Now, in addition, his plucky exploit of the afternoon blazed its way through the settlement; and blarney and bravos rained upon him.

"Golly for you, Purdy, old 'oss!" "Showed 'em the diggers' flag, 'e did!" "What'll you take, me buck?
Come on in for a drop o' the real strip-me-down-naked!" Even a weary old strumpet, propping herself against the doorway of a dancing-saloon, waved a tipsy hand and cried: "Arrah, an' is it yerrself, Purrdy, me bhoy?
Shure an' it's bussin' ye I'd be afther--if me legs would carry me!" And Purdy laughed, and relished the honey, and had an answer pat for everybody especially the women.

His companion on the other hand was greeted with a glibness that had something perfunctory in it, and no touch of familiarity.
The big canvas tent on Bakery Hill, where the meeting was to be held, was already lighted; and at the tinkle of a bell the diggers, who till then had stood cracking and hobnobbing outside, began to push for the entrance.

The bulk of them belonged to the race that is quickest to resent injustice--were Irish.

After them in number came the Germans, swaggering and voluble; and the inflammable French, English, Scotch and Americans formed a smaller and cooler, but very dogged group.
At the end of the tent a rough platform had been erected, on which stood a row of cane seats.