'What! You don't mean they're goin' t' form a band t' capture us?'

'Well, they sorter agreed about somethin' like that.'

'My word, that's into our hands, ain't it? Lemme see, we must be a band
of bushrangers what's robbed the gold escort an' the mounted p'lice're
huntin' us in the ranges. I'll be--yes, I'll be Morgan. An' Ted--!
What'll we make Ted? I know--I know. He'll be my faithful black boy,
what'll rather die than leave me. You fellers bring a cork to-morrow, an'
we'll pretty quick make a faithful black boy of Twitter.'

All eyes were turned upon Ted, who did not seem in the least impressed by
the magnificent prospect. Indeed, the faithful native was palpably out of
sorts; he took no part in the enthusiasm of his mates, his face was pale,
and funk was legible in the diffident eye he turned upon the company.
Dick noted this and put in an artful touch or two.

'Jacky-Jacky, the faithful black boy,' he said; 'brave as a lion, an' the
best shot in the world--better'n me!

The ruse was not successful. Ted failed to respond.

'Twitter don't seem to want to be no black boy,' said Phil.

'I'll be Jacky-Jacky,' volunteered Peterson eagerly.

Peterson was a stolid youth with a face like a wooden doll; absolutely
reliable since he was as stubborn under adult rule as a whole team of
unbroken bullocks, and quite reckless of consequences for the reason that
he never anticipated them. Peterson would have made a most successful