"Yes, you have," he said with a laugh. "I have; and we are one." "You have? Money?" "Of course. Do you suppose a man is at work out here for a dozen years without making some? There! don't you worry about that: you're new. You'll find plenty of men, who came out as convicts, rich men now with land of their own. But we are wasting time. You have brought out my freedom." "Your pardon?" "No. Nonsense! I shall have to stay out here; but it does not matter now. Only go and do as I tell you, and carefully, for you are only a woman in a strange place, and alone till you get me out." "Mr Bayle is here, and Sir Gordon--" "Bayle!" cried Hallam, catching her wrist with a savage grip and staring in an angry way at the agitated face before him. "Yes; he has been so helpful and true all through our trouble, and--" "Curse Bayle!" he muttered. Then aloud, and in a fierce, impatient way: "Never mind that now, I shall have to go back to the gang directly, and I have not said half I want to say." "I will not speak again," she said eagerly. "Tell me what to do." "Take house or apartments at once; behave as if you were well off--I tell you that you are; do all yourself, and send in an application to the authorities for two assigned servants." "Assigned servants?" "Yes--convict servants," said Hallam impatiently. "There! you must know. There are so many that the Government are glad to get the well-behaved convicts off their hands, and into the care of settlers who undertake their charge. You want two men, as you have settled here. You will have papers to sign, and give undertakings; but do it all boldly, and you will select two. They won't ask you any questions about your taking up land, they are too glad to get rid of us. If they do ask anything, you can boldly say you want them for butler and coachman." "But, Robert, I do not understand." "Do as I tell you," he said sharply. "You will select two men--myself and Stephen Crellock." "Yourself and Stephen Crellock?" "Yes. Don't look so bewildered, woman. It is the regular thing, and we shall be set at liberty." "At liberty?" "Yes, to go anywhere in the colony. You are answerable to the Government for us." "But, Robert, you would come as--my servant?" "Pooh! Only in name. So long as you claim us as your servants, that is all that is wanted. Plenty are freed on these terms, and once they are out, go and live with their families, like any one else." "This is done here?" "To be sure it is. I tell you that once a man has been in the gangs here for a few years they are glad to get him off their hands, so as to leave room for others who are coming out. Why, Milly, they could not keep all who are sent away from England, and people are easier and more forgiving out here. Hundreds of those you see here were lags." "Lags?" "Bah! how innocent you are. Well, convicts. Now, quick! they are coming. You understand?" "Yes." "And you will do as I tell you?"