saw Mendoza come out of the hut where we all lived. Mendoza
thought that Bill was away buying groceries. But he wasn't: he
was in the bucket. And when Mendoza saw Luke hauling and
straining on the rope he thought he was pulling up a bucketful
of gold. So he drew a pistol from his pocket and came sneaking up
behind Luke to shoot him.

"I barked and barked to warn my master of the danger he was in;
but he was so busy hauling up Bill (who was a heavy fat man) that
he took no notice of me. I saw that if I didn't do something
quick he would surely be shot. So I did a thing I've never done
before: suddenly and savagely I bit my master in the leg from
behind. Luke was so hurt and startled that he did just what I
wanted him to do: he let go the rope with both hands at once and
turned round. And then, CRASH! down went Bill in his bucket to
the bottom of the mine and he was killed.

"While my master was busy scolding me Mendoza put his pistol in
his pocket, came up with a smile on his face and looked down the
mine.

" 'Why, Good Gracious'!" said he to Luke, 'You've killed
Bluebeard Bill. I must go and tell the police'--hoping, you see,
to get the whole mine to himself when Luke should be put in
prison. Then he jumped on his horse and galloped away."

"And soon my master grew afraid; for he saw that if Mendoza only
told enough lies to the police, it WOULD look as though he had
killed Bill on purpose. So while Mendoza was gone he and I stole
away together secretly and came to England. Here he shaved off