Slivers' shoulder. 'Oh, Lord! ha! ha! ha!' going into fits of
laughter; then drawing himself suddenly up, he ejaculated 'Pickles!'
and shut up.

'It's no good beating about the bush,' said the wooden-legged man,
getting down from the table. 'You go out near the claim, and see if
you can catch her; then give it to her hot.'

'What am I to say?' asked Villiers, helplessly.

Slivers looked at him with fiery scorn in his one eye.

'Say!' he shrieked, waving his cork arm, 'talk about your darned
honour! Say she's dragging your noble name through the mud, and say
you'll divorce her if she don't give you half a share in the
Pactolus; that will frighten her.'

'Pickles!' again ejaculated the parrot.

'Oh, no, it won't,' said Villiers; 'Brag's a good dog, but he don't
bite. I've tried that game on before, and it was no go.'

'Then try it your own way,' grumbled Slivers, sulkily, going to his
seat and pouring himself out some whisky. 'I don't care what you do,
as long as I get into the Pactolus, and once I'm in the devil
himself won't get me out.'

Villiers thought a moment, then turned to go.

'I'll try,' he said, as he went out of the door, 'but it's no go, I