brandy, which in a few seconds brought back
the sufferer's pulse. When he had recovered his consciousness he said
in a low voice:

'Stranger, you have made me your friend. You are a _man_.'

Meanwhile the old woman had begun to storm and gesticulate.

'What has the place come to?' she screamed, 'if the master is to be
bullied before us all. Is there no one here who will take this
impudent upstart and tie him up?'

Nobody moved.

'Pack of cowardly curs,' she screamed, 'to allow a thing like him to
frighten you so.'

'Peace, mother,' interposed the Captain. 'Some things are to be
punished, others to be tolerated. I think you may safely allow, all
these matters, to remain with me. For the present let nothing further
be said about this business.' The old woman subsided with a scowl;
and Murfrey's eyes gleamed like a beast who has resolved that his
prey shall not escape him. The robbers threw themselves around on