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diff --git a/41269-0.txt b/41269-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6b49a19 --- /dev/null +++ b/41269-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6812 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41269 *** + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustration. + See 41269-h.htm or 41269-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/41269/41269-h/41269-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/41269/41269-h.zip) + + + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive. See + http://archive.org/details/sheilahmcleodher00bootrich + + + + + +SHEILAH MCLEOD + +[Illustration: Logo] + +[Illustration: SHEILAH McLEOD _Frontispiece_.] + + +SHEILAH McLEOD + +A Heroine of the Back Blocks + +by + +GUY BOOTHBY + +Author of +'Dr Nikola,' 'A Bid for Fortune,' 'The Beautiful White +Devil,' 'The Fascination of the King,' etc. + + + + + + + +London +Skeffington & Son, Piccadilly +Publishers to H.M. The Queen and H.R.H. The Prince of Wales +1897 + +All Rights reserved. + +Copyright in the United States of America by the +F. A. Stokes Company + + + + +CONTENTS + + +PROLOGUE + +VAKALAVI IN THE SAMOAN GROUP, 1 + +CHAPTER I + +OLD BARRANDA ON THE CARGOO RIVER, +SOUTH-WESTERN QUEENSLAND, 20 + +CHAPTER II + +HOW I FIRST LEARNED MY LOVE FOR SHEILAH, 50 + +CHAPTER III + +WHISPERING PETE, 71 + +CHAPTER IV + +THE RACE, 107 + +CHAPTER V + +CONSEQUENCES, 139 + +CHAPTER VI + +COLIN McLEOD, 170 + +CHAPTER VII + +I PROPOSE TO SHEILAH, 199 + +CHAPTER VIII + +A VISIT FROM WHISPERING PETE, 216 + +CHAPTER IX + +SHEILAH'S LOYALTY, 229 + +CHAPTER X + +THE TRIAL, 242 + +CHAPTER XI + +HOW I ESCAPED, 281 + + + + +SHEILAH McLEOD + + + + +PROLOGUE + +VAKALAVI IN THE SAMOAN GROUP + + +Looking back on it now I can recall every circumstance connected with +that day just as plainly as if it had all happened but yesterday. In the +first place, it was about the middle of the afternoon, and the S.E. +trade, which had been blowing lustily since ten o'clock, was beginning +to die away according to custom. + +There had been a slight shower of rain in the forenoon, and now, +standing in the verandah of my station looking across the blue lagoon +with its fringe of boiling surf, it was my good fortune not only to have +before me one of the finest pictures in the South Pacific, but to be +able to distinctly smell the sweet perfume of the frangipani blossom and +wild lime in the jungle which clothed the hillside behind me. I walked +to one end of the verandah and stood watching a group of native girls +making tappa outside the nearest hut--then to the other, and glanced +into my overflowing copra shed, and from it at the bare shelves of the +big trade room opposite. The one, as I say, was full, the other sadly +empty, and for more than a week I had been bitterly lamenting the +non-arrival of the company's schooner, which was supposed to visit the +island once every six months in order to remove my gains and to supply +me with sufficient trade to carry me safely through the next half-year. +The schooner was now ten days overdue, and I had made sure she would put +in an appearance that morning; but the wind was failing, and it was, +therefore, ten chances to one against our seeing her before the next +forenoon. I was more than a little disappointed, if only on the score of +the company I should have had, for you must understand that it was +nearly six months since I had seen a white face, and even then the face +was only that of a missionary. But, in common fairness, I must confess +that that missionary was as different to the usual run of his cloth as +chalk is to cheese--a good fellow in every way, not a bit bumptious, or +la-di-dardy, or fond of coming the Oxford scholar-and-a-gentleman +touch, but a real white man from top to toe. And my first meeting with +him was as extraordinary as anyone could imagine, or wish for. It's a +yarn against myself, but as it shows you what queer beasts we men are, I +may as well tell you about it. It happened in this way:-- + +About ten o'clock one fine spring morning I was coming down the hillside +behind my house, and, according to custom, pulled up at the Big Plateau +and looked out to sea. To the north and south nothing was in sight, but +to the eastward there was a tiny blotch on the horizon which gradually +developed into a small fore-and-aft schooner of about fifty tons. When +she was level with the island she worked steadily up the reef until she +found the passage through the surf; then, having edged her way into the +lagoon, came to an anchor opposite my house. Seeing that she was going +to send a boat ashore, and suspecting some sort of missionary mischief +from the cut of her jib, down I went to the beach and got ready to +receive her. + +The craft she was sending ashore was a double-ended surf boat, and a +well-built one at that, pulled by two Solomon boys, and steered by a +white man in a queer kind of helmet that I believe they call a 'solar +topee' in India. The man in the helmet brought her up in first-class +style, and was preparing to beach her just in front of where I stood +when I held up my hand in warning. + +'Who are you, and what do you want here?' I asked, looking him up and +down. + +'I'm the new missionary at Futuleima,' says he, as bold as brass, 'and +as I had a couple of spare days at my disposal I thought I would come +across and talk to the people on this island. Have you anything to say +against it?' + +'Not much,' I answered, feeling my dander rising at the cool way in +which he addressed me, 'but what I _do_ say I mean.' + +'And what is it you mean, my friend?' he asked. + +'I mean that you don't set foot ashore if I can prevent it,' I replied. +'You understand me once and for all. I'm the boss of this island, and +I'm not going to have any of your nonsense talked to my men. I'm +civilising 'em on my own lines, and I won't have you interfering and +shoving your nose in where it ain't wanted.' + +'I'm afraid you speak your mind with more candour than courtesy,' he +said, mopping his forehead with a snow-white pocket-handkerchief which +he had taken from his pocket. + +'You think so, do you?' I cried. 'Well, you just set as much as your +little toe on this beach and you'll see that I mean it!' + +'So I'm to choose between fighting you and going away with my errand +unaccomplished?' he answered, still as cool as a cucumber. 'Do I take +you properly?' + +'That is my meaning, and I reckon it's a bigger one than you can +digest,' I replied, like the hot-tempered fool I was. 'Let me tell you, +you're not the first of your breed that has tasted my fist and gone away +with his appetite satisfied.' + +'Then since it is to be the Church Militant here on Earth, and there's +no other way out of it, I suppose I must agree to your proposal,' he +said, after a moment's thought, and forthwith jumped out of the boat on +to the beach. 'But let it be somewhere where my boatmen cannot see. I +don't know that the example would be altogether beneficial to them.' + +As he stood on the beach before me, Heaven knows it was a poor enough +figure of a man he made. He was not as big as me by a head and a half; +for I stand close on six feet in my socks, and am bigger in the beam +than the ordinary run of men; besides which, I am always, of necessity, +in the pink of condition. To think, therefore, that such a little +whipper-snapper should contemplate fighting me was too absurd. I stood +and stared at him. + +'You don't mean to say you intend to put your fists up?' I cried, +letting him see how astonished I was. + +'That I do!' he said, and bidding his men wait for him he led the way up +the path to the jungle at the back of the station house. 'Since you deem +it necessary that I should introduce myself to you in such a strange +fashion, I feel it incumbent upon me to do so. Besides, I want to teach +you a lesson you will not forget.' Then, stopping short in his walk, he +felt the muscle of my right arm critically and smiled. 'You'll be a man +worth fighting,' he said, and continued his walk. + +Well, here I was in a mighty curious position, as you will understand. +Having seen the plucky way he had jumped ashore and taken me up, right +in my teeth, so to speak, I felt I had made a precious fool of myself in +being so ready with my challenge. He was a man and not a monkey, like +most of his fraternity, and he might have converted every nigger in the +South Pacific for all I should have cared. I wouldn't have stopped a +man like him for all the world, for I reckon he wouldn't have taught 'em +anything shady for the life of him. But there was no hope for it now, so +I walked up the path beside him, as meek as a new-born lamb, till we +came to an open patch at the base of a small waterfall. + +'This should suit our purpose, I think,' he said, taking off his helmet +and coat and placing them beneath a tree. 'If you're quite ready, let us +get to business.' + +'Hold on,' I cried, 'this won't do. I've changed my mind, and I'm not +going to fight you after all! Missionary or no missionary, you're a man, +and a proper sort of man too; and what's more, you shall waltz every +nigger on this island backwards and forwards in and out of Purgatory as +often as you please, for all I'll say you nay.' + +'That's very kind of you,' he answered, at the same time looking me in +the face in a curious sort of fashion. 'Nevertheless, for the good of +your own soul, I intend that you shall fight me, and at once.' + +'I won't, and that's the end of it,' I said. + +'You will, and immediately,' he answered quietly. Then, walking up to +me, he drew back his arm and hit me a blow in the face. For a second I +was too much surprised to do anything at all, but, recovering myself, I +lifted my fist and drove it home under his jaw. He went down like a +ninepin and rolled almost over, but before I could say 'knife' he was up +and at me again. After that I didn't stop to consider, but just let him +have it, straight from the shoulder, as fast as he could take it. Take +it he did, like a glutton, and asked for more, but it was sickening work +for all that, and though I did my best to give him satisfaction, I found +I could put no heart in it. + +When I had sent him flying head over heels in the grass for the sixth +time, and his face was a good deal more like an underdone beefsteak than +anything else, I could stand it no longer, and I told him so. But it +made no difference; he got on to his feet and ran at me again, this time +catching me a good one on the left jaw. In sheer self-defence I had to +send him down, though I loathed myself as a beast of the worst kind for +doing it. But even then he was not satisfied. Once more he came in at me +and once more I had to let him have it. By this time he could hardly see +out of his eyes, and his face was streaming with blood. + +'That's enough,' I cried, 'I'll have no more of it. I'm a big bully, +and you're the best plucked little fellow this side of Kingdom Come! +I'll not lay another finger on you, even if you knock me into a jelly +trying to make me. Get up and shake hands.' + +He got on to his feet and held out his hand. + +'All things considered, this is the queerest bit of proselytizing I have +ever done,' he said. 'But somehow I think I've taught you a lesson, my +friend!' + +'You have,' I answered, humbly, 'and one that I'll never forget if I +live to be a hundred. I deserve to be kicked.' + +'No! You're a man, and a better man, if I'm not mistaken, than you were +half-an-hour ago.' + +He said no more on the subject then, but went over to the little pool +below the waterfall and bathed his face. I can tell you I felt pretty +rocky and mean as I watched him. And any man who knows my reputation +among the Islands will tell you that's a big admission for Jim +Heggarstone to make. + +After that he stayed with me until his bruises disappeared; and when he +went away I had made a firm friend of him, and told him all the queer +story that I have set myself to tell you in this book. Ever since that +time he's been one of my staunchest and truest pals on earth, and all I +can say is if there's any man has got a word to say against the Rev. +William Carson-Otway, he had better not say it in my hearing--that's +all. + +But in telling you all this I've been wandering off my course, and now I +must get back to the afternoon of the day when I was awaiting the +arrival of the schooner _Wildfowl_ with a cargo of trade from Apia. As I +have told you the wind had almost dropped, and for that reason I had +given up all hope of seeing anything of her before morning. But, as it +happened, I was mistaken, for just about sundown she hove in sight, +rounded the bit of headland that sheltered the bay on the eastern side, +and, having safely made the passage, brought up in the lagoon. Her +arrival put me in the best of spirits, for after all those months spent +alone with natives, I was fairly sick for a talk with a white man again. +Long before her anchor was down I was on the beach getting my boat into +the water, and by the time the rattle of the cable in the hawse-hole had +died away, I was alongside and clambering aboard. I shook hands with the +skipper, who was standing aft near the deck-house, then glanced at +another man whose back was towards me. By-and-by he swung round and +looked me in the face. Then I saw that it was Dan Nicholson of Salfulga +Island, on the other side--the biggest blackguard and bully in the +Pacific, and I don't care where you look for the next. An ugly smile +came over his face as he recognised me, and then he said very +politely,-- + +'And pray how do we find our dear friend, the Rev. James Heggarstone, +to-day?' + +'None the better for seeing your face, Dan Nicholson,' I answered +sharply. 'And now since you're here I'll give you a bit of advice. Don't +you set your foot ashore while this boat's at anchor, or, as sure as +you're born, I'll teach you a lesson you'll not forget as long as you +live.' + +'As you did that poor, soft-headed Futuleima missionary cuss, I +suppose,' he answered, turning a bit red and shifting uneasily on his +feet. 'Well, having something else on hand just now, I don't think I'll +trouble you this time, beloved brother.' + +I saw that he had taken the hint, so I could afford to forgive the way +he spoke. + +After a bit more palaver I got my budget of letters, which I put into my +pyjama pocket, and then, accompanied by the skipper and supercargo, +went ashore. We strolled up to the station together, and while they sat +and smoked in the verandah I hunted up some food and set it before them, +with the last two bottles of gin I had in the store. I am a strict +teetotaler myself, and have been ever since the events I have set myself +to tell you about occurred. It was mainly the drink that did that bit of +mischief, and for the same reason--but there, whatever the reasons may +have been, I don't see that I need bother you with them till they come +into the story in their proper places. This yarn is not a temperance +tract, is it? + +While they were at their meal I wandered outside to look through my +mail. Two of the letters were from the trading firm I represented at +Vakalavi. One was from Otway the missionary, warning me of an intended +visit, another was a circular from an Apia storekeeper, enclosing a list +of things a man in my situation could never possibly require; but the +fifth was altogether different, and brought me up all standing, as the +sailors say. With trembling hands, and a face as white as the bit of +paper I'm now writing on, I opened it and read it through. Then the +whole world seemed suddenly to change for me. The sun of my life came +out from behind the cloud that had covered it for so long, and, big, +rough man as I was, I leaned my back against the wall behind me, feeling +fairly sick with thankfulness. What a moment that was! I could have gone +out and shouted my joy aloud to the world. The one thing of all others +that I had longed for with my whole heart and soul had come at last. + +I remained where I was for a while, thinking and thinking, but at the +end of half-an-hour, having got my feelings under some sort of control, +I went back to the verandah, where I found my guests smoking their +pipes. Then we sat talking of mutual friends and common experiences for +something like an hour, myself with a greater happiness in my heart than +I had ever felt in my life before. + +Living as I had lived for so long, the only white man on the island, +with never a chance of hearing from or of my old Australian world, it +may not be a matter for surprise that I had many questions to ask, and +much news to hear. Since the schooner had last come my way great changes +had occurred in the world, and on each I had to be rightly and +exhaustively informed. The skipper and supercargo were both fluent +talkers, and only too eager to tell me everything, so I had nothing to +do but to lie back in my chair and listen. + +Suddenly, in the middle of the narrative, a woman's scream rang out on +the night air. Before it had finished I had jumped to my feet and run +into the house, to return a moment later with a Winchester and a handful +of cartridges. + +'For God's sake, man, what are you going to do?' shouted the skipper, +seeing the look upon my face, as I opened the magazine of the rifle and +jammed the cartridges in. + +'I'm going to find out what that scream meant,' I answered, as I turned +towards the verandah steps. + +'Be careful what you're up to with that rifle,' he said. 'Remember two +can play at that game.' + +'You bet your life,' I replied, and ran down the steps and along the +path towards the bit of jungle on the left of the house. + +Out on the open it was all quiet as death, and I knew exactly why. I +entered the thicket pretty cautiously, and before I had gone ten yards +discovered what I had expected to find there. It was Dan Nicholson sure +enough, and one glance showed me that he held in his arms buxom little +Faauma, the daughter of Salevao, the head man of the island. By the way +he was standing, I could tell that she had been struggling, and, from +the tilt of his right arm, I guessed that his fingers were on her +throat, and that he was threatening to choke her if she uttered another +sound. I moved out of the undergrowth and took stock of him. + +'So this is the way you attend to my instructions, is it, Mr Nicholson?' +I said, kicking a bit of dead wood out of the way, and bringing my rifle +to the port in case of mischief. 'Look here, I don't want to shoot you +on my own grounds, when you're, so to speak, my guest, but, by God, if +you don't put those hands of yours up above your head and +right-about-face for the beach this very instant, I swear I'll drill you +through and through as sure as you're born. You understand me now; I've +got nine deaths under my finger, and all of 'em waiting to look into +your carcase, so, if you turn round as much as an inch, you're booked +for Kingdom Come.' + +He never said a word, but dropped the girl right there, and put his +hands up as I had ordered him. + +'That's right, I said. 'Now march.' + +Without a word he turned to the rightabouts and set off through the +scrub for the beach. I followed behind him, with the rifle on my arm +ready to come to the shoulder at an instant's notice. The surf rolled +upon the reef like distant thunder, the stars shone down upon the still +lagoon, and through the palm-leaves I could just discern the outline of +the schooner. + +'Now, sir,' I said, when we arrived at the water's edge, 'I'll have to +trouble you to swim out to yonder vessel. Don't say no, or dare to turn +round; for if you disobey me, you're dead pig that instant.' + +'But I can't swim,' he cried, grinding his teeth so savagely that I +could hear him yards away. + +'That be hanged for a yarn,' I said quietly. 'You swam well enough the +day Big-head Brown fired you off his lugger at Apia. Come, in you go, +and no more palaver, or you and I will quarrel.' + +'But I shall be eaten by sharks,' he cried, this time meaning what he +said very thoroughly. + +'And I wish them joy of a dashed poor meal,' I answered. 'Come, in you +go!' + +With that he began to blubber outright like a great baby, and while he +was doing so I couldn't help thinking what a strange situation it was. +Picture for yourself two men, with the starlit heavens looking down on +them, standing on the edge of a big lagoon, one talking and the other +blubbering like a baby that's afraid of the water. I was about tired of +it by this time, so I gave him two minutes in which to make up his mind, +and promised him, in the event of his not deciding to strike out then, +that I'd fire. Consequently he waded in without more ado, and when I had +seen him more than half way out to the schooner, I put the rifle under +my arm and went back to the house. + +My guests had evidently been listening to our conversation, and at the +same time amusing themselves with my gin bottles. + +'You seem to have turned mighty strait-laced all of a sudden, Mr +Heggarstone,' said the skipper, a little coldly as I came up the steps +and stood the rifle in a corner. + +'You think so, do you?' I answered. 'And why so, pray?' + +'It was only a native girl at the best calculation,' said he. 'And, in +my opinion, she ought to think herself mighty well honoured to be taken +notice of. She ain't a European queen or an extra special female +martyr, is she?' + +'I reckon she's a woman, anyhow,' I replied. 'And no Nicholson that ever +was born, or any other living man for the matter of that, is big enough +to play fast and loose with the women of my island while I'm about! So +don't you make any mistake about that, my friend.' + +'You seem to think a precious deal more of the sex on your patch than we +do down our way,' says he. + +'Perhaps so! And what if I do?' + +'Nothing, of course, but I don't know that it's a good idea to side with +the niggers against white men. That's all,' he continued, looking a +trifle foolish, as he saw the way I was staring at him. + +'Don't you? Well, when you've had sufficient experience, perhaps you'll +think differently. No, sirree, I tell you that the man who says a word +against a woman, black or white, in my hearing has to go down, and I +don't care who he is.' + +'Of course, you've a right to your own opinions,' he answered. + +'I have, and what's more, I think I'm big enough to back them!' + +The supercargo, all this time, had sat as quiet as a mouse. Now he put +his spoke into the conversation. + +'I suppose there's a yarn at the back of all this palaver.' + +'There is,' I answered, 'and a mighty big one too. What's more, if you +like, you shall hear it. And then, when I've done, if it don't make you +swear a woman's just the noblest and sweetest work of God's right hand, +and that the majority of men ain't fit to tie her shoe laces, well, +then, all I can say is you're not the fellows I take you to be.' + +'Give me a light for my pipe,' the skipper said, 'and after that fire +away. I like a yarn first-rate. The night's young, this bottle's about +half-full, and if it takes till morning, well, you'll find I'm not the +chap to grumble.' + +I furnished him with a box of matches, and then, seating myself in a +long cane chair beside the verandah rails, lit my pipe and began the +yarn which constitutes this book. + + + + +CHAPTER I + +OLD BARRANDA ON THE CARGOO RIVER, SOUTH-WESTERN QUEENSLAND + + +When first I remember old Barranda Township on the Cargoo River, +South-Western Queensland, it was not what it is to-day. There were no +grand three-storeyed hotels, with gilded and mirror-hung saloons, and +pretty, bright-eyed barmaids, in the main street then; no macadamised +roads, no smart villa residences peeping from groves of Moreton Bay +fig-trees and stretching for more than a mile out into the country on +either side, no gas lamps, no theatre, no School of Arts, no churches or +chapels, no Squatters' Club, and, above all, no railway line connecting +it with Brisbane and the outer world. No! There were none of these +things. The township, however, lay down in the long gully, beside the +winding, ugly creek just as it does to-day--but in those days its site +was only a clearing out of the primeval bush; the houses were, to use +an Irishism, either tents or slab huts; two hotels certainly graced the +main street, but they were grog shanties of the most villainous +description, and were only patronised by the riffraff of the country +side. The only means of communicating with the metropolis was by the +bullock waggons that brought up our stores once every six months, or by +riding to the nearest township, one hundred and eight miles distant, and +taking the coach from there--a long and wearisome journey that few cared +to undertake. + +One thing has always puzzled me, and that was how it came about that my +father ever settled on the Cargoo. Whatever his reason may have been, +however, certain was it that he was one of the earliest to reach the +river, a fact which was demonstrated by the significant circumstance +that he held possession of the finest site for a house and the pick of +all the best country for miles around the township. It was in the +earliest days that he made his way out west, and if I have my suspicions +of why he came to Australia at all, well, I have always kept them +religiously to myself, and intend to go on doing so. But before I say +anything about my father, let me tell you what I remember of the old +home. + +It stood, as I suppose it does to-day, for it is many years since I set +eyes on it, on a sort of small tableland or plateau on the hillside, a +matter of a hundred yards above the creek, and at just the one spot +where it could command a lovely view down the gully and across the roofs +of the township towards the distant hills. It was a well-built place of +six rooms, constructed of pisa, the only house of that description in +the township--and, for that matter, I believe, in the whole district. A +broad verandah, covered with the beautiful Wisteria creeper, ran all +round it; in front was a large flower garden stretching away to the +ford, filled with such plants and shrubs as will grow out in that +country; to the right was the horse and cow paddock; and, on the left, +the bit of cultivation we always kept going for the summer months, when +green food is as valuable as a deposit at the bank. At the rear was +another strip of garden with some fine orange and loquot trees, and +then, on the other side of the stockyard rails, the thick scrub running +up the hillside and extending for miles into the back country. The +interior of the house was comfortably furnished, in a style the like of +which I have never seen anywhere else in the Bush. I have a faint +recollection of hearing that the greater part of it--the chairs, tables, +pictures, bookcases and silver--came out from England the year that I +was born, and were part of some property my father had inherited. But +how much truth there was in this I cannot say. At anyrate, I can +remember those chairs distinctly; they were big and curiously shaped, +carved all over with a pattern having fruit in it, and each one had a +hand clasping a battle-axe on a lozenge on the back--a crest I suppose +it must have been, but whose I never took the trouble to inquire. The +thing, however, that struck people most about the rooms was the +collection of books--there were books in hundreds, in every available +place--on the shelves and in the cupboards, on the tables, on the +chairs, and even on the floor. There surely never was such a man for +books as my father, and I can see him now, standing before a shelf in +the half light of the big dining-room with a volume in his hand, +studying it as if he were too much entranced to put it down. He was a +tall, thin man, with a pale, thoughtful face, a high forehead, +deep-set, curious eyes, that seemed to look you through and through, a +big, hooked nose (mine is just like it), a handsome mouth, white teeth, +and a heavy, determined-looking chin. He was invariably clean-shaven, +well dressed, and so scrupulously neat and natty in his appearance that +it seemed hard to imagine he had ever done a stroke of rough work in his +life. And yet he could, and did, work harder than most men, but always +in the same unostentatious fashion; never saying a word more than was +absolutely necessary, but always ready at a moment's notice to pick a +quarrel with you, or to say just the very one thing of all others that +would be most calculated to give you pain. He was a strange man, was my +father. + +Of my mother my recollections are less distinct, which is accounted for +by the fact that she died when I was only five years old. Indeed, the +only remembrance I have of her at all is of a fragile little woman with +a pale, sweet face, bending down to kiss me when I was in bed at night. + +Drink and temper were my father's chief failings, but I was nearly eight +years old before I really found that out. Even to-day, when I shut my +eyes, I can conjure up a picture of him sitting in the dining-room +before the table, two large candelabras lighting the room, drinking and +reciting to himself, not only in English, but in other outlandish +tongues that I can only suppose now must have been Latin and Greek. So +he would go on until he staggered to his bed, and yet next morning he +would be up and about again before sunrise, a little more taciturn, +perhaps, and readier to take offence, but otherwise much the same as +ever. + +That he had always a rooted dislike to me, I know, and I am equally +aware that I detested and feared him more than any other living being. +For this reason we seldom met. He took his meals in solitary grandeur in +the dark, old dining-room, hung round with the dingy pictures that had +come out from England, of men in wigs, knickerbockers and queer, +long-tailed coats, while I took mine with the old housekeeper in the +kitchen leading off the back verandah. We were a strange household, and +before I had turned eight years old--as strong an urchin as ever +walked--I had come to the conclusion that we were not too much liked or +trusted by the folk in the township. My father thought them beneath +him, and let them see that he did; they called him proud, and hinted +that he was even worse than that. Whether he had anything to be proud of +is another matter, and one that I cannot decide. You must judge from the +following illustration. + +It was early in the year before the great flood which did so much damage +in those parts, and which is remembered to this day, that news got about +that in a few weeks' time the Governor of the colony would be travelling +in our district, and would probably pay our township a visit. A +committee of the principal folk was immediately chosen to receive him, +and big preparations were made to do him honour. As, perhaps, the chief +personage in our little community, my father was asked to preside over +their deliberations, and for this purpose a deputation waited upon him. +They could not possibly, however, have chosen a more unpropitious moment +for their call; my father had been drinking all day, and, when they +arrived, he burst into one of his fits of anger and drove them from the +house, vowing that he would have nothing at all to do with the affair, +and that he would show His Excellency the door if he dared to set foot +within his grounds. This act of open hostility produced, as may be +supposed, a most unfavourable impression, and my father must have seen +it, for he even went so far as to write a note of apology to the +committee, and to suggest, as his contribution to the general +arrangements, that he should take His Excellency in for the night. +Considering the kind of hotels our township boasted in those days, this +was no mean offer, and, as may be supposed, it was unhesitatingly +accepted. + +In due course the Governor arrived with his party. He was received by +the committee in the main street under an archway of flags, and, after +inspecting the township, rode up the hill with the principal folk +towards our house. When he came into the grounds my father went out into +the verandah to receive him, and I followed close in his wake, my eyes, +I make no doubt, bulging with curiosity. The Governor got off his horse, +and at the same moment my father went down the steps. He held out his +hand, His Excellency took it, and as he did so looked at him in a very +quick and surprised way, just for all the world as if my father were +somebody he had seen before, in a very different place, and had never +expected to meet again. + +'Good gracious, can it be?' he said to himself under his breath, but +all the same quite loud enough for me to hear, for I was close beside +him. 'Surely you are--' + +'My name is Heggarstone,' said my father quickly, an unwonted colour +coming into his face, 'and you are His Excellency, the Governor of the +colony. If you will allow me, I will make you welcome to my poor abode.' + +They looked at each other for a moment, pretty straight, and then the +Governor pulled himself together and went into the house, side by side +with my father, without another word. Later on, when the dinner given in +honour of Her Majesty's representative was over, and the townsfolk had +departed, His Excellency and my father sat talking, talking, talking, +till far into the night. I could hear the hum of their voices quite +distinctly, for my bedroom was next to the dining-room, though, of +course, I could not catch what they said. + +Next morning, when his horse was at the door, and the escort was +standing ready to be off, His Excellency drew my father a little on one +side and said in a low voice, so that the others should not hear,-- + +'And your decision is really final? You will never go back to England +to take up your proper position in society?' + +'Never!' my father replied, viciously crumpling a handful of creeper +leaves as he spoke. 'I have thought it over carefully, and have come to +the conclusion that it will be a good thing for society if the name dies +out with me. Good-bye.' + +'Good-bye,' answered His Excellency, 'and God help you!' + +Then he mounted his horse and rode away. + +I have narrated this little episode in order to show that I had some +justification for believing that my father was not merely the humble, +commonplace individual he professed to be. I will now tell you another, +which if it did not relieve my curiosity, was surely calculated to +confirm my suspicions. + +It happened that one day, early in winter, I was in the township at the +time when the coach, which now connected us with civilisation, made its +appearance. This great event happened twice weekly, and though they had +now been familiar with it for some considerable time, the inhabitants, +men, women and children, seemed to consider it a point of honour that +they should be present, standing in the roadway about the Bushmen's +Rest, to receive and welcome it. For my own part I was ten years old, as +curious as my neighbours, and above all a highly imaginative child to +whom the coach was a thing full of mystery. Times out of number I had +pictured myself the driver of it, and often at night, when I was tucked +up in my little bed and ought to have been asleep, I could seem to see +it making its way through the dark bush, swaying to and fro, the horses +stretched out to their full extent in their frenzied gallop. + +On this particular occasion there were more passengers than usual, for +the reason that a new goldfield had sprung into existence in the ranges +to the westward of us, and strangers were passing through our township +every day _en route_ to it. It was not until the driver had descended +from his box and had entered the hotel that the crowd saw fit to +disperse. I was about to follow them when I saw, coming towards me, a +tall, dignified-looking man whom I had noticed sitting next to the +driver when the coach arrived. He boasted a short, close-cropped beard, +wore a pair of dark spectacles, and was dressed better than any man I +had ever seen in my life before, my father not excepted. In his hand he +carried a small portmanteau, and for a moment I thought he was going to +enter the Bushmen's Rest like the remainder of the passengers. He +changed his mind, however, and after looking about him came towards +where I stood. + +'My lad,' said he, 'can you tell me which path I should follow to reach +Mr Heggarstone's residence?' + +My surprise at this question may be better imagined than described. It +did not prevent me, however, from answering him. + +'My name is Heggarstone,' I said, 'and our house is on the hill over +there. You can just see the roof.' + +If I had been surprised at his inquiry, it was plain that he was ever so +much more astonished when he heard my name. For upwards of half a minute +he stood and stared at me as if he did not know what to make of it. + +'In that case, if you will permit me,' he said, with curious politeness, +'I will accompany you on your homeward journey. I have come a very long +way to see your father, and my business with him is of the utmost +importance.' + +My first shyness having by this time completely vanished, I gazed at +him with undisguised interest. I had not met many travellers in my life, +and for this reason when I did I was prepared to make the most of them. + +'Have you come from Brisbane, sir?' I inquired, after a short silence, +feeling that it was incumbent upon me to say something. + +'Just lately,' he answered. 'But before that from London.' + +After this magnificent admission, I felt there was nothing more to be +said. A man who had come from London to our little township, for the +sole purpose of seeing my father, was not the sort of person to be +talked to familiarly. I accordingly trudged alongside him in silence, +thinking of all the wonderful things he must have seen, and wondering if +it would be possible for me at some future date to induce him to tell me +about them. At first he must have inclined to the belief that I was +rather a forward youth. Now, however, I was as silent as if I were +struck dumb. We descended the path to the river without a word, crossed +the ford with our tongues still tied, and had almost reached our own +boundary fence before either of us spoke. Then my companion moved his +bag to the other hand and, placing his right upon my shoulder, said +slowly,-- + +'So you are--well, Marmaduke Heggarstone's son?' + +I looked up at him and noticed the gravity of his face as I answered, +'Yes, sir!' + +He appeared to ruminate for a few seconds, and my sharp ears caught the +words, 'Dear me, dear me!' muttered below his breath. A few moments +later we had reached the house, and after I had asked the new-comer to +take a seat in the verandah, I went in to find my father and to tell him +that a visitor had arrived to see him. + +'Who is it?' he inquired, looking up from his book. 'How often am I to +tell you to ask people's names before you tell them I am at home? Go +back and find out.' + +I returned to the verandah, and asked the stranger if he would be kind +enough to tell me his name. + +'Redgarth,' he said, 'Michael Redgarth. Tell your father that, and I +think he will remember me.' + +I returned to the dining-room and acquainted my father with what I had +discovered. Prepared as I was for it to have some effect upon him, I +had no idea the shock would be so great. My father sprang to his feet +with what sounded almost like a cry of alarm. + +'Redgarth here,' he said; 'what on earth can it mean? However, I'll soon +find out.' + +So saying he pushed me on one side and went quickly down the passage in +the direction of the verandah. My curiosity by this time was thoroughly +excited, and I followed him at a respectful distance, frightened lest he +should see me and order me back, but resolved that, happen what might, I +would discover his mysterious errand. + +I saw my father pass through the door out on to the verandah, and as he +did so I heard the stranger rise from his chair. What he said by way of +introduction I could not catch, but whatever it may have been there +could be no doubt that it incensed my father beyond all measure. + +'Call me that at your peril,' I heard him say. 'Now tell me your errand +here as quickly as you can and be gone again.' + +As I stood, listening, in the shadow of the doorway, I could not help +thinking that this was rather scurvy treatment on my father's part of +one who had come so many thousand miles to see him. However, Mr +Redgarth did not seem as much put out by it as I expected he would be. + +'I have come to tell you, my--' he began, and then checked himself, +'well, since you wish it, I will call you Mr Heggarstone, that your +father is dead.' + +'You might have spared yourself the trouble,' my father replied, with a +bitter little laugh. 'I knew it a week ago. If that is all you have to +tell me I'm sorry you put yourself to so much inconvenience. I suppose +my brother sent you?' + +'Exactly,' Redgarth replied dryly, 'and a nice business it has been. I +traced you to Sydney, and then on to Brisbane. There I had some +difficulty in obtaining your address, but as soon as I did so I took the +coach and came out here.' + +'Well, and now that you have found me what do you want with me?' + +'In the first place I am entitled by your brother to say that provided +you--' + +Here my father must have made some sign to him to stop. + +'Pardon my interrupting you,' he said, 'but before we proceed any +further let me tell you once and for all that I will have none of my +brother's provisoes. Whatever threats, stipulations, or offers he may +have empowered you to make, I will have nothing whatsoever to do with +them. I washed my hands of my family, as you know, many years ago, and +if you had not come now to remind me of the unpleasant fact, I should +have allowed myself to forget even that they existed. You know my +opinion of my brother. I have had time to think it over, and I see no +reason at all for changing it. When we were both younger he ruined my +career for me, perjured himself to steal my good name, and as if that +were not enough induced my father to back him up in his treatment of me. +Go back to them and tell them that I still hate and despise them. Of the +name they cannot deprive me, that is one consolation; of the money I +will not touch a sixpence. They may have it, every halfpenny, and I wish +them joy of it.' + +'But have you thought of your son, the little fellow I saw in the +township, and who conducted me hither?' + +'I have thought of him,' replied my father, sternly, 'and it makes no +difference to my decision. I desire him to be brought up in ignorance of +his birth. I am convinced that it would be the kinder course. Now I'll +wish you a very good evening. If you have any papers with you that you +are desirous I should sign, you may send them over to me and I will +peruse them with as little delay as possible. I need not warn you to be +careful of what you say in the township yonder. They know, and have +always known me, as Marmaduke Heggarstone here, and I have no desire +that they should become aware of my real name.' + +'You need not fear. I shall not tell them,' said Redgarth. 'As for the +papers, I have them in this bag. I will leave them with you. You can +send them across to me when you have done with them. I suppose it is no +use my attempting to make you see the matter in any other light?' + +'None whatever.' + +'In that case, I have the honour to wish your lor--I mean to wish you, +Mr Heggarstone, a very good evening.' + +As he spoke I heard him buckle the straps of his portmanteau, and then I +slipped noiselessly down the passage towards the kitchen. A moment later +his step sounded upon the gravel and he was gone. + +On the Thursday following he left the township, and we saw no more of +him. Whatever his errand may have been, never once during his lifetime +did my father say anything to me upon the subject, nor did I ever +venture to question him about it. Perhaps, as he said, there is +something behind it all that I am happier in not knowing. So far as I +have ever heard such skeletons are generally best left in undisturbed +possession of their cupboards. + +After that we resumed the same sort of life as had been our portion +before his arrival. + +This monotonous existence continued undisturbed until the time of the +great flood, which, as I have said before, is even remembered to this +day. It occurred at the end of a wet season, and after a fortnight's +pouring rain, which continued day and night. Never was such rain known, +and for this reason the ground soon became so thoroughly saturated that +it could absorb no more. In consequence the creeks filled, and all the +billabongs became deep as lakes. + +In order to realise what follows you must understand that above the +township, perhaps a couple of miles or so, three creeks joined forces, +and by so doing formed the Cargoo River, on the banks of which our +township was located. There had been heavy rain on all these creeks, and +in consequence they came down bankers, united, as I have just said, and +then, being penned in by the hills and backed up by the stored water in +the billabongs, swept down the valley towards the township in one great +flood, which carried everything before it. Never shall I forget that +night. The clouds had cleared off the sky earlier in the evening, and it +was as bright as day, the moon being almost at the full. I was having my +supper with old Betty in the kitchen when suddenly I heard an odd sort +of rumbling in the distance. I stopped eating to listen. Even to my +childish ears the sound was peculiar, and as it still continued, I asked +Betty, who was my oracle in everything, what she thought it meant. She +was a little deaf, and suggested the wind in the trees. But I knew that +this was no wind in trees. Every moment it was growing louder, and when +I left the kitchen and went through the house to the front verandah, +where I found my father standing looking up the valley, it had grown +into a well-defined roar. I questioned him on the subject. + +'It is a flood,' he answered, half to himself. 'Nothing but water, and +an enormous body of it, could make that sound.' + +The words were scarcely out of his mouth before a man on horseback +appeared round the bend of the hill and galloped up the path. His horse +was white with foam, and as he drew up before the steps he shouted +wildly,-- + +'The flood is coming down the valley. Fly for your lives.' + +My father only laughed--a little scornfully, I thought--and said, in his +odd, mocking voice,-- + +'No flood will touch us here, my friend, but if you are anxious to do +humanity a service, you had better hasten on and warn the folk in the +township below us. They are in real danger!' + +Long before he had finished speaking, the man had turned his horse and +was galloping down the track, as fast as he had come, towards the little +cluster of houses we could discern in the hollow below us. That young +man was Dennis O'Rourke, the eldest son of a Selector further up the +valley, and the poor fellow was found, ten days later, dead, entangled +in the branches of a gum tree, twenty miles below Barranda Township, +with a stirrup iron bent round his left foot, and scarcely half a mile +from his own selection gate. Without doubt he had been overtaken by the +flood before he could reach his wife to give her the alarm. In +consequence, the water caught her unprepared, she was never seen again, +and only one of her children escaped alive; their homestead, which +stood on the banks of the creek, was washed clean off the face of the +earth, and when I rode down that way on my pony, after the flood had +subsided, it would have been impossible to distinguish the place where +it had once stood. + +But to return to my narrative. O'Rourke had not left us five minutes +before the rumbling had increased to a roar, almost like that of +thunder. And every second it was growing louder. Then, with a suddenness +no man could imagine who has never seen such a thing, a solid wall of +water, shining like silver in the moonlight, came into view, seemed to +pause for a moment, and then swept trees, houses, cattle, haystacks, +fences, and even large boulders before it like so much driftwood. Within +a minute of making its appearance it had spread out across the valley, +and, most marvellous part of all, had risen half way up the hill, and +was throwing a line of yeast-like foam upon our garden path. A few +seconds later we distinctly heard it catch the devoted township, and the +crashing and rending sound it made was awful to hear. Then the noise +ceased, and only a swollen sheet of angry water, stretching away across +the valley for nearly a mile and a half was to be seen. Such a flood no +man in the district, and I state this authoritatively, had ever in his +life experienced before. Certainly I have not seen one like it since. +And the brilliant moonlight only intensified the terrible effect. + +Having assured himself that we had nothing to fear, my father ordered me +off to bed, and reluctantly I went--only to lie curled up in my warm +blankets thinking of the waters outside, and repicturing the effect +produced upon my mind by O'Rourke's sensational arrival. It was the +first time I had ever seen a man under the influence of a life-and-death +excitement, and, imaginative child as I was, the effect it produced on +my mind was not one to be easily shaken off. Then I must have fallen +asleep, for I have no recollection of anything else till I was awakened +in the middle of the night by the noise of people entering my room. +Half-asleep and half-awake I sat up, rubbing my eyes, and blinking at +the brightness of the candle my father carried in his hand. Old Betty +was with him, and behind them, carrying a bundle in his arms, stalked a +tall, thin man with a grey beard, long hair and a white, solemn face. +His clothes, I noticed, were sopping wet, and a stream of water marked +his progress across the floor. + +'Take James out and put the child in his place,' said my father, coming +towards my bed. The man advanced, and Betty lifted me out and placed me +on a chair. The bundle was then tucked up where I had been, and, when +that had been done, Betty turned to me. + +'Jim,' she said, 'you must be a good boy and give no trouble, and I'll +make you up a nice bed in the corner.' This was accordingly done, and +when it was ready I was put into it, and in five minutes had forgotten +the interruption and was fast asleep once more. + +As usual, directly there was light in the sky, I woke and looked about +me. To my surprise, however, for I had for the moment forgotten the +strange waking of the night, I found myself, not in my own place, but on +a pile of rugs in the corner. Wondering what this might mean, I looked +across at my bed, half-expecting to find it gone. But no! There it +stood, sure enough, with an occupant I could not remember ever to have +seen before--a little rose-leaf of a girl, at most not more than four +years old. Like myself she was sitting up, staring with her great blue +eyes, and laughing from under a tangled wealth of golden curls at my +astonishment. Her little pink and white face, so charmingly dimpled, +seemed prettier than anything I had ever seen or dreamed of before; but +I did not know what to make of it all, and, boy-like, was inordinately +shy. Seeing this, and not being accustomed to be slighted, the little +minx climbed out of bed, and, with her tiny feet peeping from beneath +one of my flannel night-shirts, came running across to where I lay. Then +standing before me, her hands behind her back, she said in a baby +voice--that I can hear now even after twenty years,-- + +'I'se Sheilah!' + +And that was my introduction to the good angel of my life. Five minutes +later we were playing together on the floor as if we had been friends +for years instead of minutes. And when Betty came into the room, +according to custom, to carry me off to my bath, her first remark was +one which has haunted me all my life, and will go on doing so until I +die. + +'Pretty dears,' she cried, 'sure they're just made for each other.' + +And so we were! + +It was not until some time later that I learnt how it was that old +McLeod and his baby daughter came to be under our roof that night. This +was the reason of it. The man and his wife, it appears, were but new +arrivals in the colony, and were coming out our way to settle. They +were finishing their last day's stage down the valley when the flood +caught the bullock dray, drowned his wife and all the cattle, and +well-nigh finished the father and child, who were carried for miles +clinging to a tree, to be eventually washed up before our house. My +father, standing in the verandah, heard a cry for help, and waded out +into the water just in time to save them. Having done this he brought +them up to the house, and, as there was nowhere else to put her, I was +turned out and Sheilah was given my bed. + +Next morning a foaming sea of water cut us off from the township, or +what few houses remained of it, and for this reason it was manifestly +impossible that old McLeod could continue his journey. I remember that +poor, little motherless Sheilah and I played together all day long in +the verandah, as happy as two birds, while her father watched us from a +deep chair, with grave, tear-stained eyes. In the death of his wife he +had sustained a grievous loss, from which somehow I don't think he ever +thoroughly recovered. + +Three days later the water fell as rapidly as it had risen, and as soon +as it had sufficiently abated, McLeod, having thanked my father for his +hospitality, which I could not help thinking had been grudgingly enough +bestowed, took Sheilah in his arms, right up from the middle of our +play, and tramped off, a forlorn black figure, down the path towards the +township. As far as the turn of the track, and until the scrub timber +hid her from my gaze, I could see the little mite waving her hand to me +in farewell. + +That week McLeod purchased Gregory's farm on the other side of the +township, and installed himself in the house on the knoll overlooking +the river, taking care this time to choose a position that was safely +out of water reach. Once he had settled in, I was as often to be found +there as at my own home, and continued to be Sheilah's constant +companion and playmate from that time forward. + +And so the years went by, every one finding us firmer friends. It was I +who held her while she took her first ride upon the old grey pony McLeod +bought for the boy to run up the milkers on. It was I who taught her to +row the cranky old tub they called a boat on the Long Reach; it was I +who baited the hook that caught her first fish; it was I who taught her +the difference in the nests in the trees behind the homestead, and how +to distinguish between the birds that built them; in everything I was +her guide, philosopher and her constant friend. And surely there never +was so sweet a child to teach as Sheilah--her quickness was +extraordinary, and, bush-bred boy though I was, it was not long before +she was my equal at everything where strength was not absolutely +required. By the time she was twelve and I sixteen, she could have +beaten any other girl in the township at anything they pleased, and, +what made them the more jealous, her beauty was becoming more and more +developed every day. Even in the hottest sun her sweet complexion seemed +to take no hurt, and now the hair, that I remembered curling closely +round her head on the morning when we first became acquainted, descended +like a fall of rippling gold far below her shoulders. And her eyes--but +there, surely there never were such eyes as Sheilah's--for truth and +innocence. Oh, Sheilah, my own sweetheart, if only we could have +foreseen then all the bitterness and agony of the rocky path that we +were some day to tread, what would we not have done to ward off the +fatal time? But, of course, we could not see it, and so we went on +blindfold upon our happy-go-lucky way, living only in the present, and +having no thought of the cares of the morrow. And the strangest part +about it all was that, thrown together continually as we were, neither +of us had taken any account of love. The little god had so far kept his +arrows in his quiver. But he was to shoot them soon enough in all +conscience. + +To say that my father forbade my intercourse with the McLeods would not +be the truth. But if I said that he lost no opportunity of sneering at +the old man and his religion (he was a Dissenter of the most vigorous +description, and used to preach on Sundays in the township) I should not +be overstepping the mark. + +I don't believe there was another man in the world who could sneer as +could my father. He had cultivated that accomplishment to perfection, +and in a dozen words would bring me to such a pitch of indignation that +it was as much as I could do to refrain from laying violent hands upon +him. I can see him now lying back in his chair in the old dining-room, +when he was hearing me my lessons (for he taught me all I know), a book +half-closed upon his knee, looking me up and down with an expression +upon his face that seemed to say, 'Who ever would have thought I should +have been plagued with such a dolt of a son!' Then, as likely as not, he +would lose his temper over my stupidity, box my ears, and send me +howling from the room, hating him with all the intensity of which my +nature was capable. I wonder if ever a boy before had so strange and +unnatural a parent. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +HOW I FIRST LEARNED MY LOVE FOR SHEILAH + + +It was the morning of my eighteenth birthday, and, to celebrate it, +Sheilah and I had long before made up our minds to ride to, and spend +the day at, the Blackfellow's Cave--a large natural cavern in the +mountains, some fifteen or sixteen miles distant from the township. It +was one of our favourite jaunts, and according to custom we arranged to +start early. + +For this reason, as soon as light was in the sky, I was astir, took a +plunge in the creek, and then ran down to the paddock and caught the +horse I intended riding that day--a fine, well set-up thoroughbred of +our own breeding. And, by the same token, there were no horses like ours +in the district, either for looks, pace, stamina, or pedigree. What my +father did not know about horse and cattle breeding no man in the length +and breadth of Australia could teach him. And a good bushman he was +too, for all his scholarly ways and habits, a first-class rider, and +second to none in his work among the beasts in the stockyard. All I know +myself I learnt from him, and I should be less than grateful if I were +above owning it. But that has nothing to do with my story. Having caught +my horse, I took him up to the stable and put a first-class polish on +him with the brush, then, fastening him up to the bough-shade to be +ready when I wanted him, hurried in to my breakfast. When I entered the +room my father was already seated at the table. He received me after his +usual fashion, which was to look me up and down, smile in a way that was +quite his own, and then, with a heavy sigh, return to his reading as if +it were a matter of pain to him to have anything at all to do with me. +When we were half through the meal he glanced up from his book, and +said,-- + +'As soon as you've done your breakfast, you'd better be off and muster +Kidgeree paddock. If you come across Bates's bull bring him in with you +and let him remain in the yard until I see him.' + +This was not at all what I had looked forward to on my birthday, so I +said,-- + +'I can't muster to-day. It's my birthday, and I'm going out.' + +He stared at me for nearly a minute without speaking, and then said with +a sneer,-- + +'I'm sure I very much regret that I should have inadvertently interfered +with your arrangements. Miss McLeod accompanies you, of course!' + +'I am going out with Sheilah! Yes!' + +Again he was silent for a few moments--then he looked up once more. + +'As it is your birthday of course you consider you have an excuse for +laziness. Well, I suppose you must go, but if you should chance to +honour the father with your society you might point out to him that, on +two occasions this week, his sheep have been on my frontage.' + +'It's our own fault; we should mend our boundary.' + +'Indeed! And pray how long have you been clear-headed enough to see +that?' + +'Anyone could see it. It's not fair to blame Mr McLeod for what is not +his fault.' + +'Dear me! This perspicuity is really most pleasing. An unexpected Daniel +come to judgment, I declare. Well, at anyrate, I'll give you a note to +take to the snuffling old hound and in it I'll tell him that the next +beast of his I catch on my property I'll shoot. That's a fair warning. +You can come in for it when you are starting.' + +'I shall not take it.' + +'Indeed! I am sorry to hear that. Your civility is evidently on a par +with your industry.' + +Then, seeing that I had risen, he bowed ironically, and wished me a +'very good morning.' + +I did not answer, but marched out of the room, my cheeks flushed with +passion. Nothing, I knew, gave him greater pleasure than to let him see +that he had hurt me, and yet, do what I would, I could not prevent +myself from showing it. + +Having passed through the house, I went into the kitchen to obtain from +Betty, who still constituted the female element of our household, some +provender for the day. This obtained, I saddled my horse, strapped a +quart pot on to my saddle, mounted, and rode off. As I passed the front +of the house I heard my father call to me to stop, but I did not heed +him, and rode on down the track to the ford, thence, through the +township, to McLeod's selection. + +And now a few words about the latter's homestead--the house which has +played such a prominent part in my life's drama. I think I have already +told you that it stood on the top of a small rise about a quarter of a +mile above the river and looked right up the valley over the township +roofs, just in the opposite direction to ours. In the twelve years that +McLeod had lived there he had added considerably to it--a room here and +there--till it had grown into a rambling, disconnected, but charming, +old place, overgrown with creepers, and nestling in a perfect jungle of +peppermint trees, gums, oranges and bamboos. The stockyard, for the +selection carried about five hundred cattle and a couple of thousand +sheep, was located at the back, with the stables and Sheilah's +poultry-yard; and it had always been one of my greatest pleasures to be +allowed to go down and give the old man a hand with his mustering or +branding; to help Sheilah run up the milkers, or to hunt for eggs in the +scrub with her when the hens escaped and laid outside. + +Reaching the slip panels I jumped off and tied my horse to the fence; +then went up the shady path towards the house. Bless me! how the memory +of that morning comes back as I sit talking now. The hot sun, for it was +the middle of summer, was streaming through the foliage and dancing on +the path; there was the creeper-covered verandah, with its chairs and +old-fashioned sofa inviting one to make oneself at home, and, last but +not least, there was Sheilah standing waiting for me, dressed in her +dark green habit and wearing a big straw hat upon her pretty head. + +'You're late, Jim,' she said, for, however much she might spoil me, +Sheilah always made a point of telling me my faults, 'I've been waiting +for you nearly half-an-hour.' + +'I'm sorry, Sheilah,' I answered. 'I could not get away as soon as I +expected.' + +I did not tell her what had really made me so late; for somehow, even if +I did think badly of my father myself, I had no wish that other people +should do so too. + +'But I am forgetting,' she continued, 'I ought first to have wished you +many happy returns of the day, dear old Jim, and have scolded you +afterwards.' + +'Somehow I never seem to take offence however much you scold, Sheilah,' +I said, as we left the verandah and went round by the neat path to the +stables. + +'Then it's not much use my trying to do you any good, is it?' she +answered with a little laugh. + +We found her pretty bay pony standing waiting at the rails, and when +she was ready I swung her up into the saddle like a bird. Then mounting +my own horse, off we went down the track, through the wattle scrub, +across the little bubbling creek that joined the big river a bit below +the township, and finally away through the Mulga towards the mountains +and the Blackfellow's Cave. + +It was a breathless morning--the beginning of a typical Australian +summer day. In the trees overhead the cicadas chirped, parroquets and +wood pigeons flew swiftly across our path; now and again we almost rode +over a big silly kangaroo, who went blundering away at what looked a +slow enough pace, but was in reality one that would have made a good +horse do all he knew to keep up with him. Our animals were in splendid +trim and, in spite of the heat, we swung easily along, side by side, +laughing and chattering, as if we had never known a care in our lives. +Indeed, I don't know that we had then. At least not as I understand +cares now. + +About ten o'clock we halted for half-an-hour in the shadow of a big gum, +and alongside a pretty water-hole. Then, continuing our ride, we reached +the Blackfellow's Cave about mid-day. + +How the cave received its name must remain a mystery; personally, I +never remember to have seen a black fellow within half-a-dozen miles of +it. In fact, I believe they invariably avoided it, being afraid of +meeting 'debil-debils' in its dark and gloomy interior. + +On arrival, we hobbled our horses out, lit a fire, and, as soon as we +had procured water from a pool hard by, set our quart pot on to boil. +This done, we made tea, ate our lunch, and then marched in to explore +the cavern. It was a queer enough place in all conscience, cave leading +from cave and passage from passage, and for each we had our own +particular name--the church, the drawing-room, the coach-house, and a +dozen others. Some were pitch dark, and necessitated our lighting the +candle Sheilah had brought with her, others were open at the top, +enabling us, through the aperture, to see the bright blue sky overhead. +From one to another we wandered, trying the echoes, and making each +resound with the noises of our voices. The effects produced were most +weird, and I could not help thinking that any black fellow who might +have penetrated inside would soon have collected material for +'debil-debil' yarns sufficient to last him and his tribe for +generations. + +At last, having thoroughly explored everything we made our way out into +the open air once more. By this time it was nearly three o'clock and a +terribly hot afternoon. Not a breath of wind stirred the leaves, while +the parched earth seemed to throw back the sun's scorching rays with all +the fierceness of a burning-glass. It was too hot even for the birds, +and though we could hear the monotonous cawing of crows in the distance, +and the occasional chatter of the parakeets, not one was visible; +indeed, when an old-man kangaroo hopped on to the little plateau before +the cave's mouth, and saw us, it was nearly half-a-minute before he +could find sufficient energy to hop away again. The cicadas were still +busy in the trees, and in the dead atmosphere their chirrup seemed to +echo half across the world. + +When it was time for us to think of returning home, we crossed to where +our horses were standing idly whisking their tails under a big gum, and +having saddled them, mounted and started on our journey. We had not, +however, proceeded more than five miles before thick clouds rose in the +sky, driven by a strong wind that rustled the dry twigs and grass, and +sent the dust flying about our ears like so much small shot. + +Suddenly Sheilah brought her pony to a standstill and began to sniff +the wind. + +'What is it?' I asked, stopping my horse and looking round at her. 'What +do you smell?' + +'Burning grass,' she answered. And as she spoke I got a distinct whiff +of it myself. + +'There's a fire somewhere,' she said; 'I hope it's not coming our way.' + +'It is probably on the top of the ranges,' I answered. 'And the wind's +funnelling it down to us.' + +For some time we rode on in silence, the smell growing stronger and +stronger as we progressed. Overhead, dense smoke was floating towards +us, while the air was becoming momentarily hotter. + +'It is a fire, and a big one,' I said, pulling my horse up again and +signing to Sheilah to do the same. 'The question is whether we are wise +in going on, without first finding out which way it is coming. + +'It's somewhere in the gully ahead of us,' said Sheilah. 'Let us proceed +as far as we can.' + +Accordingly we rode on, the smoke getting every moment thicker, and the +heat more powerful. Presently we reached a slight eminence, from which +we knew we should be able to command a good view of the gully we were +about to enter. As we ascended the little rise, however, something +caught my eye, and I turned and shouted to Sheilah-- + +'Round--round, and ride for your life!' + +As I spoke I wheeled my horse and she followed my example--but not +before we had both seen a thin line of fire run through the dry grass +not fifty yards from where we stood. Next moment there was an awful +blaze behind us, and our terrified horses were dashing down the gully, +as fast as they could lay their legs to the ground. It was perilous +going, over rocks and logs, across rain chasms and between trees, but +heedless of anything we rode on at breakneck speed, knowing that we were +racing for our very lives. And the flames came after us with the fury +and noise of an express train. When we had gone about a hundred yards I +looked at Sheilah. She was sitting back in her saddle, her mouth firmly +set, steering her terrified and almost unmanageable pony with all the +skill and dexterity of which she was mistress. + +As we turned the corner I looked back and saw that the fire had +stretched high up the hills on either side, while it was also sweeping +down the valley behind us with terrifying rapidity. Fast as we were +going, the flames were overtaking us. What were we to do to escape? The +heat was so intense that it was sapping every atom of strength out of +the horses, and one crash into a tree, one stumble in a hole, one little +mistake and the result would be an awful and agonising death. On all +sides were terrified animals--cattle, horses, sheep, kangaroo, emu, +wallabies, dingoes even, all like ourselves flying for their lives, +while overhead thousands of birds flew screeching before the hot blast. +I endeavoured to keep my horse by the side of Sheilah's in order to be +ready to help her in case of accident, but it was almost an +impossibility. Seeing that we might be separated I called to her. + +'Steer to your left, and if possible try to reach the cave.' + +She nodded to let me see that she understood, and then on we went as +before. Strong man as I was, the heat behind, the choking smoke and the +awful glare all round were almost more than I could bear, and I dared +not think of their effect on Sheilah. But whatever her sufferings may +have been, she was riding as carefully as if nothing out of the common +were occurring. + +Leaving a little bit of open ground we plunged into the scrub again, +but had not gone twenty paces in it before an awful thing happened. +Sheilah's pony, who for the last hundred yards had been going very +heavily, now put his foot into a hole and went down with a crash, +throwing the girl over his head a dozen feet or more. With a cry of +terror I pulled my horse to a standstill, and jumped off, but Sheilah +lay as if she were dead, her legs curled up under her and her head +curiously twisted round. The pony was screaming with agony where he had +fallen. What was to be done? There was not an instant to be lost. +Dragging my own frightened horse over to where she lay, I picked her up. +She was unconscious and for a moment I thought the fall had broken her +neck. Then I turned to her poor pony, who by this time had struggled to +his feet. One glance told me the worst. He had broken his off fore leg +and it was useless counting further on him for assistance. Here was a +terrible position. As far as I could see only one thing was to be done. +The flames were drawing closer and closer--there was scarcely time for +thought. A large log lay near at hand. I backed my horse against it, and +then lifting poor Sheilah in my arms, placed her on his wither and +climbed into the saddle. Being only a youngster and very high-spirited, +he did not take very kindly to this curious proceeding, but I forced him +to it with a strength and determination I did not know that I possessed, +and then, holding Sheilah in my arms, off we went again, leaving her own +pony to meet his fate from the on-rushing flames. + +If my ride had been difficult before, I will leave you to imagine how +much more perilous it was now that I had not only to guide my horse in +order to escape low hanging branches and other dangers, but at the same +time to hold Sheilah in her place. She lay with her pretty head hanging +over my arm, as white and still as death. + +On--on we dashed for our very lives. The pace had been fast before--now, +even with the additional burden my animal had to bear, it was terrific. +But I knew we could not be more than a couple of miles at furthest from +the cave. If he only could keep it up till then, it was just possible we +might be saved. + +But even as this thought passed through my brain I felt his powers begin +to fail. The old elasticity was quite gone, and I had to rouse him with +my voice and heel. Oh, how awful seemed my utter helplessness--my life, +Sheilah's life, her father's happiness, all depending on the strength, +pluck and endurance of an uncomprehending animal. I called him by name; +in an ecstasy of fear I even promised him perpetual ease for the rest of +his equine existence if only he would carry me as far as the cave. And +then it was, in that moment of despair, when death seemed inevitable for +both of us, that I discovered that I loved Sheilah with something more +than the brotherly affection I had always supposed myself to entertain +for her. Yes! I was a man and she was a woman, and with all the +certainty of a man's knowledge, I knew that I loved her then. On, on +brave horse and give that love a chance of ripening. On, on, though the +clammy sweat of death bedews and paralyses thy nostrils, on, on, for on +thy courage and endurance depends the happiness of two human lives. + +By this time the wind had risen to the strength of a hurricane and this +could only mean that the flames would travel proportionately faster. +They could not be more than half a mile behind us now at the greatest +calculation, and the cave was, perhaps, half that distance ahead. It was +a race for life with the odds against us, but at all hazards, even if I +had to lay down my own to do it, I knew that Sheilah must be saved. +Looking back on it now I can truthfully say that that was my one and +only thought. On and on we went--the horse lurching in his stride, his +powers failing him with every step; and yet we dared not dismount, for I +knew that I could not run fast enough with Sheilah in my arms to stand +any possible chance of saving her. + +At last we turned the corner of the gully, and could see before us, +scarcely more than a hundred yards distant, the black entrance to the +cave. I looked round, and as I did so saw a narrow tongue of fire lick +out and seize upon the grass scarcely fifty yards behind us. Great beads +of sweat rose upon my forehead; blisters, caused by the intense heat, +were forming on my neck; my hat was gone, and my horse's strength was +failing him with every stride. God help us, for we were in desperate +straits. And only a hundred yards lay between us and safety. Then I felt +the animal under me pause, and give a shiver--he struggled on for a few +yards, and then down in a heap he went without more ado, throwing us +gently from him in his fall. Death was surely only a matter of a few +moments now. However, I was not going to die without a struggle. + +Springing up I again took Sheilah in my arms, and set off with her as +fast as I could run towards the cave. Short distance though it was, it +seemed an eternity before I had toiled to the top of the little hill, +crossed the plateau, and was laying my precious burden upon the ground +inside the cave. Then I fell beside her, too much exhausted to care very +much what became of me. As I did so, I heard the fire catch great trees +outside, and presently little flames came licking up almost to the +entrance of the cave where we lay. Still Sheilah remained unconscious, +and for some few moments I was but little better. As soon, however, as +my strength returned to me, I picked her up again and bore her through +the first cave into the second, where it was comparatively light and +cool. Leaving her alone here for a minute I picked my way into the third +cave, where there was a small pool of spring water. From this I took a +deep draught, and then, wetting my handkerchief thoroughly, hurried back +to Sheilah's side. Thereupon I set to work to bathe her hands and face, +but for some time without any satisfactory result. Then her eyes +opened, and she looked about her. At first she seemed scarcely to +comprehend where she was, or what had happened, but her memory soon came +back to her, and as she heard the roar of the fire outside and felt the +hot blast sweeping into the cave, a great shudder swept over her. + +'Ah! I remember now!' she said. 'I had a fall. What has become of poor +Rorie?' + +'We had to leave him behind.' + +She put her little hands up to her eyes, as if to shut out the dreadful +picture my words had conjured up. + +'But how did you get me here?' she asked. + +'I carried you on my saddle before me till my own horse dropped,' I +said, 'and then I brought you the rest of the distance in my arms.' + +She closed her eyes and was silent for a minute or so, then she opened +them again and turned to me with a womanliness I had never before +remarked in her. + +'Jim,' she said, laying her little hand upon my arm, 'you have saved my +life! As long as I live I will never forget what you have done for me +to-day!' + +From that moment she was no longer Sheilah, my old playfellow and +almost sister. She was Sheilah, the goddess--the one woman to be loved +by me for the remainder of my life. + +I took her hand and kissed it. Then everything seemed to swim round +me--a great darkness descended upon me, and I fell back in a dead faint. + +When I recovered myself and was able to move, I left her and went into +the outer cave. The fire had passed, and was sweeping on its way down +the gully, leaving behind it a waste of blackened earth, and in many +cases still flaring timber. But prudence told me that the ground was +still far too hot to be safe for walking on. So I went back to Sheilah, +and we sat talking about our narrow escape until nightfall. + +Then just as we were wondering how, since we had no horses, we could +best make our way home, a shout echoed in the outer cave, and we ran +there to be confronted by McLeod, my father and half-a-dozen other +township men who had come out in search of us. Sheilah flew to her +father's arms, while I looked anxiously, I must confess, at mine. But, +whether he felt any emotion or not, he allowed no sign to escape him. He +only held out his hand, and said dryly,-- + +'This, you see, is the outcome of your obstinacy.' + +Then he turned and called to a black boy, who stood outside holding a +horse. The lad brought the animal up, and my father signed to me to +mount, which I did, and presently we were all making our way home. + +At the entrance to the township, where we were to separate, I stopped +the animal I was riding and turned to Sheilah to say good-bye. She drew +the horse her father had brought for her up alongside mine, and said +softly,-- + +'Good-bye, and God bless you, Jim! Whatever may happen in the future, I +shall never forget what you have done for me to-day.' + +Then old McLeod, who had heard from Sheilah all about our ride for life, +came up and thanked me in his old-fashioned way for having saved his +daughter's life, and after that we rode home, my father and I, silently, +side by side. As soon as supper was over, I went to bed, thoroughly worn +out, but the stirring events of the day had been too much for me, and so +hour after hour I lay tossing about, unable to sleep. At last I dozed +off, only to be wakened a short while later by a curious sound coming +from my father's room. Not knowing what it might be, I sprang from my +bed and went into the verandah, where I had a clear view into his +apartment. And a curious sight it was that I saw. + +My father was kneeling at his bedside, his head hidden in his hands, +praying as if his whole life depended on it. His hands were white with +the tenacity of their grip on each other, and his whole figure quivered +under the influence of his emotion. When he raised his head I saw that +his face was stained with tears and that others were still coursing down +his cheeks. But the reason of it all was more than I could tell. + +Having satisfied my curiosity, and feeling somehow rather ashamed of +myself for having watched him, I went back to bed and fell fast asleep, +not to wake next morning till the sun was high in the sky. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +WHISPERING PETE + + +After the events described in the preceding chapter it was a new life +that Sheilah opened up for me--one as different from that which had +existed before as could well be imagined. Every moment I could spare +from my work (and I was generally pretty busy for the reason that my +father was increasing in years and he had resigned a large measure of +the management of his property to me) was spent in her company. I +thought of her all day and dreamed of her all night. + +For two important reasons, however, I was compelled to keep my love a +secret, both from herself and from the world in general. My father would +have laughed the very notion of an engagement to scorn, and without his +consent I was in less than in no position at all to marry. Therefore I +said nothing on the subject to anybody. + +And now having introduced you to the good angel of my life, I must do +the same for the reverse character. + +About two years after the bush fire described in the last chapter, there +came to our township, whither nobody was ever able to discover, a man +who was destined to exercise a truly sinister influence upon my life. + +In appearance he presented a strange individuality, being of medium +stature, with a queer sort of Portuguese face, out of which two dark +eyes glittered like those of a snake. He arrived in the township late +one summer evening, mounted on a fine upstanding bay mare and followed +by a couple of the most diabolical-looking black boys any man could +possibly set eyes on, stayed the night at the grog shanty, and early +next morning rode off up the hill as far as Merther's old homestead, +which it was said he had taken for a term of years. Whatever its +intrinsic advantages may have been, it was a queer place for a man to +choose; firstly, because of the strange stories that were told about it, +and secondly, because it had stood empty for nearly five years and was +reported to be overrun by snakes, rats and scorpions. But Whispering +Pete, by which name he afterwards became known to us (from a peculiar +habit he had of speaking in a voice but little louder than a whisper) +seemed to have no objection to either the rumours or the vermin, but +just went his way--doing a bit of horse and cattle dealing as the +chances turned up--never interfering with his neighbours, and only +showing him self in the township when compelled by the exigencies of his +business to do so. + +It was not until some considerable time after the events which it is my +purpose to describe to you now that I heard the stories, that were told +about him, but when I did I could easily credit their truth. Among other +peculiarities the man was an ardent and clever musician, and strangely +enough, considering his brutality towards grown-up people, a great lover +of children. It was well known that the little ones could do more with +him in five minutes than anyone else could hope to do in a lifetime. +Women, I believe, had never filled any place in his life. The following +episode in his career will, I fancy give you a better notion of his +character than any amount of explanation upon my part could do. + +Somewhere on the Murray River, Pete, who was then running a flash hotel +for squatters and skippers of the river steamers, managed to get himself +into hot water with the police on a charge of working an illicit still. +They had had suspicions of him for some considerable time, but, knowing +the character of their man, had waited in order to make certain before +effecting his arrest. One of his acquaintances, however, a man, who for +some reason or another bore him no good will, put them on the right +track, and now all they had to do was to ride up to his residence and +take him into custody. By the time they reached it, however, Pete had +been warned by somebody and had taken to the bush to be out of the way. +He did not return to the neighbourhood but left South Australia +forthwith, and migrated into New South Wales, where he embarked upon a +new career, much to the relief of the man who had betrayed him, whose +life, as you may imagine, had up to this time been cursed with the very +real fear of Pete's revenge. + +The months went slowly by, Pete was not heard of again, and at last it +so happened that this self-same individual was also compelled, by the +exigencies of his business, to leave South Australia, and to cross into +the oldest Colony, where, being a sanguine man, he hoped to lay the +foundation of a fortune. By the time he reached his destination Pete was +once more an outlaw, and the police were looking for him, but on what +charge I cannot now remember. It is sufficient that he was known to be +in hiding near the identical township where his old enemy had taken up +his abode. Of course, when the latter made his choice and had fixed upon +this particular locality, he did not know this; but he was to learn it +before very long, and in a manner that was destined to prove highly +unpleasant, if not dangerous, to himself and his family. + +It was a terribly hot summer that year, and the country was burnt up to +a cinder; bush fires were of almost daily occurrence, and the loss of +life during that particular season was, so the oldest inhabitants +asserted, exceptional. Beeton, the new-comer--the man who had betrayed +Pete in South Australia, as narrated, nearly two years before--had taken +up a selection some few miles outside the township, had built himself a +homestead, and had settled down in it with his wife and family, +blissfully unconscious that the man whom he dreaded meeting more than he +would have done the Father of Evil himself was hidden in a large cavern +in the ranges scarcely ten miles, as the crow flies, from his own +verandah steps. He imagined that everything was safe, and went about his +daily work feeling as contented with his lot in life as any man who +takes up new country and begins to work it can expect to be. The sword, +however, which was suspended above his head by a single hair, was +beginning to tremble, and would fall before very long and cut him to +pieces in so doing. + +Now it had so happened that in the old days in South Australia, when +Pete and Beeton had still been friends, the former had been a constant +playfellow of the latter's youngest child, a bewitching little girl of +two, who returned with interest the affection the other bestowed upon +her. Two days before Christmas, this mite, now nearly three years old, +strayed away from her home and was lost in the scrub. Search parties +were organised and sent out in every direction, but without success; +look where they would, they could find no trace of her. And for a very +good reason. All the time they were hunting for her she was safe and +sound in Pete's cavern. The outlaw had found her when she was about ten +miles from home, and had conveyed her there with all possible speed. He +was well aware what he was doing, for the child had recognised him at +once, and he had never forgotten her. It would probably have surprised +some of those who were wont to regard him with so much apprehension +could they have seen him during the evening, playing with his little +guest upon the floor of the cavern; and later on, seated by her side, +telling her fairy stories until she began to feel sleepy, when she +insisted upon saying her prayers to him, and compelled him to listen +with all the gravity at his command. + +The following morning he made up his mind, mounted his horse and, +lifting the child up before him, set off through the scrub in the +direction of the father's selection. Reaching the boundary fence, from +which the house could be easily seen, he kissed the youngster and set +her down, bidding her run home as fast as she could go and let her +mother see that she was none the worse for her adventure. When he had +made sure that she had reached her destination, he wheeled his horse +and set off on his return journey to the ranges. As he did so he saw the +signs of a bush fire rising above the trees ahead of him, dense clouds +of smoke were rolling up into the azure sky, and, as if to make the +danger more complete, the wind was freshening every minute. A +quarter-of-an-hour later it looked as if his fate were sealed. Behind +him was civilisation, with its accompaniment of police; ahead, and on +either hand, the fire and seemingly certain destruction by one of the +most terrible deaths imaginable. What was he to do? It did not take him +very long, however, to make up his mind. At one spot, a couple of miles +or so to his left, the smoke was not so heavy, and his knowledge of the +country told him the reason of this. It was due to a dry water-course in +which there was nothing that would burn. Urging his horse forward he +made for it as fast as he could go. But he was not destined to get there +quite as quickly as he expected, for, when he was only a hundred yards +or so distant from the bank, his quick eye detected the body of a man +lying on the ground beneath a casuarina tree. With his habitual +carelessness of human life he was about to leave him to be dealt with by +the on-rushing flames, when he chanced to catch sight of the other's +face. Then he pulled his horse to a standstill, as if he had been shot. +The individual on the ground was Beeton, the man who had betrayed him in +South Australia, and the father of the child whom he had risked so much +that day to save. The recognition was mutual, for the man, though quite +incapable of moving (he had broken his right leg, so it transpired +later) was still conscious. Here was a glorious chance of revenge, and +one of which Pete was just the sort of man to take the fullest +advantage. He brought his terrified horse a little closer, and lolling +in his saddle looked calmly down on his prostrate foe. + +'How d'ye do, Beeton?' he said, with the easy familiarity of an old +acquaintance, to all intents and purposes quite oblivious to the fact +that an enormous bush fire was raging in their vicinity, and was every +second drawing closer to them. 'It is some time since we last had the +pleasure of meeting, or my memory deceives me. Let me see, I think it +was in South Australia, was it not?' + +Beeton's complexion was even whiter than it had been before as he +glanced up at his enemy and marked the relentless look upon his face. +He did not answer, however. + +'Looks as if you've been inconsiderate enough to have forgotten the +circumstance,' continued Pete, mockingly, 'and yet, if I'm not making a +mistake, there was every reason why you should have remembered it. +However, that does not matter; it seems as if I'm to have a chance of +getting even with you after all. D'you see yonder fire? Well it will +pass this way in a few minutes. There's only one chance of escape and +that is to make your way into the creek bed yonder. I should advise you +to hurry up and get there unless you wish to be roasted to a cinder.' + +'Curse you, you can see I'm done for and can't move,' cried the other in +a tone of agony. 'If you were not the devil you are, you would help me +to get there. But you will leave me to die, I know.' + +'Why should I help you?' inquired Pete, with continued calmness. 'Who +was it put the police on my track at Yackamunda, eh--and drove me out +here? Why, you did! And now you want me to save you. No, my lad, you can +lie there and burn for all I care or will help you.' + +'Then be off,' cried the man on the ground, with the savageness of +despair. 'If I'm to die let me die alone, not with those devilish eyes +of yours watching me!' + +By this time the heat was almost unbearable, and Pete's horse was +growing unmanageable. He plunged and snorted at the approaching flames, +until none but a man of Pete's experience and dexterity could have +retained his seat in the saddle. + +'Since you do not desire my presence,' said Pete, 'I'll wish you a good +afternoon.' + +So saying he lifted his hat with diabolical politeness and started for +the creek. He had not gone very far, however, before he changed his mind +and once more brought his horse to a standstill, this time with even +more difficulty than before, for the animal was now almost beyond +control. Glancing round to see how far the flames were away, he leapt +from the saddle to the ground, and realising that he would not have time +to make the beast secure, let him go free, and set off as fast as his +legs would carry him back to the spot where he had left his enemy to +meet his fate. As he reached it, the flames entered a little belt of +timber fifty yards from the place. + +'Come, Beeton,' he cried. 'If you're going to be saved there's not an +instant to lose. Let me get a good hold of you and I'll see what I can +do. Confound the man, he's fainted.' + +Picking the prostrate figure up as if he weighed only a few pounds, he +placed him on his shoulder and set off at a run for the creek. It was a +race for life with a vengeance, and only a man like Pete could have +hoped to win it. As it was, he reached the bank just as the foremost +flames were licking up the dry grass not a dozen paces from where he had +stood. When they reached the bottom Beeton was saved, but what it was +that had induced his benefactor to do it it is doubtful if he himself +could tell. That evening, when the fire had passed, he walked into the +township and gave himself up to the police, at the same time bidding +them send out for the man he had risked his life to save. + +I have narrated this incident at some length in order that you may have +an idea of the complex character of the man who was later on to exercise +such a potent influence on my life. That it was a complex character I +don't think anyone will attempt to deny. And it was to those who knew +him best that he appeared in the strangest light. How well I remember my +first meeting with him. + +It was about a month after his arrival in the district that I had +occasion one morning to cross the river and visit his selection in order +to inquire about a young bull of ours that had been seen working his way +down the boundary fence. I rode up to the slip panels, let myself in, +and went round the tangled wilderness of green stuff to the back of the +house. Much of it was in a tumble-down state; indeed, I had heard that +only three rooms were really habitable. In the yard I found the two +black boys previously mentioned, and whom I had had described to me, +playing knuckle bones on a log. They looked up at me in some surprise, +and when I told one of them to go in and let his master know that I +wanted to see him, it was nearly a minute before he did so. In response +to the summons, however, Whispering Pete emerged, his queer eyes +blinking in the sunlight, for all the world like a cat's. He came over +to where I sat on my horse, and asked my business. + +'My name is Heggarstone,' I replied. 'And I come from the station across +the river. I want to inquire after a young brindle bull that was last +seen working his way down your boundary fence. I believe he crossed the +river above the township.' + +'I don't know that I've seen him,' whispered Pete, at the same time +looking into my face and taking stock of me with those extraordinary +eyes of his. 'But I'll make inquiries. In the meantime get off your +horse and come inside, won't you?' + +Anxious to see what sort of place he had made of Merther's old shanty, I +got off, and, having made my horse fast to a post, followed Pete into +his dwelling. A long and dark passage led from the back door right +through the house to the front verandah. Passing along this, we +proceeded to a room on the right hand side, the door of which he threw +open. + +I'd only been in the house once before in my life, and that was when old +Merther had the place and kept it like a pig-sty. Now everything was +changed, and I found myself in a room such as I had never in my life +seen before. It was large and well-shaped, with dark panelled walls, had +a big, old-fashioned fireplace at one end, in which half-a-dozen people +could have seated themselves comfortably, and a long French window at +the other, leading into the verandah, and thence into the tangled +wilderness of front garden. + +But it was not the shape or the size of the room that surprised me as +much as the way in which it was furnished. Books there were, as in our +rooms at home, and to be counted by the hundred, mixed up pell-mell with +a collection of antique swords, quite a couple of dozen silver cups on +brackets, pictures, a variety of fowling-pieces, rifles and pistols, a +couple of suits of armour, looking very strange upon their carved +pedestals, an easel draped with a curtain, a lot of what looked like +valuable china, a heavy, carved table, two or three comfortable chairs, +and last, but by no means least, a piano placed across one corner with a +pile of music on the top. Though I had it all before me, I could hardly +believe my eyes, for this was the last house in the township I should +have expected to find furnished in such a fashion. + +'Sit down,' said Pete, pointing to a large chair. 'Perhaps you will let +me offer you some refreshment after your ride?' + +It was a hot morning, and I was thirsty, so I gladly accepted his +hospitality. Hearing this, he went to a quaint old cupboard on one side +of the room and from it took a bottle with a gold cap--which I knew +contained champagne. This was a luxury of which I had never partaken, +for in the bush in those days we were very simple in our tastes, and I +doubt if even the grog shanty itself had a bottle of this wine upon the +premises, much less any other house in the township. Pete placed two +strange-shaped glasses on the table, and then unscrewed the cork, not +using a corkscrew as I should have done had I been in his place. The +wine creamed and bubbled in the glasses, and, after handing one to me, +my host took the other himself, and, bowing slightly, said, 'I drink to +our better acquaintance, Mr Heggarstone.' + +I knew I ought to say something polite in return, but for the life of me +I could think of nothing, so I simply murmured, 'Thank you,' and drank +off my wine at a gulp, an action which seemed to surprise him +considerably. He said nothing, however, but poured me out another +glassful, and then took a small silver case from his pocket which, when +he offered it to me, I discovered contained cigarettes. + +'Do try one,' he said. 'If you are a cigarette smoker, I think you will +enjoy them. They are real Turkish, and as I have them made for myself I +can guarantee their purity.' + +I took one, lit it, and by the time it was half smoked felt more at my +ease. The wine was having a tranquillising effect upon me, and the +strings of my tongue were loosened. I even went so far as to comment +upon his room. + +'So glad you like it,' he murmured softly, with an intonation impossible +to imitate. 'It's so difficult, as possibly you are aware, to make a +room in any way artistic in these awful up-country townships--the +material one has to work upon is, as a rule, so very, very crude. In +this particular instance I can scarcely claim much credit, for this old +room was originally picturesque, and all I had to do was to put my +things in it, and give them a certain semblance of order.' + +'And how do you manage to employ your time up here?' I asked. + +He looked at me a little curiously for a moment and then said,-- + +'Well, in the first place, I have my work among my cattle, and then I +paint a little, as you see by that easel, then I have my piano, and my +books. But at the same time I feel bound to confess existence is a +little monotonous. One wants a friend, you know, and that's why I took +the liberty of asking you to come in and see my room.' + +Though I did not quite see what my friendship had to do with his room, +I could not help feeling a little gratified at the compliment he paid +me. Presently I said,-- + +'I hope you won't think me rude, but would it be too much to ask you to +play me something?' + +'I will do so with great pleasure,' he answered. 'I am glad you are fond +of music. But first let me fill your glass and offer you another +cigarette.' + +Having made me comfortable, he went across to the piano and sat down +before it. For a few moments he appeared to be thinking, and then his +fingers fell upon the notes, and a curious melody followed--the like of +which I never remember to have heard before. I have always been +strangely susceptible to the influence of music, and I think my host +must have discovered this, for presently he began to sing in a low, +silky sort of voice, that echoed in my brain for hours afterwards. What +the song was I do not know, but while it lasted I sat entranced. When it +was finished he rose and came across to me again. + +'I hope you will take pity upon a poor hermit, and let me see you +sometimes,' he said, lighting another cigarette. 'For the future you +must consider this house and all it contains yours, whenever you care to +use it.' + +I took this as a dismissal and accordingly rose, at the same time +thanking him for the treat he had given me. + +'Oh, please don't be so grateful!' he said, with a laugh, 'or I shall +begin to believe you don't mean it. Well, if you really must be going, +let me call your horse.' + +He opened the door and gave a peculiar whistle, which was immediately +answered from the back premises. A few moments later my horse made his +appearance before the front verandah. I shook hands, and, having +mounted, looked once more into his curious eyes, and then rode away. It +was only when I reached home, and my father asked what answer I had +brought back, that I remembered I had learned nothing of the animal +about which I had ridden over to inquire. + +My father said nothing, because there was nothing to be said, but he +evidently thought the more. As for me, I could think of nothing but that +curious man, and the peculiar fascination he had exercised over me. + +A few days later I met him in the township. Directly he saw me he +stopped his horse and entered into conversation with me. + +'I have been wondering when I should see you again,' he said. 'I was +beginning to be afraid you had forgotten that such a person existed.' + +'I have been wanting to come up and see you,' I answered, 'but I did not +like to thrust myself upon you. You might have been busy.' + +'You need never be afraid of that,' he answered, with his usual queer +smile. No--please come up whenever you can. I shall always be glad to +see you. What do you say to Thursday evening at eight o'clock?' + +I answered that I should be very glad to come, and then we separated, +and I rode on to see Sheilah. + +Thursday evening came, and as soon as I had my supper, I set off across +the creek to the old house on the hill. It had struck eight by the time +I reached it, and to my surprise I heard the sound of voices coming from +the sitting-room. I knocked at the door, and a moment later it was +opened by my host himself, who shook me warmly by the hand and invited +me to enter. Thereupon I passed into the lamp-lit room to discover two +young men of the township, Pat Doolan and James Mountain, installed +there. They were making themselves prodigiously at home, as if they had +been there many times before. Which I believe they had. + +'I need not introduce you, I suppose?' said my host, looking round. 'You +are probably well acquainted with these gentlemen.' + +As I had known them all my life, played with them as children, and met +them almost every day since, it may be supposed that I was. + +We sat down and a general conversation ensued. After a while our host +played and sang to us; drinks were served, and later on somebody--I +really forget who--suggested a game of cards. The pasteboards were +accordingly produced, and for the first time in my life I played for +money. When, two hours later, we rose from the table, I was the winner +of twenty pounds, while Pete had lost nearly fifty. I went home as happy +as a man could well be, with the world in my watch pocket, not because I +had won the money, but because I had been successful in something I had +undertaken. How often that particular phase of vanity proves our +undoing. Two evenings later I returned and won again, yet another +evening, and still with the same result. Then the change came, my luck +broke. I followed it up, but still lost. After that the sum I had won +melted away like snow before the mid-day sun, till, on the fifth +evening, I rose from the table having lost all I had previously won and +fifteen pounds into the bargain. The next night I played again, hoping +to retrieve my fortune, but ill-luck still pursued me, and I lost ten +pounds more. This time it was much worse, for I had not enough capital +by twenty pounds to meet my liabilities. I rose from the table like many +another poor fool, bitterly cursing the hour I had first touched a card. +The others had gone home, and when I prepared to follow them, Pete, to +whom I owed the money, accompanied me into the verandah. + +'I'm sorry you've had such bad luck lately,' he said quietly. 'But you +mustn't let the memory of the small sum you owe me trouble you. I'm in +no hurry for it. Fortune's bound to smile on you again before very long, +and then you can settle with me at your convenience.' + +'To tell the honest truth,' I blurted out, feeling myself growing hot +all over, 'I can't pay. I ought not to have played at all.' + +'Oh, don't say that,' he answered. 'Remember we only do it for +amusement. If you let your losses worry you I shall be more than +miserable. No! come up next Monday evening, and let us see what will +happen then.' + +Monday night came and I played and won! + +I paid Pete, and then, because I was a coward and afraid to stop lest +they should laugh at me, began again. Once more I won, then Fortune +again began to frown upon me, and I lost. We played every evening after +that with varying success. At last the crash came. One evening, after +liquidating my liabilities to the other men, I rose from the table owing +Whispering Pete a hundred pounds. + +Bidding him good-night, I went down the hill in a sort of stupor. How I +was to pay him I could not think. I had not a halfpenny in the world, +and nothing that I could possibly sell to raise the money. That night, +as may be imagined, I did not sleep a wink. + +Next morning I asked my father to advance me the amount in question. He +inquired my reason, and as I declined to give it, he refused to consider +my request. + +After that, for more than a week, I kept away from the house on the +hill, being too much ashamed to go near it. My life, from being a fairly +happy one, now became a burden to me. I carried my miserable secret +locked up in my breast by day, and dreamed of it by night. + +Then the climax came. One evening a note from Whispering Pete was +brought to me by one of his black boys. I took it into the house and +read it with my coward heart in my mouth. It ran as follows:-- + + + 'DEAR JIM,--Have you quite forgotten me? I have been hoping every + evening that you would come across for a chat. But you never put in + an appearance. I suppose you have been too busy mustering lately to + have any time to spare for visiting. If you are likely to be at + home to-morrow evening, will you come across to supper at + eight?--Yours ever, + + 'PETE. + + '_P.S._--By the way, would it be convenient to you to let me have + that £100? I am sending down to Sydney, and being a trifle short it + would just come in handily for a little speculation I have on + hand.' + + +Telling the boy to inform his master that I would come over and see him +first thing in the morning, I returned to my own room and went to +bed--but not to sleep. + +Next morning I saddled my horse and rode over as I had promised. When I +arrived at the house, Whispering Pete was in the stable at the rear +examining a fine chestnut horse that had just arrived. As soon as he saw +me he looked a little confused I thought, and came out, carefully +closing the door behind him. From the stable we passed into the house +and to the sitting-room, where Pete bade me be seated. + +'I was beginning to fear I had offended you in some way, and that you +wished to avoid me,' he began, as he offered me a cigarette. + +'So I did,' I answered boldly, 'and it's on account of that wretched +money. Pete, I'm in an awful hole. I cannot possibly pay you just yet. +To tell you the honest truth, at the present moment I haven't a red cent +in the world, and I feel just about the meanest wretch in all +Australia.' + +He gave his shoulders a peculiar twitch, as was his habit, and then rose +to his feet, saying as he did so,-- + +'And so you've worked yourself into this state about a paltry hundred +pounds. Well, if I'd been told it by anybody else I'd not have believed +it. Come, come, Jim, old man, if that debt worries you, we'll strike it +off the books altogether. Thank God, I can safely say I'm not a +money-grubber, and, all things considered, I set a greater value on your +society than on twice a hundred pounds. So there that's done with, and +you must forget all about it!' + +Generous as was his speech I could not help thinking there was something +not quite sincere about it. However, he had lifted a great weight off my +mind, and I thanked him profusely, at the same time telling him I should +still regard myself as in his debt, and that I would repay him on the +first possible opportunity. + +'Would you really like to pay me?' he said suddenly, as if an idea had +struck him. 'Because, if you are desirous of doing so, I think I can +find you a way by which you can not only liquidate your debt to me, but +recoup yourself for all your losses into the bargain.' + +'And what is that?' I asked. 'If it's possible, of course I should like +to do it.' + +'Well, I'll tell you. It's like this! You know, next month the township +races come off, don't you? Well, it's to be the biggest meeting they +have ever had, and, seeing that, I have determined to bring up a horse +from the South and enter him for the Cup. Now, here's what I propose. I +know your reputation as a horseman, and I think with you in the saddle +my nag can just about win. I'll pay you a hundred pounds to ride him, +and there you are. What do you say?' + +I thought for a moment, and then said,-- + +'I won't take the hundred, but I'll ride the horse for you, if you wish +it, with pleasure.' + +'Thank you,' he answered. 'I thought I could depend on you.' + +Little did I dream to what misery I was condemning myself by so readily +consenting to his proposition. + +From Whispering Pete's house I went on through the township to see +Sheilah. It was a lovely morning, with just a suspicion of a coming +thunderstorm in the air. I found her in the yard among her fowls, a pale +blue sun-bonnet on her head, and a basket full of eggs upon her arm. She +looked incomparably sweet and womanly. + +'Why, Jim,' she said, looking up at me as I opened the gate and came +into the yard, 'this is, indeed, an unexpected pleasure. I thought you +were out mustering in your back country.' + +'No, Sheilah,' I replied. 'I had some important business in the +township, which detained me. Directly it was completed I thought I'd +come over and see you.' + +'That was kind of you,' she answered. 'I was wondering when you would +come. We don't seem to have seen so much of you lately as we used to +do.' + +Because there was a considerable amount of truth in what she said, and +my conscience pricked me for having forsaken old friends for a new-comer +like Whispering Pete, I naturally became indignant at such an accusation +being brought against me. Sheilah looked at me in surprise, but for a +few moments she said nothing, then, as we left the yard and went up the +path towards the house, she put her little hand upon my arm and said +softly,-- + +'Jim, my dear old friend, you've something on your mind that's troubling +you. Won't you tell me all about it and let me help you if I can?' + +'It's nothing that you can help me in, Sheilah,' I replied. 'I'm down on +my luck, that's all; and, because I'm a fool, I've promised to do a +thing that I know will make a lot of trouble in the future. However, as +it can't be helped, it's no use crying over it, is it?' + +'Every use, if it can make you any happier. Jim, you've not been +yourself for weeks past. Come, tell me all about it, and let me see if I +can advise you. Has it, for instance, anything to do with Whispering +Pete?' + +I looked at her in surprise. + +'What do you know about Whispering Pete?' I asked. + +'A good deal more than you think, or I like,' she answered, 'and when I +find him making my old playfellow miserable, I am even more his enemy +than before.' + +'I didn't say that it had anything to do with Whispering Pete,' I +retorted, beginning to flare up, according to custom, at the idea of +anything being said or hinted against those with whom I was intimate. + +'No, Jim, you didn't say so, but I'm certain he is at the bottom of it, +whatever it is! Come, won't you tell me, old friend?' + +She looked into my face so pleadingly that I could not refuse her; +besides, it had always been my custom to confide in Sheilah ever since I +was a little wee chap but little bigger than herself, and somehow it +seemed to come natural now. What's more, if the truth were known, I +think it was just that very idea that had brought me down to see her. + +'It's this way, Sheilah,' I stammered, hardly knowing how to begin. +'Like the fool I am, I've been playing cards up at Whispering Pete's for +the last month or so, and, well, the long and the short of it is, I've +lost more money than I can pay.' + +She didn't reproach me, being far too clever for that. She simply put +her little hand in mine, and looked rather sorrowfully into my face. + +'Well, Jim?' she said. + +'Well, to make a long story short, I owe Whispering Pete a hundred +pounds. He wrote asking me for the money. I couldn't pay, so I went over +and told him straight out that I couldn't.' + +'That was brave of you!' + +'He received me very nicely and generously, and told me not to bother +myself any more about it. Then I found there was something I could do +for him in return.' + +'And what was that?' + +'Why, to ride his horse for the Cup at the township races next month.' + +'Oh, Jim--you won't surely do that, will you?' + +'Well, you see I've promised, and it's that that's worrying me.' + +'Jim, what is the amount you want to pay him off?' + +'A hundred pounds, Sheilah.' + +'Well, I have more than that saved. Jim, do let me lend it to you, and +then you can pay him in full, and you needn't ride in the race. You +know, Jim, that nobody among our friends in the township ever goes to +them, and you must see for yourself what would be said if you rode.' + +'And what business would it be of anybody's pray, if I did? I go my way, +they can go theirs.' + +'But I don't want people to think badly of you, Jim.' + +'If they're fools enough to do so because I ride a good horse in a fair +race they'll think anything; and, as far as I'm concerned, they're +welcome to their opinions.' + +'And you won't let me lend you the money, Jim?' + +'No, Sheilah, dear, it's impossible. I couldn't think of such a thing. +But I thank you all the same from the bottom of my heart. It's like your +goodness to make me such an offer.' + +'And you've made up your mind to ride for this man.' + +'See for yourself how I am situated. How can I get out of it? He has +done me a kindness, and in return he asks me to do him one. If I can't +do anything else I can ride, and he is pinning his chance of winning on +me. Am I therefore to disappoint him because the old goody-goodies in +the township disapprove of horse-racing?' + +'Jim, that isn't the right way to look at it.' + +'Isn't it? Well, it's the way I've got to look at it anyhow, and, as far +as I can see, there's no other. Only, I'll give you one bit of advice, +don't let any of the people hereabouts come preaching to me, or they'll +find I'm not in the humour for it.' + +Sheilah was quiet for a little while. Then she said very sorrowfully,-- + +'This man's coming into the township will prove to have been the +beginning of trouble for all of us. Jim, mark my words; your decision +will some day recoil upon those you love best.' + +This was not at all what I expected from Sheilah, so like a fool I lost +my temper. + +'What nonsense you talk,' I cried. 'At any rate, if it does it will do +us good. We want a bit of waking up, or I'm mistaken.' + +'Oh, Jim, Jim,' she said, 'if only I could persuade you to give this +notion up.' + +'It's not to be thought of, Sheilah,' I answered, 'so say no more about +it. One thing I know, however, and that is, if all the rest turn against +me, you will not.' + +'I shall never turn against you, Jim. And you know that.' + +'Well, then, that's all right. I don't care a scrap about the rest.' + +'But does it never strike you, Jim, that in thus following your own +inclinations you are being very cruel to those who love you best in the +world.' + +'Those who love me best in the world,' I repeated mockingly. 'Pray how +many may there be of them?' + +'More than you seem to think,' she answered reproachfully. 'If only you +were not so headstrong and proud, you would soon discover that you have +in reality lots of friends--even among those whom you affect to despise. +Some day you may find this out. God grant it may not then be too late.' + +How true her words were destined to prove you will see for yourself. +Surely enough the time _was_ to come, the bitterest time of all my life, +when I should see for myself in what estimation I was held by the people +of the township. Strange are the ways of Providence, for then it was I +discovered that my best friends were not those who had been my +companions in prosperity, and whom I had every right to think would +stand by me through evil and good report--but the very people whom I had +been accustomed to call _old fossils_ and by a hundred other and similar +terms of reproach. However, I was not going to give in that Sheilah was +right. + +'Too late or not too late,' I answered, 'I must go my own way, Sheilah. +If it turns out that I'm wrong, I shall have to suffer for my folly. If +I'm beaten, you may be sure I sha'n't cry out. I'll take my punishment +like a man, never fear. I'll not ask anyone to share my punishment.' + +She gave a little sigh. + +'No, you're not asking us to share your punishment,' she replied. +'Nevertheless we must do so. Can you not think and see for yourself what +it must mean to those who are your friends and have your welfare most +at heart, to see you so blindly thrusting your head into the trap that +is so cunningly set for you by the arch enemy of all mankind?' + +'How do you know it _is_ a trap?' I cried. 'Why will you always make +such mountains out of molehills, Sheilah? If, as you say, Pete is my +enemy, which, mind you, I do not for a single moment admit, he cannot do +me very much harm. I may lose a little money to him at cards, but I +shall soon be able to pay him back. I may ride his horse for him at the +township races and offend some of the strait-laced goody-goody folk by +so doing--but their censure will break no bones, and in a few weeks they +will have forgotten it and be much the same to me as ever. It is not as +if I were going to continue race riding all my life, because I do it +this once. I may never ride another. Indeed, I'll even go so far as to +give you my promise to that effect if you wish it.' + +'You will make me very happy if you will.' + +'Then I'll do so,' I answered. 'From this moment I promise you that, +without your permission, I will never ride another horse in a race. +There! Are you satisfied now?' + +'I am much happier. I thank you, Jim, from the bottom of my heart. For +I know you well enough to be sure that if you have once given your word +you will stick to it. God bless you.' + +'God bless you, Sheilah. And now I must be off. Good-bye.' + +'Good-bye.' + +I jumped on to my horse, and, waving my hand to her, went back up the +track to the township with a strange foreboding in my heart that her +prophecy would some day be realised. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE RACE + + +Slowly the month rolled by, and every day brought the fatal races +nearer, till at last only a week separated us from them. With each +departing day a greater nervousness took possession of me. I tried to +reason it out, but without success. As far as I could see, I had nothing +very vital to fear! I might lose the esteem of the grey heads of the +township, it was true, and possibly get into trouble with my father--but +beyond those two unpleasantnesses I was unable to see that anything +serious could happen to me. + +Since giving him my promise I had only once set eyes on Whispering Pete. +To tell the truth, I felt a desire to keep out of his way. At the same +time, however, I had not the very slightest intention of going back on +my promise to ride for him. At last, one morning, I met him riding +through the township on a skittish young thoroughbred. As usual he was +scrupulously neat in his dress, and, when he stopped to speak to me, his +beady black eyes shone down on me like two live coals. + +'You're not going to throw me over about that race are you, Jim?' he +said, after we had pulled up our horses and saluted each other. + +'What should make you think so?' I answered. 'When I give my word I +don't go back on it as a general rule.' + +'Of course, you don't,' he replied; 'I know that. But I heard yesterday +that the folk in the township had been trying to persuade you to +withdraw your offer. The time is drawing close now, and I shall have the +horse up here to-night. Come over in the evening and have a look at him, +and then in the morning, if you're agreeable and have nothing better to +do, we might try him against your horse Benbow, who, I take it, is the +best animal in the district. What do you say?' + +'I'm quite willing,' I answered. 'And where do you intend to do it?' + +'Not where all the township can see, you may be sure,' he answered, +with one of his peculiar laughs. 'We'll keep this little affair dark. Do +you know that bit of flat on the other side of Sugarloaf Hill?' + +'Quite well,' I said. 'Who should know it better than I?' + +'Very well, then; we'll have our trial spin there.' Then bending towards +me he said very softly, 'Jim, my boy, it won't be my fault if we don't +make a big haul over this race. There will be a lot of money about, and +you've no objection, I suppose?' + +'None whatever,' I answered. 'But do you think it's as certain as all +that? Remember it's a pretty stiff course, and from what I heard this +morning, the company your horse is likely to meet will be more than +usually select.' + +'I'm not the least afraid,' he answered 'My horse is a good one, and if +he is well, will walk through them as if they were standing still. +Especially with you on his back.' + +I took this compliment for what it was worth, knowing that it was only +uttered for the sake of giving me a bit of a fillip. + +'I shall see you, then, this evening?' I said. + +'This evening. Can you come to dinner?' + +'I'm afraid not,' I answered; and with a parting salutation we separated +and rode on our different ways. + +When I reached the corner I turned and looked back at him, asking myself +what there was about Whispering Pete that made him so different to other +men. That he _was_ different nobody could deny. Even the most +commonplace things he did and said had something about them that made +them different from the same things as done and said by other people. I +must confess that, while I feared him a little, I could not help +entertaining a sort of admiration for the man. Who and what was he? He +had been in the township now, off and on, for two years, and during the +whole of that time, with the exception of myself and a few other young +men, he had made no friends at all. Indeed, he used to boast that he had +no sympathy with men above a certain age, and it was equally certain +that not one of the elderly inhabitants of the town, from my father and +old McLeod downwards, had any sympathy or liking for him. + +When I had watched him out of sight, I rode on to the McLeods' +selection, and, having tied up my horse, entered the house. Sheilah, I +discovered, was not at home, having ridden out to their back boundary to +see a woman who was lying ill at one of the huts. Old McLeod was in the +stockyard, branding some heifers, and I strolled out to give him a hand. +When we had finished we put away the irons, and went up the path to the +house together. On reaching the dining-room, a neat and pretty room, +with Sheilah's influence showing in every corner of it, the old man +turned and put his hand on my shoulder. He was a strange-looking old +chap, with his long, thin face, bushy grey eyebrows, shaven upper lip, +and enormous white beard. After looking at me steadily for a minute or +so, he said, with the peculiar Scotch accent that time had never been +able to take away from him,-- + +'James, my lad, it is my business to warn ye to be verra careful what +ye're about, for I ken, unless ye mend your ways, ye're on the straight +road to hell. And, my boy, I like ye too well to see ye ganging that way +without a word to so stay ye.' + +'And what have you heard about me, Mr McLeod?' I asked, resolved to +have it out with him while the iron was hot. 'What gossip has been +carried to your ears?' + +'Nay! nay!' he answered. 'Not gossip, my laddie. What I have heard is +the sober truth, and that ye'll ken when I tell ye. First an' foremost, +ye've been card-playing up at the house on the hill yonder these many +months past.' + +'That's quite true,' I replied. 'But I can also tell you that I have not +seen or touched a card for close upon five weeks now; and, if I can help +it, I never will do so again. What else have you been told about me?' + +'Well, lad,' he said, 'I've heard that ye're going to ride in the races +out on the plain yonder next week. Maybe that'll not be true, too?' + +'Yes. It's quite true; I am.' + +'But ye'll think better of it, laddie. I'm sure of that!' + +'No! I have no option. I have promised to ride, and I cannot draw back.' + +'And ye'll have reckoned what the consequences may be?' + +'I think I have!' + +'Well, well; I'm sorry for ye. Downright sorry, laddie. I thought ye +had more strength of mind than that. However, it's no care of mine; +ye'll have your own day of reckoning I make no doubt.' + +'I cannot see that what I do concerns anyone but myself,' I answered +hotly. + +He looked at me under his bushy eyebrows for a second or two, and then +said, shaking his old head,-- + +'Foolish talk--vain and verra foolish talk!' + +By this time my temper, never one of the best, as you already know, had +got completely out of my control, and I began to rage and storm against +those who had spoken against me to him, at the same time crying out +against the narrowness and hypocrisy of the world in general. Old McLeod +gravely heard me to the end, visibly and impartially weighing the pros +and cons of all I said. Then, when I had finished, he remarked,-- + +'Ye're but a poor, half-baked laddie, after all, to run your head +against a wall in this silly fashion. But ye'll see wisdom some day. By +that time, however, 'twill be too late.' + +Never has a prophecy been more faithfully fulfilled than that one. I +have learned wisdom since then--learned it as few men have done, by the +hardest and bitterest experience. And when I got it, it was, as he had +said, too late to be of any use to me. But as that has all to be told in +its proper order, I must get on with my story. + +Leaving the house, I mounted my horse again and rode off in the +direction I knew Sheilah would come, my heart all the time raging within +me against the injustice of which I considered myself the victim. What +right had old McLeod to talk to me in such a fashion? I was not his son; +and, poor fool that I was, I told myself that if I liked I would go to a +thousand races and ride in every one of them, before I would consider +him or anyone else in the matter. But one thing puzzled me considerably, +and that was how he had come to know so much of my private affairs. +Since it had been kept such a profound secret, who could have told him +about my gambling, and my promise to ride Pete's horse in the +steeplechase? So far as I was aware, no one but Sheilah knew, to whom I +had told my whole story. Could she have revealed my shortcomings to her +father? In my inmost heart, I knew that she had not said a word. But I +was so angry that I could not do justice to anybody, not even to +Sheilah herself. God help me! + +For an hour I rode on; then, crossing a bit of open plain, I saw Sheilah +ahead, mounted on a big brown horse, coming cantering towards me. When +she made out who I was, she quickened her pace, and we were presently +alongside each other, riding back together. Angry as I was, I could not +help noticing how pretty her face looked under her big hat, and how well +she sat her horse. + +'You seem put out about something, Jim,' she said, when I had turned my +horse and we had gone a few yards. + +'I am,' I answered, 'very much put out. Sheilah, why did you tell your +father what I told you the other day?' + +'What have I told him?' + +'Why, about my playing cards at Whispering Pete's, and my resolve to +ride in the steeplechase next week?' + +'I have not told him, Jim. You surely don't think I would be as mean as +that, do you?' + +'But how did he come to hear of it?' I asked, ignoring the last portion +of her speech. 'He taxed me with it this morning, and was kind enough +to preach me a sermon on the strength of it.' + +'I have not said a word to him. You seem to have a very poor opinion of +me, Jim.' + +'You must admit that it's strange he should have known!' + +'Don't you think he may have heard it in the township?' + +'Your father's not given to gossiping among the township folk; you know +that as well as I do, Sheilah!' + +'Then you still think, in spite of what I have told you, that I did tell +him? Answer me, straightforwardly, do you think so?' + +'If you want it in plain English, without any beating about the bush, I +do! There, now I have said it.' + +For a moment her face flushed crimson, then her eyes filled with tears +and she looked another way, thinking I should not see them. As soon as I +had spoken I would have given all I possessed in the world to have +recalled those fatal words; but my foolish pride would not let me say +anything. Then Sheilah turned to me with a white face. + +'I am sorry, Jim,' she said slowly, 'that you should think so badly of +me as to believe me capable of telling you a lie. God forgive you for +doubting one who would be, if you would only let her, your truest and +best friend on earth.' + +Then giving her horse a smart cut with her whip, she set off at a +gallop, leaving me behind, feeling just the meanest and most +contemptible cur on earth. For two pins I would have made after her, and +licked the very dust off her boots in apology. But before I could do so +my temper got the better of me again, and I turned off the track, made +for the river, and, having forded it, rode home, about as miserable a +man as could have been found in the length and breadth of Australia. + +When I reached the house it was hard upon sundown, and old Betty was +carrying in dinner. I turned my horse into the night paddock, hung my +saddle and bridle on the peg in the verandah, and then went inside. The +old woman met me in the passage, and one glance at my face told her what +sort of state I was in. She drew me into the kitchen in her old +affectionate way, and, having got me there, said,-- + +'Jim, boy, it's ye that must be very careful to-night. Your father's +been at his old tricks all day, and he's just quarrelsome enough now to +snap your head off if you say a word. Don't cross him, lad, whatever you +do.' + +'All right, old girl,' I answered, patting her weather-beaten cheek, +and going past her into my room. Then, having changed my things, I went +into the dining-room, where my father was sitting with a book upon his +knee, staring straight before him. + +He looked up as I entered, and shut his volume with a snap; but for some +time he did not utter a word, indeed it was not until our meal was well +nigh finished that he spoke. Then he put down his knife and fork, poured +himself out some whiskey, drank it slowly, with his eyes fixed on me all +the time, and said,-- + +'Pray, what is the meaning of this new scandal that I hear about you?' + +'What new scandal?' I asked; for I did not know what false yarn he might +have picked up. + +'This story about your having promised to ride a horse in the +steeplechase next week?' + +'It is perfectly true that I have promised,' I answered. 'What more do +you want me to tell you about it?' + +'I won't tell you what I want you to tell me. I'll tell you what I +command, and that is that you don't as much as put your leg over any +horse at those races.' + +'And, pray, why not?' + +He filled himself another glass of whiskey and sipped it slowly. + +'Because I forbid it at once and for all. That's why!' + +'It's too late to forbid it now. I have given my promise, and I cannot +draw back.' + +'You both can and will,' he said hotly. 'I order you to.' + +'I am sorry,' I answered, trying hard to keep my temper. 'But I have no +option. I _must_ ride.' + +He staggered to his feet, and stood for a moment glaring down at me, his +fingers twitching convulsively as he rested them on the table. + +'Listen to my last word, you young dog,' he cried. 'I tell you this on +my word of honour. If you ride that horse, you leave my house there and +then. As surely as you disobey me, I'll have no more to do with you.' + +I rose to my feet and faced him. My whole future was trembling in the +balance. Little I cared, however. + +'Then, if I understand my position aright, I am to choose between your +house and my word of honour. A pretty choice for a father to give his +son, I must say.' + +'Don't dare to bandy words with me, sir!' he cried. 'Take your choice. +Give up that race, or no longer consider this your home. That's all I +have to say to you. Now go.' + +I left the room and went out into the yard. Then, leaning upon the slip +rails of the horse paddock, I reviewed the situation. My world was +toppling about my ears. I had quarrelled with old McLeod, I had plainly +told Sheilah that I disbelieved her, and now I was being called upon to +break my plighted word to Pete or lose my home. A nice position I was +in, to be sure. Look at it how I would, I could come to no decision more +plain than that, in persisting in my determination to ride, I was doing +what is generally called cutting off my nose to spite my face. On the +other hand, I had given my word, and was in honour bound to Pete. On the +other I--but there, what did it all matter; if they could be obstinate, +so could I, and come what might I would not give in--no, not if I had to +resign all I possessed and go out into the world and begin life again as +a common station hand. It's all very well now to say what a fool I was. +You must remember I was young, I was hot-headed, and as if that were not +enough, I came of a race that were as vile-tempered as even the Tempter +of Mankind could wish. + +After a while I crossed the creek and went up the hill to Whispering +Pete's abode. I found him in his verandah, smoking. As soon as he saw me +he rose and shook hands. One glance at my face must have told him that +something was wrong, for he immediately said,-- + +'You look worried, Jim. What's the matter?' + +'Everything,' I answered. 'My promise to ride that horse for you has got +me into a rare hot-bed of trouble.' + +'I'm sorry for that,' he replied, offering me one of his splendid +cigars, and pushing up a chair for me. 'But never mind, you're going to +win a pot of money, and that will make them forgive and forget, or I +don't know my world. I've got the weights to-day. My horse has to carry +twelve stone. What do you ride?' + +'A little under eleven,' I answered. + +'Then that should make it about right. However, we'll arrange all that +to-morrow.' + +'Has the horse arrived yet?' + +'No,' he answered. 'But I'm expecting him every minute.' + +For a while we chatted on, then suddenly my host sat upright, and bent +his head forward in a listening attitude. + +'What do you hear?' I asked, for I could only distinguish the rustling +of the night wind in the leaves of the creepers that covered the +verandah. + +'I thought I heard a strange horse's step,' he answered, still +listening. 'Yes, there it is again. I expect it's my animal arriving.' + +A few moments later I could plainly distinguish the clatter of a horse's +step on the hard beaten track that led up to the door. How Pete had +heard it so long before I could not imagine. Presently a dark form +appeared against the starlight, and pulled up opposite where we sat. +Pete sprang to his feet and went forward to the steps. + +'Is that you, Dick?' he cried. + +'My word, it is,' came back a voice from the darkness. 'And a nice job +I've had of it.' + +'Well, then, follow the track round to the left there, and I'll meet you +at the stables.' + +The horseman did as he was ordered, and when he had disappeared, Pete +turned to me and said,-- + +'If you would care to see the horse, come with me.' + +I accordingly rose and followed him through the house to the back +regions. When we reached the stables we found the stranger dismounted +and in the act of leading a closely-rugged horse into a loose-box, which +had evidently been specially prepared for his reception. Pete followed +him, and said something in a low voice, to which the man, who was a +tall, weedy individual, murmured some reply. Having done so, he spat on +the floor with extreme deliberation, and wiped his mouth on his sleeve. + +'Now, let us have a look at him,' said Pete, signing to a blackboy to +strip him of his clothing. The boy did as he was ordered, and for the +first time I saw the horse whose destiny it was to change the whole +course of my life. + +He was a fine-looking, bright bay, with black points, standing about +fifteen hands, long and low, with short, flat legs, large, clean hocks, +good thighs, and as sweet a head and neck as any man ever saw on a +horse. Long as was the stage he had evidently done that day, he looked +as fresh as paint as his big eyes roamed about and took in the lamp-lit +box which was ever so much below what a beauty of his kind deserved. +Somehow it seems to come natural to every Australian, man or woman, to +be a lover of a good horse, and I know that, as I looked at that +beautiful beast, all my regrets were forgotten and my whole soul rose in +longing to be upon his back. + +'What do you think of him?' said Pete, who had been closely watching my +face. 'Isn't he a beauty, and doesn't he look as if he ought to be able +to show the animals about here the way to go?' + +'He does, indeed,' I answered. 'But don't you think it seems a waste of +good material to bring a horse like that up here to take part in a +little country race meeting.' + +'I want to show the folk about here what I can do, my boy,' he said, and +dropping his voice lower even than usual, he continued, 'Besides, as I +told you to-night, the race will be worth more than a little. Between +ourselves, I stand to win five thousand over it already, and if you've +got any savee you'll have a bit on him, especially as you're going to +ride him yourself, and therefore know it must all be fair, square, and +above board.' + +'I intend, all being well, to back him as far as my means will permit,' +I said. 'And now, with regard to this trial, is that to come off +to-morrow morning?' + +'No! I think not. The horse is not ready for it. The day after +to-morrow, perhaps, at three in the morning, on the flat behind the +Sugarloaf Hill. Is old Benbow anything like well?' + +'As fit as possible,' I said. 'If your horse can give him a stone, I +shall be quite satisfied.' + +'Well, bring him over and we'll try. The result should give us some idea +of how this chap can go.' + +'By the way, you've never told me his name.' + +'He is called The Unknown, if that tells you anything.' + +'Not much,' I answered, at the same time giving a final glance at the +beautiful animal now undergoing his toilet. He had only one blemish as +far as I could see, and I had to look him over pretty closely to find +it, and that was a small, white mark on the point of the bone of his +near hock. It caught the eye, and, as I thought, looked unsightly. Just +as we were leaving the box, Pete, who was behind me, suddenly stopped, +and turned angrily on the man sponging the horse's legs. + +'You clumsy fool,' he cried, 'are you quite without sense? One more +piece of forgetfulness like that and you'll spoil everything.' + +What it was that he complained of I could not say, for when I turned +round he was carefully examining the horse's off fore knee, but the man +he addressed looked woefully distressed. + +'Attend to that at once,' said Pete, with an ugly look upon his face. +'And let me catch you neglecting your duties again, and I'll call in the +One-eyed Doctor to you. Just you remember that.' + +Then taking my arm, Pete drew me across the yard back to the house. +There I took a glass of grog, and, after a little conversation, bade him +good-bye. + +It was a lovely night when I left the house and started for home. A +young moon lay well down upon the opposite hilltop, and her faint light +sparkled on the still water of the creek. Now and again a night bird +hooted in the scrub, and once or twice 'possums ran across and scuttled +up into the trees to right and left of my path. My thoughts were still +full of my awkward position, but I would not alter my determination a +jot; I had only one regret, and that was my conduct towards Sheilah. +From the place where I stood by the ford I could see the light of her +bedroom window shining distinctly as a star down the valley. I watched +it till my eyes ached, then, with a heavy sigh, continued my walk up the +hill, and, having reached the house, went straight to bed. + +On the morning appointed for the trial I was up before it was light, had +saddled old Benbow, whom I had kept in the stable for two days, so that +he might be the fitter for the work which would be required of him, and +was at the Sugarloaf Hill just as the first signs of dawn were making +their appearance. I had not long to wait before the others put in an +appearance--Pete mounted on the handsome black I have elsewhere +described, and the man he had called Dick on The Unknown. We greeted +each other, and then set to work arranging preliminaries. + +'You had better get on The Unknown, Jim,' said Pete, 'and let Dick, +here, ride Benbow. I'll give you a lead for the first half of the +distance, then Dick can pick you up and take you on to the end. That +should tell us pretty well what the horse can do, I think.' + +I changed places with the man, and for the first time realised what a +compact horse The Unknown was. The course was then pointed out to me, +and the groom went on to his place to wait for us. The sun was just in +the act of rising, and already the magpies were making day musical in +the trees above us. A heavy dew lay upon the grass, and the air was as +cool and fresh as the most luxurious could desire. + +'Now,' said Pete, gathering up his reins preparatory to business, 'when +you're ready we'll start.' + +'I'm quite ready,' I said, taking my horse in hand. + +With that we walked back a yard or two, and turned round. No sooner had +we done so than Pete cried, 'Go!' As the word left his lips the two +horses sprang forward and away we went. The wind whistled and shrieked +past our ears--the trees and shrubs came into view and fell behind us +like objects seen from the windows of an express train--but I was only +conscious of the glory of the gallop and the exquisite action of the +beast beneath me. By the time we had picked up Benbow, Pete's horse was +done. Then I took the other horse on, and at the appointed tree had +beaten him easily, with a couple of lengths to spare. After that I +gradually eased him down and returned to the others, his head in the +air, his ears pricked, and his feet dancing upon the earth as if he were +shod with satin instead of steel. + +'What do you think of him now that you've tried him?' said Pete, as I +came back to where he and his companion were standing waiting for me. + +'I think he's as good as he's handsome,' I replied enthusiastically, +'and if he doesn't make the company he is to meet next week sing +small--well--I don't know anything about horses.' + +'Let us hope he will. Now, Dick, change saddles and then take him home, +and be sure you look after him properly.' + +The animal and his rider having disappeared round the hill, we mounted +our horses again and made our way back to the river. As we went Pete +gave me an outline of the scheme he had arranged for backing his horse. +I had understood all along that he intended to make it a profitable +speculation, but I had no idea it was as big as he gave me to +understand it was. + +At last the day before the races arrived. For nearly a week before the +township had been assuming a festive garb. The three hotels, for the one +grog shanty I have mentioned as existing at the time of the Governor's +visit so many years before, had now been relegated to a back street, and +three palatial drinking-houses, with broad verandahs, bars, and elegant +billiard and dining-rooms, had grown up along the main street, were +crammed with visitors. Numbers of horsey-looking men had arrived by +coach from the nearest railway terminus, a hundred miles distant, and +the various stables of the township were filled to overflowing. The race +week was an event of great importance in our calendar, and, though the +more sober-minded of the population professed to strongly disapprove of +it, the storekeepers and hotelkeepers found it meant such an increase of +business, that for this reason they encouraged its continuance. The +racecourse itself was situated across the creek, and almost directly +opposite the McLeod's selection. It consisted of a plain of considerable +size, upon which the club had made a nice track with a neat grand stand, +weighing-shed saddling-paddock, and ten pretty stiff jumps. + +I rose early on the morning of Cup Day, and had finished my breakfast +before my father was out of bed. I had no desire to risk an encounter +with him, so I thought I would clear out before he was astir. But I was +bargaining without my host; for just as I was setting off for the +township, he left his room and came out into the verandah. + +'Of course you know what you're doing,' he called to me. + +I answered that I did. + +'Well, remember what I told you,' he replied. 'As certainly as you ride +that horse to-day, I'll turn you out of my house to-night. Make no +mistake about that!' + +'I quite understand,' I answered. 'I've given my word to ride and I +can't go back on it. If you like to punish me for keeping my promise and +acting like a gentleman, well, then, you must do so. But I'll think no +more of you for it, and so I tell you!' + +'Ride that horse and see what I'll do,' he shouted, shaking his fist at +me, and then disappeared into his room. I did not wait for him to come +out again, but went down the track whistling to keep my spirits up. +Having crossed the creek I made my way up the hill to Whispering Pete's +house, reaching it in time to find him at breakfast with a man I had +never seen before. The first view I had of this individual did not +prepossess me in his favour. + +His hair was black as--well, as black as Pete's eyes--but his face was +deathly pale, with the veins showing up blue and matted on either +temple. To add still further to his curious appearance, he had but one +eye and one arm. The socket of the eye that was missing gaped wide, and +almost made one turn away in disgust. But his voice was, perhaps, the +most extraordinary thing about him. It was as soft and caressing as a +woman's, and every time he spoke he gave you the idea he was trying to +wheedle something out of you. + +Pete rose and introduced him to me as Dr Finnan, of Sydney, and when we +had shaken hands I sat down at the table with them. The Doctor asked me +my opinion of the season, the prospects of the next wool clip, my length +of residence in the district, and finally came round to what I knew he +was working up to all the time--namely, my opinion of my chance in the +race to be run that day. I answered that, having considered the various +horses engaged I thought I could just about win, and on inquiry, learnt +that the animal I was to ride had not started for the course, and would +not do so until just before the time of the race. + +'And I commend your decision,' said the Doctor, sweetly; 'he is a +nervous beast, and the turmoil of a racecourse could only tend to +disturb his temper.' + +After breakfast we sat and smoked for perhaps half-an-hour, and were in +the act of setting off for the racecourse, when a boy rode up to the +verandah and called to Pete to know if I were inside. On being informed +that I was, he took a note from his cabbage-tree hat and handed it to +me. It was from Sheilah, and ran as follows:-- + + + 'DEAR OLD JIM,--Is it too late for your greatest friend to implore + you not to ride to-day? I have a feeling that if you do, it will + bring misery upon both of us. You know how often my prophecies come + true. At any hazard, give it up, I implore you, and make + happy--Your sincere friend, + + 'SHEILAH.' + + +I crushed the note in my fingers, and told the boy to say there was no +answer. It was too late to draw back now. + +Nevertheless, I felt I would have given anything I possessed to have +been able to do what Sheilah asked. + +A little before twelve we left the house and went down the path to the +township, crossed the river at the ferry, and walked thence to the +course. Already numbers of people were making their way in the same +direction, while more were flocking in from the district on the other +side. The course itself, when we reached it, presented an animated +appearance with its booths and lines of carriages, and by the time we +entered the grand stand enclosure the horses were parading for the first +race. That once over we lunched, and then I went off to the tent set +apart for the jockeys, to dress. Pete's colours consisted of a white +jacket with black bars and a red cap, and I found one of his blackboys +waiting with them at the door. + +As soon as I was ready I took my saddle and bridle and went down to the +weighing-shed in the saddling-paddock. Then, on my weight being declared +'correct,' set off in search of Pete and the horse. I found them under a +big gum-tree putting the final touches to the toilet of an animal I +scarcely recognised. Since I had last seen him a few important changes +had been made in his appearance; his mane had been hogged and his tail +pulled a good deal shorter than it was before. What was more, the +peculiar white spot on his hock had been painted out, for not a sign of +it could I discover though I looked pretty hard for it. I was about to +ask the reason of his altered appearance when the bell sounded, and the +Doctor cried,-- + +'All aboard. There's no time to lose. Be quick, Mr Heggarstone.' + +Pete gave me a lift, and I settled myself comfortably in the saddle. +Then gathering up my reins I made my way into the straight. As I passed +the scratching board I glanced at it, and saw that three competitors +were missing; this left eight runners. One thing, however, surprised me; +the Unknown was only quoted at eight to one in the betting ring--the +favourite being a well-known Brisbane mare, Frivolity by name. The +Emperor, a big chestnut gelding, and Blush Rose, a bonny little mare, +were also much fancied. Nobody seemed to know anything at all of my +mount. + +After the preliminary canter, we passed through a gate in the railings +on the opposite side of the straight, and assembled about a hundred +yards below the first fence. I was second from the outside on the left, +a big grey horse, named Lochinvar, being on my right, and Frivolity on +my left. There was a little delay in starting, caused by the vagaries of +Blush Rose, who would not come into line. Then the starter dropped his +flag, and away we went. For the first hundred yards or so it was as much +as I could do to keep my horse in hand; indeed, by the time I had got +him steadied we were in the quadruple enclosure, charging in a mass at +the first fence, a solid wall of logs placed on top of each other. Blush +Rose and a big bay named Highover, ridden by a well-known Brisbane +professional, were the first to clear it. I came third, with the Emperor +close alongside me. Where we left the ground on taking off and where we +landed on the other side I have no notion. I only know that we _did_ get +over, that the big post and rail fence came next, and that after that we +raced at the stone wall. At the latter two horses fell, and by the time +we reached the other side of the course, opposite the stand, two more +had followed suit. When we reached the quadruple again our number had +dwindled down to three--The Emperor, Blush Rose, and The Unknown. Then +as we passed through the gate in the quadruple picket fence, the rider +of The Emperor challenged me, and we went at the logs together neck and +neck. The result was disastrous; my horse took off too soon, hit it with +his chest and turned a complete somersault, throwing me against the +rails. I could not have been on the ground more than a minute, however, +before I was up again, feeling as sick as a dog, and looking for my +horse. A man had caught him and was holding him for me. Hardly knowing +how I did it, I scrambled into the saddle and set off again in pursuit +of the others. It seemed at first impossible that I could overtake them, +but I was always hard to beat, and gradually I began to draw a wee bit +closer. Little by little I decreased the distance until, at last, I was +only a few lengths behind them. + +In spite of the distance he had had to make up The Unknown was still +full of running, so as fast as our horses could lay their legs to the +ground we rode at the last fence. With a blind rush the trio rose into +the air together, and came safely down on the other side. Then on we +went, amid a hurricane of cheers, past the stand, between the two lines +of carriages, and towards the judge's box. I have but an imperfect +recollection of the last hundred yards. I was only conscious that Blush +Rose was alongside me, that we were neck and neck, and that we were both +doing all we knew. Then, as we approached the box, I lifted my whip and +called upon my horse for a last effort. He responded gamely, and +half-a-dozen strides later I had landed him winner by a neck. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +CONSEQUENCES + + +As soon as I reached the scales after the race, and had dismounted and +weighed, Pete pushed his way through the crowd and clapped his hand upon +my shoulder. + +'A beautiful race,' he cried enthusiastically, 'and splendidly ridden. +You eclipsed even yourself, Jim. Now you must come along with me and let +us drink your health.' + +I wanted a stimulant pretty badly, for my fall had been a severe one, +and I was still feeling dizzy from it. So I followed him to the booth at +the back of the grand stand, where I found the One-eyed Doctor and +another man, whom I had never seen before, awaiting our coming in close +conversation. The stranger was a medium-sized, sandy-haired person, with +mutton-chop whiskers and sharp, twinkling eyes. He might have been a +member of any profession from a detective to a bookmaker. His name was +Jarman, and when I came up he was good enough to congratulate me on +winning my race. Then, turning to Pete, he said quietly,-- + +'By the way, there's something I've been meaning to ask you for the last +half-hour. How's your horse bred?' + +Pete seemed surprised for a second, then he quickly recovered himself +and answered,-- + +'Don't ask me, for I'm sure I couldn't tell you. I picked him up, quite +by chance, out of a likely-looking mob from the South. He may be well +bred, he certainly looks it, but, on the other hand, he may not, so as I +shall soon sell him again, and don't want to tell any lies about it, I +think it safest not to inquire; you can see his brand for yourself.' + +Then two or three more men came up, and we had another, and yet another, +round of drinks, till I began to feel as if, after all my excitement, I +had had more than was prudent. But somehow I didn't care. I was +desperate, and drink seemed to drive the blue devils away! I knew that +by riding the race I had done for myself, lock, stock, and barrel, so +far as my own prospects were concerned, so what did anything else +matter. At last it was time to start for home. + +'By the way, Mr Jarman,' said Pete, turning to the man who had asked +the question about the horse's breeding, 'if you've nothing better to do +this evening, won't you come up to my place to dinner. You'll join us, +Jim?' + +I jumped at the opportunity--for I was certainly not going home, to be +insulted and shown the door by my father. Jarman accepted the invitation +with companionable alacrity, and then the four of us set off together +for the township. By the time we reached it my head was swimming with +the liquor I had taken, and I have only a very confused recollection of +what followed. I know that we sat down to dinner, waited on by one of +the blackboys; I know that I drank every time anything was offered to +me, and that I talked incessantly; I am also horribly aware that, do +what I would, I could not drive the picture of poor little Sheilah's +troubled face out of my brain. I also recollect seeing Jarman sitting +opposite me with his impassive, yet always closely-observant face, +listening to everything that was said, and watching Pete continually. +Great as had been my success that day, and triumphant as I naturally +felt at winning the race--I think that that was the most ghastly meal +of which I have ever partaken. At last an idea seized me, why or +wherefore I cannot tell, and would not be denied. It urged me to go home +and get my trouble with my father over. I staggered to my feet, and as I +did so the whole room seemed to reel and fall away from me. Feeling like +a criminal going to execution, I bade them all good night. Pete looked +at me with a queer, half-contemptuous smile upon his face, and I noticed +that Jarman rose as if he were going to stop me, but evidently changed +his mind and sat down again in his chair. Then reeling out into the +verandah, I picked my way carefully down the steps, and set off for my +home. + +How I managed to get there I cannot say, for my rebellious legs would +not, or could not, carry me straight for three yards on end. But at last +I managed it, and went boldly up the steps into the front verandah. +Nobody was there, so I passed into the dining-room, where a lamp was +burning brightly. Pushing my way round the chairs, I came to a +standstill before the table and confronted my father, who sat in the +furthest corner with a book upon his knee as usual. He looked up at me, +and I looked down at him. Then he said very calmly, 'Well, what do you +want here?' + +I tried to speak, but my voice failed me. + +'You rode the horse in spite of my orders to the contrary, I suppose?' + +'I did,' I answered--my poor head swimming all the time. + +'And I suppose, having defied me to the very best of your ability, you +have come back expecting me to forget and forgive?' + +'I do not expect anything,' I stammered; 'I only want to know what you +intend doing with me. That's all.' + +'Well, that's easily told,' he answered. 'Of course I intend sticking to +my share of the bargain. As I warned you, you leave this house to-night, +and until I ask you, you'd better not come near it again.' + +'And then you can ask as long as you please and you'll find I won't +come,' I replied. 'No, no! You needn't be afraid of my troubling you. My +home has not been made so sweet to me that I should love it so +devotedly. You've been an unnatural father to me all my life, and this +is the only logical outcome of it.' + +He pointed furiously to the door, and without another word I took the +hint and left the room. Then I fumbled my way across the verandah down +into the garden, and having reached it, stopped to look back at the +house. My father was now standing on the steps watching me. His head was +bare, and his grey hair was just stirred by the cool night wind. I held +on to a post of the wire fence, and looked at him. Seeing that I did not +go away he shook his fist at me, and dared me to come back on peril of +my life; assuring me with an oath that he would shoot me like a dog if I +ever showed my face in his grounds again. There was something so +devilish about the old man's anger, that I was more afraid of him than I +should have been of a young man twice his size and strength, so I said +no more, but went back on my tracks down the hill, over the ford, and up +again to Whispering Pete's. It was as if Pete were deliberately drawing +me towards the tragedy that was to prove the undoing of all my life. + +Reaching the house, I stumbled up the steps on to the verandah. I had +not been gone more than three-quarters of an hour, but it seemed like +years. Remembering all that had happened to me in the interval, it came +almost like a shock to me to find Pete, the One-eyed Doctor and Jarman +still seated at the table, conversing as quietly as when I had left +them. The room was half full of smoke, and it was to be easily seen that +they had been drinking more than was good for them. I can recall Pete's +evil face smiling through the cigar smoke even now. + +As my footsteps sounded in the verandah Jarman rose to his feet and, +putting his hand on Pete's shoulder, said, in a loud voice, 'In the +Queen's name, I arrest you, Peter Dempster, and you, Edward Finnan, on a +charge of horse-stealing.' For upwards of a minute there was complete +silence in the room. Then Pete turned half round, and, quick as a cat, +sprang at Jarman, who had stepped back against the wall. There was a +wild struggle that scarcely lasted more than half-a-dozen seconds, then +Pete forced his antagonist into a chair, and, while holding him by the +throat, picked up a knife from the table, drove it into his breast, +plucked it out, and drove it in again. The blood spurted over his hands, +and Jarman, feeling his death agony upon him, gave a great cry for help +that rang far out into the dark night. Then there was silence again, +broken only by a horrible kind of choking noise from the body on the +chair, and the hooting of a mopoke in the tree above the house. Try how +I would I could not move from the place where I stood, until Pete +sprang to his feet and put the knife down on a plate, taking particular +care that it should not touch the white linen cloth. The meticulous +precision of his action gave me back my power of thinking, and what was +more, sobered me like a cold douche. What should I do? What could I do? +But there was no time for anything--I must have moved and made a noise, +for suddenly the Doctor, revolver in hand, sprang to the window and +threw it open, discovering me. + +'You!' he cried, as soon as he became aware of my identity. 'My God! you +can thank your stars it's you. Come inside.' + +Almost unconsciously I obeyed, and stepped into the room. Pete was at +the further end, examining his finger. He looked up at me, licking his +thin lips, cat fashion, as he did so. + +'Damn it all, I've cut my finger,' he said, as coolly as if he had done +it paring his nails. + +'For pity's sake, Pete,' I cried, gazing from him to the poor bleeding +body in the chair, 'tell me why you did it?' + +'Hold your jaw!' said he, twisting his handkerchief round his cut +finger, and looking, as he did so, with eyes that were more like a +demon's than a man's. 'But stay, if you want to know why I did it, I'll +tell you. I did it because the rope is round all our necks, and if you +move only as much as a finger contrary to what I tell you, you'll hang +us and yourself into the bargain.' + +Here the mysterious, One-eyed Doctor reeled out into the verandah, and +next moment I heard him being violently sick over the rails. By the time +he returned, Pete had tied up his hand, and was bending over the figure +in the chair. + +'He's dead,' he said to the Doctor. 'Now, we've got to find out what's +best to be done with him. Jim, you're in a tight place, and must help us +all you know.' + +'For God's sake explain yourself, Pete!' I cried, in an agony. 'How can +I do anything if you don't. Why did you do it?' + +'I'll tell you,' he answered, 'and in as few words as possible, for +there is no time to waste. This individual is a Sydney detective (here +he pointed to the dead man). The horse you rode in the race to-day is +none other than Gaybird, the winner of the Victorian Grand National and +the Sydney Steeplechase. The Doctor there and I stole him from his box +at Randwick, three months ago, and brought him out here by a means we +understand. Information was given to the police, and Jarman followed +him. He got in tow with me. I recognised him the moment I set eyes on +him, and invited him to dinner to-night. When you turned up the second +time he must have imagined it was the local trooper whom he had ordered +to meet him here, and decided to arrest us. He found out his mistake, +and that is the result. Now you know how you stand. You must help us, +for one moment's consideration will show you that you are implicated as +deeply as we are. If this business is discovered, we shall all swing; if +the horse racket is brought home, the three of us will get five years +apiece, as sure as we're born: so don't you make any mistake about +that!' + +'But I am innocent,' I cried. 'I had nothing whatever to do with either +the murder or the stealing of the horse.' + +'Take that yarn to the police, and see what they will say to you. Look +here!' + +He crossed to the dead man again and fumbled in his coat pocket. Next +moment he produced three blue slips of paper--one of which he opened and +laid on the table before me. It was a warrant for my arrest. + +'This is your doing, Pete,' I cried. 'Oh, what a fool I was ever to +have anything to do with you.' + +I fell back against the wall sick and giddy. To this pass had all my +folly brought me. Well might Sheilah have prophesied that my obstinacy +would end in disaster. + +'My God, what are we to do?' I cried, in an agony of terror as thought +succeeded thought, each blacker and more hopeless than the last. 'If the +man expected help from the township it may be here any minute. For +Heaven's sake let us get that body out of the way before it comes.' + +'You begin to talk like a man,' said Pete, rising from the chair in +which he had seated himself. 'Let us get to business, and as quickly as +possible.' + +The Doctor got up from his chair and approached the murdered man. + +'The first business must be to get rid of this,' he asked; 'but how?' + +'We must bury him somewhere,'said Pete. 'Where do you think would be the +best place?' + +'Not near here, at any rate,' said the Doctor. 'Remember when he doesn't +put in an appearance after a few days they'll be sure to overhaul this +house and every inch of the grounds. No, it must be done at once, and +miles away.' + +'You're right as usual, Doctor,' said Pete. Then turning to me he +continued, 'Look here, Jim--this falls to your share. I have schemed for +it and worked it out, so don't you fail me. This morning I sent away a +mob of five hundred fat cattle _via_ Bourke to Sydney. Yates is in +charge for the reason that I could get nobody else. At the present +moment they'll probably be camped somewhere near the Rocky Waterhole. +You must set off after them as hard as you can go, and take over the +command. Do you see? You can take my bay horse, Archer, for your own +riding, a pack horse, and for a part of the way, The Unknown, with this +strapped on his back and properly hidden. You'll go across country as +far as the Blackfellow's Well at the dip in the Ranges; once there, +you'll bury him up among the rocks, conceal the place as craftily as you +can, and drop the spade into the well. After that you'll go on to +Judson's Boundary fence, where you'll be met by a man on a grey horse. +You'll hand The Unknown over to him, and then hurry on as fast as you +can travel to catch up the cattle. Having taken over the command, +you'll see them on to Bourke, deliver them to Phillips, the agent, and +then come back here as if nothing had happened.' + +'But why can't you take the body, Pete? Why should you push it on to +me?' + +'Because, if I left here to-night, it would give the whole thing away. +They will never suspect you. The Doctor and I must remain to answer +inquiries.' + +'But supposing the police visit the house to-night and search the +stable, how will you account for the absence of the horse?' + +'I sha'n't try to account for it at all. I've got a horse in the box now +as like him as two peas. They can collar him if they want to, but +there'll be one vital difference, I'll defy them to win a Grand National +with him, let them be as clever as they will. But now let's get on with +our work, it's close on twelve o'clock, and we haven't a moment to +lose.' + +Between them, Pete and the Doctor carried the body of the murdered +detective out of the room, and I was left alone to think over my +position. But it did not need much thought to see what sort of a fix I +was in. Supposing I went down to the township and gave evidence, I +should hang Pete and do myself little good, for who in their sober +senses, seeing that I had ridden the horse at the races that day, had +backed him to win me a large stake, and was known to have spent the +evening at Pete's house, besides having been hand and glove with him for +weeks past, would believe me innocent? Not one! No, everything was +against me, and the only chance for me now was to fall in with their +plans and to save my own neck by assisting them to carry them out to the +best of my ability--at any rate, the fright I had experienced had made +me as sober as a judge. + +In about ten minutes Pete returned to the room. + +'Now, Jim,' he said, 'everything is ready. Here's a note to Yates +telling him I've sent you to take charge, and another to Phillips at +Bourke. If you're going to do what we want you'd better be off. Anything +to say first?' + +'Only that I hope you see what I'm doing for your sake, Pete,' I +answered. 'You know I'm as innocent as a babe unborn, and you're making +me appear guilty. I'm fool enough to let you do it. But all the same I +don't know that it's altogether square on your part.' + +'Don't you, Jim? Then, by Jove! you shan't do it. I like you too well to +let you run the risk of saving me against your will. Ride away down to +the police station as hard as you can go, if you like, and tell them +everything. Only don't upbraid me when I'm trying to save your neck as +well as my own.' + +Though I knew I was an arrant fool to do it, when he spoke like that I +couldn't desert him. So I followed him out of the room into the yard +like the coward I was. + +Directly I got there I came to a sudden stop. + +'This won't do at all,' I said. 'Look here, I'm dressed for the races +and not for over-landing.' + +And so I was. Whatever happened, I knew I must change my things. + +'Take the horses down to the Creek Bend,' I said. 'I'll run home as fast +as I can--change my duds, get my whip, and meet you there.' + +He nodded, and off I set as hard as I could go--forded the creek, and in +less than a quarter of an hour was back once more at my old home. Not a +light of any kind shone from it. Seeing this, I crept round to my own +window. Then, lifting the sash as quietly as I possibly could, I crept +in like a thief. Knowing exactly where to find the things I wanted, in +less than ten minutes I had changed my clothes, packed my valise, and +let myself out again. Then down the track I sped once more, to find Pete +waiting with the three horses in the shadow of a gum. + +'I've been counting the minutes since you left,' he cried impatiently, +as I buckled my valise on to the pack-saddle. 'Now jump up and be off. +Keep away from the township, and steer for the well as straight as you +can go. You ought to be at the camp before daybreak.' + +As he spoke he led the horses out of the shadow, and I was in the act of +mounting when he suddenly dragged them back into it once more. + +'Quiet for your life,' he whispered; 'here are the troopers, coming up +the path.' + +Sure enough, on the other side, three mounted troopers were riding up +the track. A heavy sweat rose on my forehead as I thought what would +happen if one of our horses were to move or neigh and so draw their +attention to us. With the body in the pack-saddle, we should be caught +red-handed. + +Morgan, our township officer, rode a little in advance, the two other +troopers behind him. They were laughing and joking, little dreaming how +close we stood to them. When they had safely passed, Pete turned to me. +'Now,' he whispered, 'as soon as they are out of hearing be off as hard +as you can go. I shall slip through the wattles and be back at the house +and smoking with the Doctor in the verandah before they can reach it.' + +The troopers went on up the track, and, when they got on to the top of +the hill, turned off sharp to the left. As they disappeared from view I +took a horse on either side of me, not without a shudder, as I thought +of The Unknown's burden, and set off through the scrub towards some slip +rails at the top of Pete's selection, which I knew would bring me out a +little to the northward of the township. By the time the troopers could +have reached the house I was through the fence and making my way down +the hill as fast as my beasts could travel. It was a beautiful starlight +night now, without a cloud or a breath of wind. Within a quarter of an +hour I had left the last house behind me, and was heading away towards +the south-west, across the open plain that surrounded the township on +its northern side. Then, plunging into the scrub again, I made for the +Blackfellow's Well as straight as I could steer. Considering the hard +race he had run that day and the additional weight he was now carrying, +The Unknown was wonderfully fresh, and the other two horses found it +took them all their time to keep pace with him. + +The silence of the scrub was mysterious in the extreme, 'possums +scuttled across my track, a stray dingoe had a long stare at me from +some rocks above a creek, while curlews whistled at me from every pool. +I hardly dared look at the bundle strapped upon the thoroughbred's back, +and yet I knew that when half my journey was done I should have to +undertake a still more gruesome bit of business. + +By two o'clock I was within sight of the well, as it was called. It was +more like a deep pool than a well, however, and lay in the shadow of a +high rock. It derived its name from a superstition that existed in the +neighbourhood that on a certain night in every year the blacks came down +and cleaned it out. It was one of the loneliest spots in the district, +and as it lay in a barren region, remote from the principal stock and +travelling route, it was not visited by the general public more than +once or twice a year. A better place could not have been selected for +burying the man Pete had killed. + +On arrival at the rock I jumped off and secured the horses to a +tree--then taking the shovel from the old pack horse's back I set off, +clambering up among the rocks, on the look-out for a likely spot where I +might dig the grave. At last, having discovered a place that I thought +suitable, I set to work. The ground was hard, and nearly half-an-hour +had elapsed before I had dug a deep enough hole for my purpose. Then +putting down my shovel I went back to the well. The horses stood just as +I had left them, and as soon as I had assured myself that there was not +a soul about to spy upon me, I unstrapped the body and took it in my +arms. However long I may live I shall never be able to rid myself of the +horror of that moment. Having taken my ghastly burden in my arms, I set +off, staggering and clambering up the hillside again till I found the +grave I had dug. Then, when I had laid the body in it, I began hastily +to cover it with earth. The sweat rolled off my face in streams before I +had finished, but not so much with the labour as by reason of the +horrible nature of my work. I hardly dared look at what was before me, +but worked away with stubborn persistence until the greater part of the +earth I had taken out was replaced. Then using the handle of the shovel +as a lever, I wedged a big rock, a step or two up the hill, over on one +side, worked round, and undermined it on the other, and finally rolled +it down upon the grave itself. When this was done it was completely +hidden from the most prying gaze, and I knew that every day would hide +it better. Then giving a hasty glance round me to see that no one was +about, and that I had left nothing behind me to furnish a clue, I picked +up the shovel and set off, as hard as I could go, down the hill towards +the horses. Arriving at the well, I threw the shovel into the pool and +watched it disappear from view--then, untying my animals, I mounted, +and, with a somewhat lightened heart, resumed my journey. The horses +were cold with standing so long, and we soon made up for lost time, +arriving at Judson's Boundary fence shortly before half-past two. One +thing struck me as peculiar, and that was how Pete could have +communicated with the man, but surely enough at the corner of the fence +was an individual seated on a grey horse and evidently waiting for me. + +'Good evening,' he said, in a gruff voice, as I rode up. 'A nice night +for travelling--ain't it?' + +'A very nice night,' I answered, looking him carefully over, 'and pray +who are you waiting for?' + +'For a messenger from Whispering Pete,' he answered. 'Is this the +horse?' + +I informed him that it was, and gave him the reins of The Unknown. He +looked at him pretty closely, and then wheeled him round. + +'Good night,' he said, 'and good luck to you. I've got a hundred miles +to do before sundown.' + +'Good night,' I cried in return, and then changing my course, set off +across country for the place where I knew I should find the cattle. The +sun was in the act of rising from the night fog when I made them out and +rode up to the camp. The fire burnt brightly, and the cook was bustling +about getting breakfast. Seeing me, Yates, who was not at all a bad sort +of fellow, sat up in his blankets and stared, as well he might. + +'Well, bless my soul, and how on earth did you get here?' he cried, 'and +now you're here, what do you want? Anything wrong?' + +'No, of course not; what on earth should make you think so?' I replied. +'Only I happened to be going to Bourke on business, so Pete asked me to +come on and take charge. Here's a letter from him to you.' + +I took Pete's note out of my pocket and handed it to him. Having torn it +open, he read it through slowly. When he had done so he said, 'Well, I'm +precious glad. It was against my will that I came at all; now I'm free, +and all the responsibility, and in this dry season there's plenty of +that, rests upon your shoulders and not on mine. I don't envy you!' + +'I must take my chance,' I said. 'Now, supposing we have breakfast, and +afterwards get on the move.' + +Yates stared in surprise, for I must have looked more dead than alive +after my long night ride, and all the excitement I had passed through. + +'You don't mean to say you intend going on before you've had a rest,' he +cried. 'Why, man, you're a death's head already. No, let's wait a bit +and have a sleep; the cattle are on good feed and water, and, if all's +true that I hear, they won't get any more like it on the other side of +the border.' + +'I don't want a rest,' I said, 'and if I do I can take it in the saddle +as we go along. Tell one of the blackboys to run up the horses, will +you? and then we'll have breakfast and start.' + +'As you please, of course,' he said, but it was evident that he regarded +my proposal in the light of madness. He was not very fond of work, was +Mr Yates, and never had been since I had first known him, which was a +matter of well nigh fifteen years. + +In less than half-an-hour breakfast was ready, and, as soon as it was +eaten, we mustered the cattle and got under way. It was not a very big +mob, but the animals were all valuable, and in the pink of condition. + +To those who have never seen a mob of cattle on the march, the picture +they present would be a novel and exciting one. Imagine marching on +ahead, day after day, as proud as a drum-major, some old bull, the +leader of the mob; behind him are some hundreds of cattle; on either +flank vigilant stockmen ride, ever on the look-out for stragglers; the +drover in command and the rest of the party follow as whippers-in, while +the cart containing the blankets, camp and cooking utensils, driven by +the cook, travels on some miles ahead. The latter individual chooses the +night's camp, prepares it, and has the evening meal cooked and ready by +the time the mob puts in an appearance. After nightfall, a perpetual +two hours' watch is kept by mounted men, while emergency horses are +fastened near the camp to be ready in the event of a stampede or other +trouble occurring. + +Our journey, in this instance, was an uneventful one, lasting something +like six weeks. When we reached Bourke, and had handed over our cattle +to the agent for trucking to Sydney, our mission was accomplished. As +soon, therefore, as I had obtained my receipt from Mr Phillips, the +agent to whom the mob was consigned, I took the train to Sydney, and +once there hunted about for a medium-sized class hotel where I could put +up while I remained in the metropolis. A big city was a new experience +to me, and you may be sure I made the most of my opportunity of seeing +it; at the same time, I kept a watchful eye on the daily papers for +anything that transpired at Barranda during my absence. But from what I +could gather, nothing unusual seemed to have happened in that sleepy +hollow; so I was gradually recovering my old peace of mind when I +received a shock that knocked my feeling of security about my ears +again. I had been to the theatre one night, I remember, and was +standing outside the door, after the fall of the curtain, thinking about +getting back to my hotel, when who should come along the pavement but +Finnan, the One-eyed Doctor, himself, dressed in evening clothes, and +looking as contented and happy as you please. He seemed a bit surprised, +not to say _nonplussed_, at seeing me, but shook hands with every +appearance of heartiness. Then putting his arm through mine, he led me +into a side street. + +'You managed that bit of business splendidly,' he said, when we were +sure there was no one near enough to overhear us. 'Pete was delighted at +the way you did it.' + +'Has anything turned up about it yet?' I asked anxiously. + +'Nothing important,' he answered. 'The Government are wondering what can +have become of Jarman, who is supposed to have gone north, but the +people in the township have discovered somehow that Pete is suspected of +having stolen Gaybird. Of course, they all implicate you in it; and if I +were you I should keep out of their way till the fuss blows over.' + +This was unpleasant hearing with a vengeance, but I was not going to let +him see that I thought it, so I said,-- + +'Where is Pete now?' + +'Goodness only knows. He remained hanging about the township for a +fortnight after you went away, just to allay suspicion, then he +announced that he was off to buy cattle on the Diamintina. Since then he +has not been heard of.' + +'A nice kettle of fish he has let me in for,' I answered hotly. 'I can't +say that I think he has acted at all like a man.' + +'I don't know that I think he has acted altogether fairly towards you,' +said the agreeable Doctor. 'However, what's done can't be undone; so I +suppose we must make the best of it. Anything more to say? Nothing? +Well, perhaps we'd better not be seen together for very long, so good +night!' + +I bade him good night, and having done so, walked slowly back to my +hotel, wondering what was best to be done. To remain away from the +township would look as if I were afraid of facing its inhabitants. And +yet it was pretty dangerous work going back there. However, knowing my +own innocence, I wasn't going to give them the right to call me guilty, +so I determined to risk it, and accordingly next morning off I set for +Bourke _en route_ for the Cargoo again. In about a fortnight I had +reached the township. + +Darkness had fallen when I rode up the main street, and as I did not +know quite what to do with myself now that I had no home to go to, I +halted at the principal hotel and installed myself there. A good many +men were in the bar when I entered, and from the way one and all looked +at me, I could see that they were aware of the rumours that were afloat +concerning me. However, nobody said anything on the subject, so I called +for a glass of whiskey and, having drunk it, went into the dining-room, +where about a dozen people were seated at the table. I took my place +alongside a man I had known ever since we were kiddies together, and +more for the sake of making myself agreeable than anything else, said +'good evening' to him. He replied civilly enough, but I could see that +he did not care to be friendly, and, when he made an excuse and went +round and sat on the other side of the table, I saw significant glances +flash round the board. 'All right,' I thought to myself, 'I'll say +nothing just now, but the first man who drops a hint about that horse +or my connection with the race, I'll go for tooth and nail, if it costs +me my life.' But never a hint _was_ dropped, and when the meal was over +I went out into the verandah to rage alone. I was in an unenviable +position, and the worst part of it all was, I had nothing to thank for +it but my own consummate obstinacy and stupidity. + +About nine o'clock I filled my pipe afresh and set off for a stroll down +the street, keeping my eyes open to see if any of my old friends would +take notice of me. But no one did till I had almost left the township. +Then an elderly man, by name Bolton, who kept one of the principal +stores in Main Street, and had always been a special crony of mine, +crossed the road and came towards me. + +'Jim Heggarstone,' said he, when he got on to the footpath alongside me, +'I want to have a few words with you, if you don't mind.' + +'I'm your man!' I answered. 'Shall we sit on the rail here, or would you +rather walk along a bit?' + +'No, let us sit here,' he replied, and as he spoke, mounted the fence; +'we're not likely to be interrupted, and I don't know that it would +matter particularly if we were. Look here, Jim, I've always been your +friend, and I am now. But certain things have been said about you of +late in the township that I tell you frankly are not to your credit. +What I want is authority to deny them on your behalf.' + +'You must first tell me what they are,' I answered; 'you can't expect a +chap to go about explaining his actions every time a township like this +takes it into its head to invent a bit of tittle-tattle against him. +What have they to say against me? Out with it.' + +'Well, in the first place, they say that Whispering Pete on the hill up +yonder knew that the horse he raced as The Unknown was Gaybird, the +winner of the Victorian Grand National and the Sydney Steeplechase. Do +you think that's true?' + +'How can I say? He may or may not have known it. But I don't see that it +has anything to do with me if he did?' + +'No! Perhaps not! But you will when I tell you that it's also said that +you were aware of it too, and that you laid your plans accordingly.' + +'Whoever says that tells a deliberate falsehood,' I cried angrily. 'I +did not know it. If I had I would rather have died than have ridden +him.' + +'I know that, Jim,' he answered, 'and so I have always said. Now, if you +will let me, I'll call the next man who says so a liar to his face, on +your behalf.' + +'So you shall, and I'll ram it down his throat with my fist afterwards. +This has been a bad business for me, Bolton. In the first place, I have +been kicked out of doors by my father for riding that race, and now my +character is being taken away in this shabby fashion for a thing I'm +quite innocent of.' + +'You ought never to have got in tow with Whispering Pete, Jim.' + +'Nobody knows that better than I do!' I cried bitterly. 'But it's too +late to alter it now.' + +'Well, good night. And keep your heart up. Things will come right yet. +And remember, Jim, I'm your friend through all.' + +We shook hands, and having done so, the kind-hearted fellow went his way +down the street while I strolled on as far as the McLeods' homestead. +There was a light shining from the sitting-room window, and I could +hear the music of a piano. Then Sheilah's pretty voice came out to me +singing a song, of which I am very fond. The words are Kingsley's, I +believe, and the last verse seemed so appropriate to my case, that it +brought a lump into my throat that almost choked me. It ran as +follows:-- + + + When all the world is old, lad, + And all the trees are brown, + And all the sport is stale, lad, + And all the wheels run down, + Creep home, and take your place there, + The spent and maimed among; + God grant you find one face there + You loved when all was young. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +COLIN McLEOD + + +Next morning as soon as I had finished my breakfast I put on my hat and +went down to McLeod's selection, resolved to find out once and for all +in what sort of light I stood with Sheilah. In my own inmost heart I +knew that I deserved to be shown the door on presenting myself, but +somehow I had a sort of conviction that my fate would not be quite as +hard as that. Reaching the gate, I let myself in, and walked down the +path, under the little avenue of pepper-trees, that entwined overhead, +to the house. Everything was just as I had left it, but, oh, how +different were my own feelings! + +I found old McLeod on his knees in the verandah fastening up some +creepers that had fallen out of place. When he saw me he rose and +without a second thought came forward and shook me warmly by the hand. + +'Welcome home, James, my lad,' said he, looking me full and square in +the face, 'I'm glad ye've come back to us, and so will Sheilah be, ye +may depend. Ye've been a long time away.' + +This kindly reception was more than I had bargained for, and like the +big baby I was I felt the hot tears rise and flood my eyes. There was +that in my heart then which would have made me lay down my life for old +McLeod if need have been. That was always the way with me, I could be +brought to do anything by kindness, when force could not make me budge +an inch. For the self-same reason old Betty at home had always been able +to manage me--my father never. + +'Mr McLeod,' said I, as I returned the pressure of the hand he held out +to me, a hand that was as knotted and gnarled as any ti-tree in the +scrub, 'after all that has happened this is a generous way for you to +receive me. Do you know that only one soul in the township up yonder has +spoken to me since my return.' + +'I'm sorry to hear that, James,' said he, seating himself in a chair +near by, and mopping his forehead with his red pocket-handkerchief. 'No +young man can afford to lose his friends in that extravagant fashion.' + +'Do you know the charge they bring against me?' + +'I have heard it,' he answered, looking straight at me. 'But I think it +only right to ye to say that I do not believe it all the same.' + +'It is not true, so help me, God,' I burst out impetuously. 'If I had +dreamt that the horse had been stolen I would no more have ridden him in +that race than I would have shot him. I hope you know me well enough to +believe that, Mr McLeod.' + +'I think I do,' he answered; 'at any rate, this has been a lesson that +should last you all your life.' + +'It has,' I answered bitterly; 'but all the same I don't think I have +been at all fairly treated over it. Whispering Pete was generous to me, +and when he asked me to do him the favour of riding his horse I could +not refuse. Then I was told by my father that he would turn me out of +doors if I did not obey him. But having given my promise to Pete, how +could I be expected to break it again?' + +'James, James,' the old man said, when I had finished, 'the devil had +ye in a tight place just then, and ye ought to thank God right down on +your bended knees that He has permitted ye to come out of it as well as +ye have. I shall say a word for ye next Sunday, and if ye'll mind what's +right ye'll be there to hear it.' + +'That I will,' I answered, completely carried away by the good old man's +earnestness. 'Mr McLeod, you've treated me as I did not expect I should +be treated, and I'll never forget it as long as I live. Now, may I see +Sheilah?' + +'And why not, laddie? Of course ye may, and right glad the lassie will +be to have ye back again, I'll warrant. She's out with her chickens just +now, I fancy, for I saw her going down the path with her egg basket on +her arm but a wee bit since. Go and find her, and hear for yourself what +she has to say to ye.' + +I went round the verandah, passed Sheilah's own window, with its little +cluster of pot plants on the sill, and then down the path towards the +fowl-yard. True enough, there she was, dressed all in white, with her +pretty face looking out from the large blue sun-bonnet she always wore +on summer mornings. At first she did not see me, so I stood still +watching her. One thing I can always assert, and that is that I have +seen many pretty girls in my time, but never one to equal Sheilah. There +was a softness and natural grace about her that was beyond the power of +other girls to imitate; a grace which could never have been taught in +any school or dancing academy. And as I watched my heart rose in love to +her, then I suppose I must have made some noise among the bushes, for +she suddenly turned round and stood face to face with me. As she saw me +a glad smile leapt into her face, and she ran towards me with hands +outstretched in welcome. + +'Jim, dear old Jim,' she cried, 'I knew you would come back to us before +long. Oh, I have missed you so dreadfully! Remember, you have been away +nearly two months.' + +'Don't, Sheilah!' I cried, 'don't speak so kindly to me. Scold me a +little or I shall make a fool of myself, I know.' + +'Scold you!' she cried, with her little hands in mine. 'Scold you, old +Jim, when you're only just come back to us. Oh no, no! This is, indeed, +a happy day. Have you seen my father? He was talking of you only this +morning.' + +'I left him to come to you. His welcome was as warm as yours. Oh, +Sheilah, I feel that I have been such a brute to you. And it hurts me +the more because I know you will so freely forgive me.' + +'Hush, we will not talk of that. All that part of your life is done with +and put away. It was a miserable time for all of us, but thank goodness +it's over.' + +Just at that moment a young man appeared from the fowl-house and came +towards us with some eggs in his hand. + +'I can find no more,' he said to Sheilah. Then he looked at me with a +searching glance, and did not seem altogether pleased. + +'Jim,' said Sheilah, noticing my surprise, 'this is my cousin, Colin +McLeod, who has come up to be our new trooper in Barranda. He has only +been eighteen months in the Colonies, and was sent out from Brisbane +last week. Colin, this is my old playfellow of whom you have so often +heard me speak, Jim Heggarstone.' + +We nodded to each other, and when I saw that he was going to make the +eggs he held an excuse for not shaking hands with me, I put my own in +my pockets, and stared hard at him. He was a fine, well-set-up young +fellow of about my own age, with blue eyes and peculiar sandy-coloured +hair. + +'Now,' said Sheilah, who must have noticed that it was not all plain +sailing with us, 'suppose we go inside and see what my father is doing. +He intended to brand some colts this morning, and if he does I expect +you'd like to help him in the yard, Jim?' + +'Of course I should,' I answered readily enough. 'I'm pining to get to +work again.' + +'You have not been doing much work lately, then,' says Mr Colin, with a +shadow of a sneer. + +'I've just returned from taking a mob of cattle down to Bourke,' I +answered. + +'Ah!' was his sole reply, and then we went into the house. + +Half-an-hour later I was with old McLeod in the yards, had the fire for +heating the branding-irons lighted, and was running the green hide lasso +through my hands to see that it was supple and ready for use. I don't +want to boast, seeing that, all things considered, I'd far better be +holding my tongue, but lassoing was a thing I could challenge any man +in the country at. However, I was not so successful on this occasion. +Whether it was Colin McLeod sitting on the rails watching me, or whether +it was that I was out of practice, I cannot say; I only know that time +after time I missed, and on each occasion, as the noose fell to the +ground, I saw the sneer spread out on Colin's face, and once I could +have sworn I heard him chuckle. But I managed to keep my temper under +control. Then my old skill suddenly returned, and after a while I could +not miss a beast. But here I must do Colin justice. For a new chum he +was as good a man in the yard as ever I've met, being quiet and gentle +with the beasts, and, what is still more to the point, always ready to +do what he was told. He only wanted practice to make a really good hand. +I found occasion to tell him so when the work was finished, and I could +have bitten my tongue out with vexation when he replied with his long +Scotch drawl, still with the same diabolical sneer on his face,-- + +'Ye see, I've not had so much experience with horses as ye've had, Mr +Heggarstone.' + +It was plain to what he referred, and it took me all my time, I can +assure you, to prevent my tongue from replying something sharp. +However, I had no desire to celebrate my return to the selection by +thrashing the owner's nephew, so I did manage to control myself, and +side by side we returned to the house. At first, seeing how things +stood, I was for going back to the township for lunch, but of this +neither Sheilah nor her father would hear. So I was forced to stay where +I was and endure the other man's treatment as best I could. One thing +was very plain, and that was that Colin was madly in love with Sheilah. +He could hardly take his eyes off her, almost trembled when he addressed +her, lost no opportunity of doing her little services, and glared madly +at me whenever I spoke to her or attempted to do anything for her. It +was a queer sight, and one that was not calculated to fill me with +pleasure, you may be sure. At last, after the mid-day meal was over, his +conduct became so outrageous that I made the first excuse that suggested +itself and said good-bye, promising to come down again next day. As I +shook hands with her, Sheilah looked at me with rather a wistful +expression on her face, I thought; while even old McLeod seemed to +wonder that my first visit should terminate so abruptly. To tell the +truth, however, I could not have bottled up my feelings another minute; +so rather than make an exhibition of myself I preferred to go away. + +Back I went to the hotel, my whole being raging against the man. In the +face of this rivalry I learned what Sheilah really was to me, and for +the first time I understood how I should feel if any man were to win her +from me. + +Next day, according to promise, I went down to the selection again, to +find Sheilah sitting in the verandah. She was alone and received me very +sweetly. I sat beside her talking of old days, and firmly resolved not +to let her imagine that I had been in any way put out by her cousin's +curious behaviour on the preceding day. + +'We must celebrate your return in some way, Jim,' she said after a +little while. 'It is a lovely morning, so what do you say to a ride?' + +'The very thing!' I answered, only too thankful to do anything that +would take me away from the house, and prevent my seeing the irate Colin +again. + +With that we went out to the back, and borrowing the milkboy's pony, I +ran up two horses from the paddock for our use. After I had rubbed them +down a bit I saddled them, and by the time I had done this Sheilah was +dressed and ready. With a thrill running through me such as I had never +known before, I swung her up into the saddle, and then mounted my own +beast; after that, when the boy had let down the slip rails, away we +went across the plains towards the hills. It was as lovely a morning as +any man could wish to be out in. The soft breeze rustled among the trees +and high grass, the clouds chased each other across the blue vault of +heaven, the air was musical with birds, and now and again we would put +up a kangaroo and send him hopping away from us as if his very life +depended upon it. Sheilah was in the best of spirits and looked +incomparably sweet and graceful. Just swaying to the motion of her horse +as he covered the ground in a gentle canter, her body well balanced and +her head thrown back, the wind nodding the feather in her pretty hat, +and just a suspicion of a neat little boot showing beneath her habit, +she made a picture pretty enough for a king. And now that Colin McLeod +had come to make me understand how much I really loved her, I was +induced to notice her beauties even more closely than before. + +For nearly an hour we rode on, all the past forgotten, living only in +the keen enjoyment of the present. Then, like a flash, the memory of my +ride to the Blackfellow's Well--part of the very route we were now +pursuing--rose before me. I saw again the dark night, the flashing tree +trunks, the horses galloping on either side of me, and that horrible +burden swaying on The Unknown's back. Then I saw the Blackfellow's Well, +pictured myself digging that lonely grave among the rocks, and seemed +again to hear the curlews crying from the pool below. I suppose +something of the horror of the memory must have been reflected on my +face, for Sheilah looked at me and then said,-- + +'Jim, what is the matter? You're as pale as death.' + +'Nothing,' I answered hoarsely. 'A twinge of an old pain, that is all.' + +'It must have been a bad one,' she answered quietly. 'Your face looked +really ghastly.' + +'It has passed,' I cried, giving myself a vigorous shake. 'I don't know +what brought it on. However, we'll have no more dismal thoughts to-day, +Sheilah, by your leave.' + +'That's right,' she answered. 'I do not like to see such an expression +upon your face. Now let's turn round and go back by the Pelican +Waterhole. See here's a nice piece of turf, we can give our horses a +gallop.' + +The words were hardly out of her mouth before she had shaken up her +horse and we were off like the wind. Good as my animal was, Sheilah's +was better, and, when we reached the fringe of timber on the opposite +side of the little plain, she was leading by a good five lengths. Then, +seeing that the ground did not look very safe ahead, I was about to call +to her to pull up, when her horse crossed his legs, and went down with a +crash, throwing Sheilah, and rolling completely over her. + +For a second my heart seemed to stand still, then to the ground I sprang +and ran swiftly to her side. Her horse by this time had risen, and was +shaking himself, but Sheilah lay just as she had fallen, horribly white +and still. + +'Sheilah!' I cried, as I knelt by her side, 'for pity's sake speak to +me!' + +But not a word came from her pallid lips, and seeing this I picked up my +heels and ran to the creek for water. Filling my cabbage-tree hat I +hurried back to her, but by the time I reached her she was conscious +once more. + +'Jim,' she said, with a fine show of bravery, 'this is a very bad +business. I'm dreadfully afraid I've broken my leg. What am I to do? I +can't get up.' + +'Oh, Sheilah, you don't mean that!' I cried in agony. 'It's all my +fault, I should not have brought you for this ride.' + +'Don't be silly, Jim,' she answered stoutly. 'It was not your fault at +all. But what am I to do? We are at least four miles from home?' + +I considered for a moment before I answered. + +'If you can't move, the best thing for me to do would be to make you as +comfortable as possible here, and then ride off as fast as I can go for +the tray buggy and a mattress. We could bring you in in that way better +than any other.' + +'That's it, Jim. Now go as fast as you can. My poor father will be in a +terrible state when he hears the news.' + +'First let me make you as comfortable as possible,' I replied. 'I think +it would be better for you to lie just where you are.' + +Taking off my coat, I rolled it into a pad. Next I caught her horse and +removed her saddle. This I placed flaps upward, beneath her head, with +my coat upon it, and so made a fairly comfortable pillow. + +'Do you feel easier now?' I asked, looking down at her. + +'Much easier,' she answered; 'but don't be any longer than you can help, +Jim.' + +'Not a second,' I replied, and ran towards my own horse and climbed into +the saddle. Then with a last call of encouragement I set off, and within +half-an-hour was at the stable slip panels. Then without waiting to let +them down I sprang off and ran into the house. Old Mrs Beazley, the +cook, was standing at her kitchen door. + +'Where is Mr McLeod?' I asked, almost trembling with excitement. + +'Gone up to the township,' she answered. 'What is the matter? Has +anything happened?' + +'Miss Sheilah has met with an accident out by Pelican Creek,' I +answered. 'She thinks she has broken her leg. You had better send for +the doctor and her father at once. In the meantime, I'll take the buggy +and a mattress, if you will give me one, and go out and bring her in?' + +At this moment Colin McLeod, with a face the colour of zinc, appeared +from the house and stood staring at me. + +'What's that you say?' + +'Sheilah has broken her leg out yonder. I'm going with the buggy to +bring her in. If you like you can come and help me lift her,' I +answered, all my former animosity forgotten in this new and greater +trouble. + +'Come on,' he cried in a voice I hardly recognised. 'Are you going to +stand talking all day?' + +He ran into the yard as he spoke, and after giving a final instruction +to Mrs Beazley, I followed, to find him leading a horse from the stable. +Without a word I went to the coach-house and drew out McLeod's big tray +buggy, took the harness from the peg and threw it down by the horse's +nose, then back into the house again for the mattress Mrs Beazley was +stripping off a bed for me. This I placed on the tray, and by the time I +had done so the horse was harnessed and ready for putting in. Colin held +up the shafts while I backed him to his place. By the time this was done +the slip rails were down and I drove through. Then Colin sprang up +beside me, and off we went across the plain towards the place where I +had left Sheilah. + +When we reached it we found her lying exactly as I had left her. Colin +jumped down, ran to her side, and said something in a low voice that I +did not catch. Without losing a second, I lifted the seat from its place +and lowered it overboard; then I, too, jumped down and went towards the +sufferer. + +'How can we lift you, do you think, with the least likelihood of hurting +you?' I asked. + +'I don't know,' she answered. 'I think you had better put the mattress +down here beside me, and then lift me on to it.' + +I saw the wisdom of this idea, and forthwith dragged the mattress out +and laid it on the ground by her side. Then, with all the tenderness of +which we were capable, Colin and I lifted her and placed her on it. She +paled a little while we were doing it, but did not let a sound escape +her. After that I brought the buggy as close as possible, helped Colin +to lift the mattress on to the tray, and then climbed aboard and placed +her in such a position that her head lay against the splashboard. Having +done this, I signed to Colin to hand me the saddle and my coat, with +which I once more constructed a pillow for her. The seat was then +refixed without touching her, and her own horse having been fastened on +behind, I chose the straightest and least rutty track, and set off +slowly for the homestead. It took us nearly an hour to reach it, and +when we did old McLeod met us at the slip rails. He looked very +nervous, but bore up bravely for Sheilah's sake. + +Pulling the buggy up at the kitchen door, we withdrew the seat again, +removed the pillows, and then lifted our precious burden down. Just as +we did so the doctor rode up to the door, and, having tied his horse to +the fence, gave us a hand to carry Sheilah to her room. Then leaving her +to his care, with Mrs Beazley to assist him, we went into the verandah, +where Mr McLeod asked me to tell him how it had happened. + +I gave him a full description of it, but though it appeared to satisfy +him it was more than it did for Colin, who listened with the same +expression on his face that was always there when I was present. How it +was that I had aroused such antagonistic feelings in him I could not +imagine. Whether he would have been the same with any other rival I +could not tell, but that he hated me with all the strength of his +powerful nature was plain to the least observant. After I had finished +my narrative, and had discovered that I could do no more good by +remaining, I rose to say good-bye. + +'Good-bye, James, my lad,' said the old man, giving me his hand. 'I +know that what has happened has given you as much pain as it has me. +But, remember, you must not reproach yourself. It was in no way your +fault. And are you going too, Colin, my lad?' + +'I'm on duty this afternoon,' Colin said, putting on his hat, 'and I +must get back and prepare for it. Good-bye, uncle!' + +'Good-bye, my lad.' + +Old McLeod retired into the house, and we went up the garden path +together. When we got into the road outside, Colin McLeod turned to me +and said, 'Have you any objection to my walking a little way with you? +I've got something I want to say to you.' + +'Come along, then,' I answered, 'and say it for mercy's sake. I'm sick +of all these black looks and sarcastic speeches. What is it? Out with +it!' + +'It's this,' he said. 'First and foremost, I'll have no more of you down +yonder.' He nodded his head in the direction of his uncle's house. + +'Indeed! and, pray, what right have you to say you will, or you won't?' + +'If you don't know, I'll tell you,' he answered; 'but I think you do!' + +'I don't,' I answered, stopping and facing him, 'and I'll be glad if you +will tell me.' + +'Well, in the first place, I won't have you there because of that +business with the man they call Whispering Pete, and, in the second, +because, in my official capacity, I know more about you than my uncle +and cousin do--and I tell you I won't let you mix with them.' + +'Colin McLeod,' I said, looking him straight in the face, and speaking +very slowly, 'you're either a plucky man or a most extraordinary fool. +Remember this once and for all--neither you nor the whole police force +of Australia know anything that would keep me away from my old friends +the McLeods. And if you say you do, well, I tell you you're a liar to +your face. So there now!' + +'Fair and softly,' he said in reply. 'Listen to what I have to say +before you talk so big. I tell you we know a good deal more than you +think we do, and when we lay our hands on Whispering Pete we shall know +still more. In the meantime, I'm not going to trade on my official +knowledge against you. I'll meet you as man to man, and chance the +consequences. I tell you that I love my cousin to desperation, and I'm +not going to have a man like you hanging round her. Keep away from her, +and I'll do no more than my duty demands. Continue to visit them, and, +I warn you, you'll have to take the consequences.' + +'And what are the consequences, pray?' I said, wishing he would come to +the point. + +'That you'll have to deal with me,' he answered, as if he were +threatening me with death. + +'That's rather big talking on your part, isn't it?' I asked. 'I don't +know that I'm altogether afraid of dealing with you.' + +'I'm glad to hear you say that! Now, will you fight me for her?' + +He stopped in his walk and, turning round, clutched me by the arm. + +'No, I will not,' I replied firmly, at the same time feeling that I +would have given anything in the world to have been able to answer +'Yes.' + +'I thought not,' he continued, with a sigh. 'You're a coward, and I knew +it.' + +'Steady! steady!' I said. 'One more remark like that and you'll get into +trouble.' + +'Then let me see if this will help you,' he cried, and at the same time +he lifted his arm and hit me a hard blow across the mouth with the back +of his left hand. I was about to strike back, when I suddenly changed my +mind. + +'You have raised your hand to me,' I said quietly. 'And a blow dealt in +anger I'll take from no man on God's earth, much less you, Colin +McLeod. I refused to fight you just now--for the simple reason that you +are Sheilah's kith and kin. But since you've struck me, I'd do it if you +were her own blood brother. One thing first, however. Be so good as to +do me the justice to remember that you yourself have forced the quarrel +on me.' + +'I will remember,' he said sullenly. 'And where is it to be?' + +'Down in the bit of scrub by the Big Gum at the creek bend,' I answered. +'We're not likely to be disturbed there.' + +'At eight to-night. I am on patrol duty and can't get away before.' + +I nodded, and then we separated; he went up the hill to the police +station, while I continued my walk towards the township. As I went I +thought over my position; here was another pretty fix I had got myself +into. My old luck had certainly deserted me, for what would Sheilah say, +if by any chance she should come to hear of it. When all was said and +done, however, was it my fault? I didn't want to fight the man, I would +far rather not have done so, but since he had struck the first blow I +could not very well get out of it. Any man who knows me will tell you +that I haven't the reputation of being a coward. Ruminating in this +fashion I went on up the street to my hotel, and arrived there as the +lodgers were sitting down to lunch. While I was eating, a curious notion +seized me. What if I went up to the old home and interviewed my father? +I had quite lived down my animosity, and if he proved willing to forgive +I was quite ready to do the same. + +As soon, therefore, as I rose from the table I went to my room, tidied +myself up a bit, and set off. It seemed an eternity since I had forded +the creek and trod that familiar path. I recalled with a shudder that +horrible night when I had sneaked home to change my things prior to +going off to bury Jarman. It was like a part of another life to look +back on now--a nightmare, the remembrance of which always seized me in +my happiest moments--like the skeleton at the Egyptian feast. And all +the time I had to remember that the horrible secret lay hidden under +those rocks only waiting for some chance passer-by to discover it. + +At last I reached the verandah and paused upon the threshold like a +stranger, not knowing quite what to do. My doubts, however, were soon +set at rest by the appearance of my father in the passage. A great +change had come over him. He looked years older, and was evidently a +much feebler man than when I had left him last. So different was he that +the shock almost unnerved me. But I soon saw that his disposition had +not changed very much. + +'Good morning,' he said, just as if he were greeting a total stranger. +'Pray what can I do for you?' + +'Father, I have come up to see if I can't induce you to forgive me, and +let us patch this quarrel up!' + +'I beg your pardon,' he answered slowly, but still with the same +exquisite politeness; 'I don't know that I understand you. Did I +understand you to address me by the title of father?' + +'I am your son!' + +He seated himself in one of the verandah chairs, and I noticed that his +hand trembled on the arm as he laid it there. + +'I have forgotten that I ever had a son,' he said, after a moment's +pause, 'and I have no desire to be reminded of the disagreeable fact.' + +'Then you will not forgive me,' I cried bitterly, amazed at his +obstinacy. + +'My son was a horse coper and a blackguard,' he continued, 'and even if +I were to admit him to my house I should certainly not forgive him!' + +'Thank you,' I said, moving towards the steps to go away again. 'You +wronged me before--and now you do so again. I will trouble you no more.' + +'One moment before you go,' he cried, tapping on the floor with his +stick. 'You have not come up here to work upon my feelings without +having some object in view, I suppose. I hear you are living in the +township at the principal hotel, doing nothing for your living. Your +presence here means, I presume, that you want money. If that is so, I +will give you five hundred pounds to enable you to start afresh in the +world, provided you leave this place within twenty-four hours, and do +not let me ever see you or hear of you again.' + +'And you refuse me your forgiveness for the wrong you have done me?' + +'I am not aware that I have done you any wrong,' he answered. 'I only +believe what everybody in the township down yonder knows to be a fact. +To-morrow morning you shall have that money if you wish it. After that I +will not give you a halfpenny to save you from starving.' + +Then, as if to justify himself, he continued, 'I do it on principle.' + +'Very good--then, on principle, I refuse to receive even a penny from +you.' + +He looked at me in surprise. + +'You won't take the five hundred pounds?' + +'Not one halfpenny,' I answered; 'I would not if I were dying. Good +day.' + +'You are very foolish. But you will change your mind in a few hours; so +may I. Good day.' + +Without more ado I left him and strode angrily back to the township. +Surely no man ever had a more pig-headed, unnatural father? + +That evening, a few minutes before eight o'clock, I left the hotel and +strode off down the path by the creek to the place where I had arranged +to meet Colin. Bitterly as I hated him, and angry as I was over the blow +he had dealt me, I was not at all reconciled to the notion of fighting +him. My position was already sufficiently precarious without my +endeavouring to make it more so. + +The moon was up, and it was a glorious night. In the little open space +where I sat down to wait, it was almost as bright as day. In a gum to +the back of me a mopoke was hooting dolefully, and to my right, among +the bracken, the river ran sluggishly along, the moonlight touching it +like silver. It was the beginning of summer, and there was still +sufficient water coming down from the hills to make a decent stream. + +Almost punctually at eight o'clock Colin put in an appearance, and came +across the open towards me. + +'I was half afraid I might keep you waiting,' he said, as he took off +his coat and threw it on the ground. + +'You're punctual, I think,' I answered, rising. 'But look here, McLeod, +I'm not going to fight you after all. I can't do it!' + +'Turning cocktail again, are you?' he said coldly. 'Do you want me to +find your courage for you in the same fashion as this morning?' + +'Don't push me too far,' I said, 'or God alone knows what I may not do. +I'm a bad man to cross, as you may have heard.' + +'Your reputation is only too well known to me,' he answered. 'Are you +going to stand up or not?' + +'Since you wish it so much,' I said wearily, seeing that further +argument was useless. + +'I thought you would hear reason,' he said, and took up his position. + +We faced each other, and he led off with a blow that caught me on the +chin. That roused my blood, and there and then I let him have it. He was +not a bad boxer, and by no means deficient in courage, but he was like a +baby in my hands. I can say that safely without fear of bragging. Three +times in succession I sent him down to measure his length upon the +ground. And each time he got up and faced me again. At last I could +stand it no longer. + +'That's enough,' I cried. 'Good God, man, you don't know what you're +doing! If I go on I shall murder you.' + +'We'll go on then till you do,' he said, getting up for the fourth time +and preparing to renew the battle. But just as he did so a loud voice +behind us called 'Stop!' + +It was old McLeod. + +'And pray what does this mean?' he cried, as he came between us. 'James +Heggarstone, I am ashamed of ye. Colin, surely ye must have taken leave +of your senses.' + +Then Colin gave me another sample of his curious character. + +'You must not blame Heggarstone,' says he. 'I assure you it was all my +fault. I challenged him, and when he refused to fight I struck him.' + +I could not let him take all the blame in this fashion, so I was just +going to chip in when old McLeod stopped me by holding up his hand. + +'I don't care whose fault it is. Ye are both to blame. I've seen it +coming on day by day, and I can tell ye both it has distressed me beyond +measure. I'll have no more of it, remember. Ye'll shake hands, lads, +here now, and be good friends for the future, or ye'll both quarrel with +me.' + +'I've no objection at all,' I said, holding out my hand. + +'Nor I,' says Colin, doing the same. + +And then and there we shook hands, and that was the last of my enmity +with Colin McLeod. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +I PROPOSE TO SHEILAH + + +Next morning, as soon after breakfast as was fit and proper, I set off +to inquire after Sheilah. I found her looking very pale and jaded, poor +girl; and no wonder, for the business of setting the broken limb had +been a painful one. + +'Sit down,' she said, pointing to a chair by her sofa. 'I want to have a +good talk with you. Jim, I hear you were fighting with Colin last +night.' + +I hung my head and did not answer. + +'What you two should have to fight about I'm sure I don't know,' she +went on. 'But, remember, I'll have no more of it. If I thought you were +to blame I should be very angry with you. But Colin has already been +here and cleared you of everything. Poor Colin!' + +'I'm sorry I ever laid my hand upon him,' I said. 'He's a better man +than I am by a good deal.' + +'I'm not so sure of that, Jim,' she said, holding out her little hand +to me; 'but, remember, on no account are you two to be anything but the +very best of friends for the future. And now we'll forget all about it. +I want to talk to you about another matter.' + +'What is that, Sheilah?' + +'About yourself. What do you intend to do? You must not--and, indeed, +you cannot--go on living here without employment. Have you thought of +looking for anything?' + +'I have. And what's more I have made inquiries all round, but for the +life of me I can hear of nothing. I'm no good for anything but bush +work, as you know, or I might apply for the billet there is vacant in +the bank up yonder. No, Sheilah! I'm afraid I shall have to clear out +and look for work elsewhere. There's a drover, Billy Green of Bourke, +going up North as far as the Flinders River for a mob of fat cattle next +week. He might take me on.' + +'No! no! Jim, you're fit for something better than that,' she answered. +'Why not stay here and take a place for yourself. With your knowledge of +cattle, backed up by patience and hard work, you might make a very good +thing of it in time.' + +'There's one serious drawback to that, Sheilah, and that is the fact +that I haven't got the money. If I had, I admit I might be able to do +something in a small way. But as I haven't, well, you must see for +yourself it's impossible.' + +'It's not so impossible as you imagine, old friend,' said Sheilah, with +a smile. + +'What do you mean?' I asked, surprised at the confident way in which she +spoke. 'Has anyone told you of the money I refused to take from my +father yesterday?' + +'You refused to take money from your own father? Oh, Jim, that was +foolish of you. How much did he offer you?' + +'Five hundred pounds,' I answered. 'I almost wish now I had put my pride +in my pocket and accepted it. It would have come in very handily, +wouldn't it?' + +'You must go up and see him directly you leave here,' she said with +authority. 'Whatever you do, you must not let such an opportunity slip +through your fingers. It was too foolish of you to decline his help.' + +'I'm afraid I'm a very foolish fellow altogether, Sheilah,' I answered. +'But my father insulted me; he called me--well, never mind what he +called me; at any rate, having done it, he said he would give me five +hundred pounds, and not another halfpenny, if I were to come to him +starving. I flared up in reply, and told him that I would not touch his +money if I were dying, and came away in a huff.' + +'Well, you must go back and get it now, whatever happens. Why, with five +hundred pounds you might lay the foundation of a splendid fortune. Now, +pay attention to me, and tell me if there is any place about here you +would like to take?' + +'I should just think there is. Why, there's Merriman's selection on the +other side of the creek; it's as good a little place as any in the +district, and better than most. I've been coveting it for years, and if +I had the money I would take it, stock it by degrees, and as time went +on, and opportunity served, get possession of the land on either side of +it. Yes! If I had that place, I do believe I could make it pay.' + +'How much capital would you want to take it and stock it?' + +I picked up a bit of paper from the table by where I sat, and, finding a +pencil, set to work to figure it all out. Sheilah was quite excited, and +offered suggestions and corrections as we proceeded, like the clever +little business woman she always was. At last it was done. + +'I reckon,' I said, looking up at her from the paper in my hand, 'that +if I had eight hundred pounds cash, and a balance in the bank of five +hundred more, I could do it, and I'm certain I could make a success of +it. But, then, what's the use of all this calculation. I haven't got the +money, and, what's more, I'm certain my father won't go higher than the +five hundred he mentioned, even if he lets me have that now.' + +Sheilah was silent for nearly a minute, looking out of the window to +where the tall sunflowers were nodding their heads in the scorching +glare. A little dry wind rustled through the garden and flickered a +handful of earth on to the well-swept boards of the verandah. Then she +turned to me again and said rather nervously,-- + +'Jim, you have known me a long time have you not?' + +'What a question, Sheilah,' I cried. 'Why, I've known you ever since the +night of the great storm--when you were a little toddling blue-eyed +baby. Of course, I've known you a long time.' + +'Well, in that case, you mustn't be angry with an old friend for making +a suggestion.' + +'Angry with you, Sheilah! Not if I know it. What is it you wish to say?' + +'That--well, that you let me lend you the money. No! No don't speak,' +she cried, seeing that I was about to interpose. 'Let me say what I want +to say first, and then you can talk as much as you please. Yes! I +repeat, let me lend you the money, Jim. My father, as you know, has +always put by so much a year for me, to do as I like with, ever since I +was born. The sum now amounts to nearly fifteen hundred pounds. Well, I +want to lend you a thousand pounds of it. And that, with the five +hundred from your father, will give you fifteen hundred pounds to begin +with, or two hundred more than you consider necessary. There, Jim, I +have done; now what have you to say?' + +'What can I say? How can I tell you how deeply I am touched by your +generosity and goodness. Oh, Sheilah! what a true friend you have always +been to me.' + +'You accept my offer, then, Jim?' she cried, her beautiful eyes at the +same time filling with tears. + +'I cannot,' I answered. 'Deeply as I am touched by it, I cannot. It +would not be right.' + +'Oh, Jim, I never thought you would refuse. You will break my heart if +you do. I have been thinking this out ever since you returned from +Bourke, and always hoping that I should be able to persuade you to +accept it. And now you refuse!' + +She gave a deep sigh, and the big tears trembled in her eyes as if +preparatory to flowing down her cheeks. + +'Don't you see my position, Sheilah?' I said. 'Can't you understand that +if I took your money, and invested in this enterprise, and it did not +turn out a success, I might never have the means of repaying you. No! At +any cost I feel that I ought not to take it.' + +'Jim, you are giving me the greatest disappointment I have ever had in +my life. Really you are.' + +'Do you mean it?' + +'I do.' + +'Will it really make you happy if I accept?' + +'Perfectly happy.' + +'Then I will do so. And may God bless you for it. By giving me this +chance you are saving me.' + +'You will work hard then, won't you, Jim?' + +'I will work my fingers to the bone, Sheilah.' + +It was as much as I could do to speak, so great was my emotion. My +brain surged with words, but my mouth could not utter them. I took her +hand and kissed it tenderly. A declaration of love trembled on my +tongue, and wanted but one little word to make me pour it out. + +'You must go and see your father this afternoon,' she said after a +little pause, 'and then come down and tell me what he says. When you've +done that you'd better inquire about the place. Oh, if only I were able +to see it with you!' + +'So you shall directly, Sheilah,' I cried. 'You shall guide and counsel +me in all I do; for you are my guardian angel, and have always been.' + +'Do you mean that, Jim?' she asked very softly. + +'Before God, I do,' I cried vehemently. 'Sheilah, I know now what you +are to me. I know that the old brotherly affection I have felt for you +all these years is dead.' + +'Dead, Jim!' she cried. 'Oh, surely not dead!' + +'Yes, dead,' I answered; 'but out of its ashes has risen a greater, a +nobler, a purer love than I ever believed myself capable of feeling. +Sheilah, I love you with all my heart and soul, I love you more than +life itself.' + +She did not answer. For a minute or so there was only to be heard the +chirping of the cicadas in the trees outside, and the dry rustle of the +wind among the oranges bushes. + +'Darling,' I said, when I found my voice once more, 'if I take this +money and work as hard as any man can, is it to be for nothing? Or may I +toil day and night, knowing that there is a reward, greater than any +money, saving up for me at the end? Sheilah, do you love me well enough +to be my wife!' + +This time she answered, without a falter in her voice, and as she did +she took my great brown hand between hers and smoothed it. + +'Jim, I have always loved you' she said, 'all my life long. I will +gladly; nay, that doesn't seem to express it at all. Let me say only +that I love you, and that I will be your wife whenever you come to claim +me. Will that satisfy you, dear?' + +I bent over and kissed her on her sweet, pure lips. + +'God bless you, Sheilah,' I replied so softly that I scarcely knew my +own voice. + +Then we both sat silent again for some time. Sheilah it was who spoke +first. + +'Now, Jim, how are you going to begin?' + +'I'm going to find your father, and tell him everything,' I said. 'He +ought to know before anyone else.' + +'Very well, find him and tell him. Then go and see your own father and +ask him for the money. After that, if you like, you may come back here +and tell me how you have succeeded.' + +I bade her good-bye, and went off to find her father. + +He was in the act of leaving the stockyard when I encountered him, and I +suppose he must have seen from my face that I had news for him--for, +when he had shaken hands with me, he stepped back to the rails and +leaned against them. + +'Now, James,' he said, 'what is it ye have to tell me?' + +'Something I'm rather doubtful whether you'll like,' I answered, +wondering how to begin. + +'Supposing I can guess already,' he said, with a smile. 'Ye have been a +long time with Sheilah!' + +'I have been deciding a very important matter!' I replied. + +'Have ye accepted her offer?' + +'I have; but how do you know that she had made one?' I answered. + +'We discussed it together last night,' he said. 'My Sheilah is a +generous girl, and she takes a great interest in ye, James, lad.' + +'Who knows that better than I?' I answered. 'And I will do my best to +show her that her trust is not misplaced. But her generous loan is not +the chief thing I wish to speak to you about.' + +'What is the other, then?' he said, looking a little nervously at me, I +thought. + +'It concerns Sheilah's own happiness,' I replied. 'Mr McLeod, your +daughter has promised to be my wife.' + +He was more staggered by this bit of news than I had expected he would +be, and for a little while gazed at me in silent amazement. At last he +pulled himself together, and said solemnly,-- + +'This is a very serious matter.' + +'I hope it is,' I replied, 'for I love Sheilah and she loves me. We are +both deeply serious, and I hope you have nothing to say against it?' + +'Of course, if ye both love each other--as I believe ye do,' he +answered, 'and ye, laddie, work hard to prove yourself worthy of her, I +shall say nothing. But we must look things squarely in the face and have +no half measures. Ye must bear with me, lad--if in what I'm going to say +I hurt your feelings--but my duty lies before me, and I must do it. Ye +see, Jim, ye have been foolish; your reputation in the township is a +wild one; ye admitted to me having been a gambler; remember ye rode in +that race against your father's and your best friends' wishes; ye were +mixed up with a very disreputable set hereabouts, one of whom has been +openly accused of felony; remember, I do not believe that ye had +anything at all to do with the stealing of that horse--if he was stolen, +as folks say; and now ye have also been turned out of house and home by +your own father. Ye must yourself admit that these circumstances are not +of a kind calculated to favourably impress a father who loves his only +daughter as I love mine. But, on the other hand, my lad, I have known ye +pretty nearly all your life, and I know that your errors are of the +head, not of the heart, so I am inclined to regard them rather +differently. Now, your path lies before ye. Ye have an opportunity of +retrieving the past and building up the future, let us see what ye can +do. If, we'll say, by this day year ye have proved to me that ye are +really in earnest, ye shall have my darling, and God's blessing be on ye +both. I can't say anything fairer than that, can I?' + +'I have no right to expect that you should say anything so fair,' I +answered. 'Mr McLeod, I will try; come what may, you shall not be +disappointed in me.' + +'I believe ye, laddie,' he said, and then we went towards the front gate +together. I wished him good-bye, and having done so, left him and went +up the hill towards the township. + +Never in my life do I remember to have walked with so proud and so +confident a step. My heart was filled with hope and happiness. Sheilah +loved me, and had promised to be my wife. Her father had, to all intents +and purposes, given his consent. It only remained for me to prove myself +worthy of the trust that had been reposed in me. And come what might, I +would be worthy. Henceforward, no man should have the right to breathe a +word against me. I would work for Sheilah as no man ever worked for a +girl before; so that in the happy days before us she might always have +reason to look up to and be proud of me. Then in a flash came back the +memory of that gruesome ride to the Blackfellow's Well. Once again I saw +the murdered man lying so still in his lonely grave among the rocks on +the hillside. I shuddered, and with an effort I put the memory from me. +And just as I did so, I arrived at the hotel. + +As soon as I had eaten my lunch I set off to call upon my father. I +found him sitting in the verandah, as usual, reading. He did not seem at +all surprised at my appearance. On the other hand, he said, as I came up +to the steps,-- + +'You have thought better of it and come back for that money, I suppose?' + +'I have,' I answered. 'A chance has been given me to-day of settling +down to a good thing, if I can only raise a certain sum of money. If you +are still of the same mind as you were yesterday, I should feel grateful +if you would let me have your cheque for the amount you mentioned?' + +Without another word he rose and went into the house; when he returned +he held between his finger and thumb a little slip of pale blue paper +which I well knew was a cheque. Giving it to me he said,-- + +'There it is. Now go!' + +I thanked him, and turned to do as he ordered, but before I had time to +descend the steps he stopped me by saying,-- + +'I have asked no questions, but I trust this business you are now +embarking on will prove a little more reputable than that in which you +have been hitherto engaged.' + +'You need have no fear on that score,' I answered. 'At the same time, I +do not admit that there was anything in the last matter, to which you +refer, of which I need be ashamed.' + +'I think we have discussed that before. We need not do so again.' + +I was once more about to leave him, when something induced me to say,-- + +'Father, is this state of things to go on between us much longer? Will +you never forgive a bit of heedless obstinacy on the part of one so much +younger than yourself?' + +'When I see signs of improvement I may be induced to re-consider my +decision, not till then,' he answered. 'The sad part of it is that so +far those signs are entirely wanting.' + +'I am turning over a new leaf now.' + +'I desire to see proof of it first,' he replied. 'I must confess my +experience makes me sceptical.' + +'It is useless, then, for me to say any more on the subject.' + +'Quite useless. For the future let your actions speak for themselves. +They will be quite significant enough, believe me.' + +'Then I wish you good day.' + +'Good day to you.' + +And so we parted. + +Leaving the old home, I strode down the hill, crossed the ford, and made +my way to the principal bank in the township, where I opened an account +with my father's cheque. This business completed, I passed on to the +agent who had Merriman's selection under offer, and when I left his +office an hour later I was in a fair way towards calling myself the +proprietor of the property for a term of years. + +Next morning I rode over to the selection and thoroughly examined it. It +was about 10,000 acres in extent, splendidly grassed, and had an +excellent frontage to the river. Merriman had built himself a hut on a +little knoll, and there I determined to install myself, utilising all +the time I could spare from my work among the stock in building another +and better one, to which I could bring Sheilah when she became my wife. +That afternoon the arrangements advanced another step, and by the end of +the week following the papers were signed, and I was duly installed as +possessor. + +The next business was to secure the services of a man. This +accomplished, I set to work in grim earnest, the fences were thoroughly +overhauled and renovated--a new well was sunk in the back country--a new +stockyard was erected near the hut, and, by the time Sheilah was able to +get about again, I had bought a couple of thousand sheep at a price +which made them an undoubted bargain, had erected my bough-shearing +shed, and was all ready for getting to work upon my clip. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +A VISIT FROM WHISPERING PETE + + +Three months later the shearing of my small flock was at an end, and the +result, an excellent clip, had been dispatched to market. Then, having a +good deal of spare time on my hands, I held a consultation with Sheilah, +planned our house, and set to work upon it. Like my own old home, it was +to be of _pisa_, would consist of five rooms and a kitchen, and have a +broad verandah running all round it. No man, who has not built a house +under similar circumstances, will be able properly to understand what +the construction of that humble abode meant to me, and how I worked at +it. Every second that I could possibly spare was given to it, and as bit +by bit it raised itself above the earth, my love for Sheilah seemed to +grow stronger and purer with it. It was a proud day for me, you may be +sure, when the roof was started, and a still prouder when it was +completed. The windows and doors were then put into the walls, the +floors of the rooms and verandah laid, the papering and painting +completed, until at last it stood ready for occupation. A prettier +position no man could possibly have desired, and as far as construction +went, well, when I say that I had worked at it with the patience and +thoroughness that can only be brought to bear by a man in what is a +labour of love, you will have some idea of what it was like. Ah! what a +glorious time that was--when everything animate and inanimate spoke to +me of Sheilah. When I rose from my bed in the morning, with the sun, it +was to work for her, and when I returned to it again at night it was +with the knowledge that I had done all that man could do for her, and +was just so many hours nearer the time when she would be my wife. It may +be a strange way of putting it, but if you've ever been in love yourself +you'll understand me when I say that her gentle influence was with me +always, in the wind blowing through the long bush grass, in the +whispering of the leaves of the trees, in the rising of the moon above +the distant ranges, and in the murmur of the water in the creek. Nor +did I want for encouragement. When the day's work was done I would cross +the creek and discuss it with my sweetheart and her father, and even +Colin McLeod, now that it was all definitely settled between us and he +knew his fate, treated me quite as one of the family, and without a sign +of his old antagonism. + +Then, at last, the joyful day was fixed, and I knew that on a certain +Thursday two months ahead, all being well, Sheilah would become my wife. +The house was completely finished, painted, papered, and furnished, and +even the garden, which I had constructed so that it should slope down to +the river, was beginning to show signs of the labour that had been +expended on it. Then, in the midst of my happiness, when I felt so +secure that it seemed as if nothing could possibly come between me and +the woman I loved, something happened which was destined to be the +precursor of all the terrible things I have yet to tell, and which were +to bow Sheilah's head and mine in sorrow and shame down even to the very +dust. + +It was a night at the end of the first week after the completion of the +new house. Having finished his supper, my factotum had gone across to +the township, and I was paying my evening visit to Sheilah. About ten +o'clock I started for home. It had been hot and thundery all the +afternoon and evening, and now a mass of heavy cloud had almost covered +the heavens. The wind whistled dismally through the she-oak trees in the +scrub and moaned along the valley. A premonition of coming ill was upon +me, and when I reached the new house, where I had already installed +myself, I went into the kitchen feeling ready to jump away from my own +shadow. The fire just showed a red glow, and to my amazement gave me the +outline of a man sitting beside it. + +'You're up late, Dick,' I cried, thinking it was my man returned from +his evening's outing. But he did not answer. + +I lit a candle and held it aloft. Then I almost dropped it in horror and +astonishment. + +The man sitting beside the fire was Whispering Pete! + +'Good heavens, how did you get here?' I cried, as I set the candle down +upon the table. + +'Rode,' he answered laconically, getting on to his feet. 'My horse is in +your stockyard now. I've ridden three hundred miles this week, and must +be over the border before Tuesday.' + +'But why have you come here of all other places?' I asked, resolved to +let him see that I was not at all pleased to have him on my premises. + +'Because I had to see you, Jim, for myself.' Here he stopped and went +over to the door and looked out. 'Nobody about is there?' he asked +suspiciously. + +'Not a soul,' I answered. 'Go on, out with it, what do you want to see +me for?' + +He came closer and sank his voice almost to a whisper, as he said,-- + +'Because, Jim, if we're not careful there'll be trouble, and what's +more, big trouble. The police are looking high and low for Jarman, and +naturally they can't find him. The rumour which I had circulated that he +followed the horse Gaybird up to Northern Queensland has been exploded, +and now they're coming back to the original idea--that we know something +of his whereabouts.' + +'Don't say "we" if you please,' I answered hotly. 'Remember I had +nothing at all to do with it.' + +Once more he leant towards me. This time he spoke in the same curious +undertone, but with more emphasis. + +'Indeed, and pray who had then? Jim Heggarstone, if you're wise you +won't try that game with me. It will not do. Just review the +circumstances of the case, my friend, before you talk like that. What +horse did you ride in that race? Why, the horse that was discovered to +have been stolen. Where did you spend the evening after the race? In my +house. Jarman was among the guests, wasn't he? Who took his dead body +away and buried it in the mountains, and then disappeared himself? Why, +you did. Are those the actions of an innocent man? Answer me that +question before you say anything more about having had nothing to do +with it!' + +I saw it all, then, with damning distinctness. And oh, how I loathed +myself for the part I had played in it. + +'You have contrived my ruin, Pete!' I cried, like a man in agony. + +'Don't be a fool,' he answered. 'I only tell you this to show you that +we must stand by each other, and sink or swim together. If they ask me, +I shall admit that he dined with us and went away about ten o'clock. I +should advise you to do the same. If you did your work well they can +hunt till all's blue and they'll not find the body. And as long as they +can't find that we're safe. I came out of my way here to warn you, +because inquiries are certain to be made, and then we must all give the +same answer. Present a bold front to them, or else clear out or do away +with yourself altogether.' + +I could say nothing--I was too stunned even to think. I wanted air and +to be alone, so I opened the door, and went out into the night. The wind +had dropped and an unearthly stillness reigned, broken at intervals by +the sullen booming of thunder in the west. It was a night surcharged +with tragedy, and surely my situation was tragic enough to satisfy +anybody. + +'And where are you going to now, Pete?' I asked, when I went into the +room again. + +'I'm off to Sydney,' he replied. 'I shall show myself there as much as +possible, for I do not want it to be supposed that I am in hiding. Then +I shall wait awhile, and, when things get settled down a bit, clear out +of Australia altogether. If you are wise, I should advise you to do the +same!' + +'Never!' I answered firmly. Then, after a little pause, I continued, +'Pete, does it never strike you what a cruel wrong you have done me? +Fancy, if the girl I am about to marry--whom I love better than my +life--should hear of my part in this dreadful business? Imagine what she +should think of me?' + +'She would think all the more of you,' he answered quickly. 'Remember +you are sacrificing yourself for your friend, and as long as it doesn't +make any difference to them, women like that sort of thing.' Then, +changing his voice a little, he said, 'Jim, you must not think I'm +ungrateful. If ever the chance serves I'll set it right for you--I give +you my word I will.' + +He held out his hand to me, but I would not take it. It seemed to me to +reek with the blood of the murdered man. + +'You won't take my hand?--well, perhaps you're right. But I tell you +this, man, if you think I haven't repented the stab that killed him, +you're making the greatest mistake of your life. My God! that poor +devil's cry, to say nothing of the expression on his face as he fell +back in his chair, has been a nightmare to me ever since. I never go to +sleep without dreaming of him. Out there, in the loneliness of the West, +I've had him with me day and night. Think what that means, and then see +if you can judge me too harshly.' + +'God help you!' I cried. 'I cannot judge you!' + +'And you will help to save me, Jim,' he said, with infinite pleading in +his voice. 'You will not draw any tighter the rope that is round my +throat--will you?' + +'What do you mean by drawing it tighter?' + +'I mean, you will not say or do anything that may lead them to suspect?' + +'What do you take me for?' I cried. 'I am not an informer. No; I will do +my best for you, come what may. But, remember this, Pete, I'll not have +you coming round here any more. It isn't safe.' + +'I'll remember it, never fear,' he answered. 'You shall not set eyes on +me again. Now I'll lie down for an hour, and then I must be off.' + +There and then he laid himself down on my kitchen floor near the wall, +and in less than five minutes was fast asleep, for all the world as if +he had not a care upon his mind. I sat by the window, thinking and +thinking. What a position was I in! Just as I had thought myself clear +of my old life for ever, it had sprung up again, hydra-headed, and +threatened to annihilate me. A deadly fear was tearing at my +heart-strings; not fear for myself, you must understand that, but fear +for Sheilah--Sheilah, who believed in me so implicitly. + +At the end of an hour, almost to the minute, Pete sat up, rubbed his +eyes, and then leapt to his feet. + +'Time's up,' he said briskly. 'I must be getting on again. Will you come +down to the yard with me?' + +'Of course,' I answered, and followed him out of the door. We walked +across the paddock together, and when his horse was saddled, he turned +to me and said, solemnly,-- + +'As you deal by me, Jim, so may God deal with you! I'm not the sort of +chap you would associate with religion, but, little though you may be +able to square it with what you know of me, I tell you I am a firm +believer in a God. My account with Him is a pretty black one, I'm +afraid; but yours, old man, is made a bit whiter by what you've done, +and will do for me--there's a sermon for you! Now, good-bye; perhaps we +may never meet again.' + +'Good-bye,' I answered, and this time, almost without knowing it, I +shook him by the hand. Then he swung himself into his saddle, and +without another word drove in his spurs and galloped off into the +darkness. I stood and watched him till I could see him no longer, then +back I went to the house, my heart full of forebodings. Try how I would, +I could not drive the memory of his visit out of my mind. An unknown, +yet all-consuming, terror seized me at every sound. I thought of the +lonely grave among the rocks near the Blackfellow's Well, of the +mysterious man in grey who had appeared, no one knew whence, to relieve +me of the horse on that awful night. Then I fell to wondering what +Sheilah and her father would say if they knew all. I never thought of +bed. Indeed, when the sun rose, he found me still gazing into the +ash-strewn fireplace thinking and thinking the same interminable +thoughts. + +That afternoon Sheilah commented on my haggard appearance, and I had to +invent an excuse to account for it. Then under her gentle influence my +fears slowly subsided, until I had forgotten them as much as it would +ever again be possible for me to do. + +On the Thursday following Pete's visit, I wrote to my father informing +him of my approaching marriage and imploring him to make the occasion an +opportunity for a reconciliation. To my letter I received the following +characteristic reply:-- + + + 'SIR,--I have to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of + yesterday's date, and to thank you for the same. In reply, I beg to + state that I have noted the contents as you desire me to do. With + regard to the step you intend taking, as it has been arranged + without any consideration of my feelings, I am not prepared to + venture an opinion of its merits. As to the latter portion of your + communication, I may say that on and after your wedding-day I shall + be pleased to consider you once more a member of my family.--I am, + Your paternal parent, + + 'MARMADUKE HEGGARSTONE. + + '_P.S._--I may say that I have in my possession certain jewels + which were the property of your mother, and which are heirlooms in + our family. On your wedding-day I shall, according to custom, do + myself the honour of begging your wife's acceptance of them.' + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +SHEILAH'S LOYALTY + + +A fortnight before my wedding-day it became necessary for me to send a +small mob of cattle away to Bourke, and as I had no drover, and could +not afford to wait for one to put in an appearance, I determined to take +them down myself. Accordingly, having bidden Sheilah good-bye, off I +went, and, after what seemed an eternity, delivered them to the agent +and paid the cheque I received in return into the bank to my account. +Then, with a joyful heart, I turned my horse's head towards home once +more. The journey back was a quicker one than it had been going, and +only occupied four days. Night was falling as I reached the township, +and as soon as I had turned my horses loose and snatched a hasty meal, I +changed my clothes and crossed the creek to McLeod's homestead. It was +the night before my wedding-day, and with a wave of happiness flooding +my heart I shut the gate behind me and went up the path. A warm glow of +lamplight streamed from the window of the sitting-room, and as the blind +had not been drawn, I could see Sheilah, her father and Colin McLeod +sitting talking earnestly together at the table. The solemn expressions +on their faces frightened me, though I could not tell why, and it was +with almost a feeling of nervousness that I pushed open the door and +walked into the room. + +When I entered there was a little embarrassed silence for a moment, and +then Sheilah came across the room and kissed me before them all and +wished me joy of being home again. Both old McLeod and Colin then shook +me by the hand, but it seemed as if there were something they were +keeping back from me. I passed with Sheilah to the other end of the +room, and stood leaning against the mantlepiece waiting for the matter +to be explained to me. It was Sheilah who spoke first. She stood beside +me, and, taking my hand, said to her father,-- + +'Dad, dear, do not let us beat about the bush. Tell Jim +straightforwardly what is said about him.' + +I pricked up my ears and felt a chill like that of death pass over me. +What was coming now? I asked myself. Old McLeod rose from his chair as +if he were going to make a speech, while Colin looked another way. + +'James, my lad,' said the old man, 'ye must forgive us for ever +listening to such talk on the eve of your wedding-day, but we will trust +to your good sense to understand why we do it. Remember, none of us +believe it. But we feel we ought to have your word against those who are +hinting things against ye.' + +'What is it they are saying against me?' I asked, my heart fairly +standing still with fear of what his answer would be. + +Old McLeod paused for a moment, and then, looking me full in the face, +said,-- + +'James, while ye have been away inquiries have been made concerning the +disappearance of the Sydney detective, Jarman, who was here at the time +of the races last year, and who has never since been heard of.' + +'But what has that got to do with me?' I asked, feeling all the time +that my face must be giving damning evidence against me. 'Do they accuse +me of having murdered him, or what?' + +'No, no! Not quite as bad as that! But they say he was last seen +walking through the township towards Whispering Pete's house in your +company; and that he has never been seen since.' + +'Of course, he was seen with me,' I said. 'He dined and spent the +evening with us at Pete's house. But I don't see anything suspicious in +that--do you?' + +'Not at all,' said the old man. 'But what became of him afterwards?' + +'How can I tell you?' I cried impatiently. 'I was told that he went +after the horse up North. He did not make me his confidant. Why should +he? I had never seen him before that day, and I have never seen him +since.' + +'Don't be angry with father for telling you what people say, Jim, dear,' +said Sheilah, looking into my face with her beautiful eyes. 'Remember, +none of us have ever doubted you for a moment.' + +'Thank God for that, Sheilah,' I answered. 'It would not be like you to +believe ill of an innocent man.' + +Colin McLeod was the next to speak, and what he said was to the +point--straightforward and honourable, like himself. + +'Heggarstone,' said he, 'in my official capacity I have to follow any +instructions that are given to me; but I want you to understand that +personally I do not believe you had any hand in the man's +disappearance.' + +'Thank you, Colin,' I said. 'I don't believe you do.' + +Old McLeod seemed to me to be considering something in his mind, for +presently he turned from looking out of the window and said,-- + +'James, it's a nasty thing to ask ye to do. But I do it for motives of +my own. Here is a Bible.' He took one down from a shelf and laid it on +the table before me. 'For form's sake, will ye swear on it that ye know +nothing of, and had nothing to do with, the disappearance of this man? +It will make my mind easier if ye will, because, then, I can give your +accusers the lie direct.' + +I looked from the old man to the open Bible, then at Sheilah, then last +at Colin. But before I could do anything, Sheilah had sprung forward and +snatched up the Bible, crying, as she did so, 'No! no! There shall be no +swearing. I won't have it. Jim's word is the word of a God-fearing, +honest man, and we'll take that or nothing. Then, turning to me, she +said, 'Jim, you will tell them, on your love for me, that you know +nothing of the matter, won't you, dear?' + +The room seemed to rock and swing round me. A black mist was rising +before my eyes. I was conscious only that I was lost; that I was about +to lie, and wilfully lie, to the one woman of all others that I wanted +to think well of me. What could I do? If I refused to tell them I would +be giving assent to the charges brought against me, and in that case +send Pete to the gallows, while, by being compelled to give her up, I +should break Sheilah's heart. If I perjured myself and swore that I knew +nothing, then some day the truth might come out; and what would happen +then? Like a flash up came the remembrance of Pete's visit, and my oath +to him. Already I felt that they were wondering at my silence. Oh, the +agony of those moments! Then I made up my mind; and, taking Sheilah's +hand, lifted it to my lips, and said deliberately, with a full knowledge +of what I was doing--but with every word cutting deeper and deeper into +my heart,-- + +'I swear, by my love for you, Sheilah, that I know nothing of the man's +fate.' Then she pulled my face down to hers and kissed me before them +all. + +'Jim,' she said, 'you know that I never doubted you.' + +The others shook me by the hand, and then, after a few words about the +arrangements for the morrow, I said good night and went home. But I went +like a man who did not know where he was going. I took no heed of my +actions, but walked on and on--turning neither to the right hand nor to +the left--conscious only of my degradation, of my lie to Sheilah. I was +ruined! Ruined! Ruined! That was my one thought. Then, arriving at the +river bank, I threw myself down upon the ground, and cried like a little +child. Never shall I be able to rid my mind of the memory of that +agonising night. From long before midnight till the stars were paling in +the east, preparatory to dawn, I lay just where I had dropped, hopeless +even unto death! All joy had gone out of existence for me. And this was +my wedding-day--the day that should have been the happiest of my life. + +Gradually the darkness departed from the sky, and in the chill grey of +dawn I rose to my feet, and, worn and weary past all belief, like a +hunted criminal fearing to be seen by his fellow-man, I crept down to +the water's edge and laved my burning face. Then, fording the river +higher up, I went back to my home. There, in the morning sunlight, stood +the pretty house I had built, surrounded by the garden on which I had +expended so much loving thought and care. On the posts of the verandah +and along the eastern wall the geranium creeper was just beginning to +climb. My dog came from his kennel near the wood heap and fawned upon +me; my favourite horse whinnied to me from the slip panels near the +stockyard gate; everything seemed happy and full of the joy of +living--only I, who by rights should have been happiest of them all, was +miserable. I stooped and patted the dog, and then went into the house. +In every room was the pretty furniture of which Sheilah and I were so +proud. The dining-room, with its neat appointments, seemed to mock me; +the drawing-room, in the corner of which stood Sheilah's piano, sent +over the previous day, turned upon me in mute reproach. All the +happiness of my life called me coward and liar, and taunted me with my +shame. I went into my bedroom and looked at myself in the glass. I could +hardly believe that it was my own face I saw reflected there, so drawn +and haggard was it. As it was not yet five o'clock, I threw myself upon +my bed and tried to sleep; but it was impossible. I could do nothing +but think. Over and over last night's scene I went; with horrible +distinctness every circumstance rose before me. At last I could bear it +no longer; so I got up and went out of the house again. And this was my +wedding-morn. God help me! My wedding-morn! + +In ten hours--for the ceremony was fixed for three o'clock in the +afternoon--I should be standing by Sheilah's side to swear before God +and man that I would take her into my keeping, that I would love and +cherish her all the days of my life. How had I already shown my love for +her? How had I cherished her? Oh, wretched, wretched man that I was! It +were better for me that I should die before I took that vow! + +In an attempt to discover some relief from my awful thoughts I set +myself some work, fed the animals, milked the cow, boiled myself some +water, and made a cup of tea; and then, finding that it was not yet +eight o'clock, I caught a horse and rode off into the back country. How +far I went I could not say, for I took no heed of time or distance. But +it must have been a good journey, for when I returned to the homestead +my horse was completely knocked up. By this time it was one o'clock, +and I knew that in another hour I should have to begin my preparations +for the ceremony. A bath somewhat revived me, and I passed to my +bedroom, where my wedding suit lay staring at me from the bed, feeling a +little refreshed. By half-past two I was ready and waiting for the +kind-hearted storekeeper I have mentioned before, and whom I had asked +to act as my best man. I dreaded his coming, for some unknown reason; +yet when I heard his firm step upon the path it seemed to brace me like +a tonic. I called him into the house. + +'Good luck to you,' he said, as he entered and shook me by the hand. 'If +ever a man deserves a change of fortune, you're that one. Heaven knows +you've worked hard enough for it.' + +'It's about time, for hitherto luck hasn't run my way, has it?' I +answered bitterly. + +'Hullo!' he cried, looking at me in surprise. 'This is not the sort of +humour to be in on your wedding-day. Jim, my boy, if I didn't happen to +know that you love the girl you are going to marry with your whole heart +and soul, I should feel a bit concerned about you.' + +'Yes, you know I love her, don't you?' I answered, as if I desired that +point to be reassured on by an independent witness. 'There can be no +possible doubt about my love for Sheilah--God bless her! But I'm +afraid!--horribly afraid.' + +'Of what?' he asked; then, mistaking my meaning, 'but, there, it's only +natural. They say every bridegroom's afraid.' + +'Then God help every bridegroom who feels as I do--that's all I can +say.' + +'Come, come,' he said, picking up his hat, 'this won't do at all. I +can't have you talking like this. Anyhow, we had better be off. It's +close upon a quarter to three now, and it would never do to keep them +waiting.' + +Accordingly we passed out of the house, and set off for the church, +which stood on a little hill above the township. All through that walk I +stumbled along like one in a dream, talking always with feverish +eagerness, afraid even to trust myself to think of what I said. For was +I not marrying Sheilah with a lie upon my lips? + +As it happened, we were the first to arrive at the church, so we went +inside and waited. Presently others began to put in an appearance, until +by three o'clock the little church was well filled. A few moments later +there was a turning of heads, and a whisper went about that the bride +was arriving. By this time I was trembling like a leaf, and, I don't +doubt, looked more like a man about to be hanged than a bridegroom +waiting for his bride. Then the doors were pushed open, and in a stream +of sunshine Sheilah, dressed all in white, entered leaning on her +father's arm. When she got half-way up the aisle I went down to meet +her, and we walked to the altar rails, where the old clergyman was +waiting for us, together. Then the ceremony commenced. + +When the last words were spoken, I, James, had taken Sheilah to be my +wedded wife, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness +and in health, swearing to love her and to cherish her, till death +should us part. The good old man gave us his blessing, and then, with my +bride upon my arm, I passed down the aisle again towards the porch. The +greatest event of my life was celebrated, Sheilah and I were man and +wife. + +The little crowd, gathered on either side of the porch, parted to let us +through, and we were in the act of turning down the path which would +bring us out opposite McLeod's gate, when I was conscious of a tall +figure in uniform coming towards me. It was Sergeant Burns, chief of the +township police. He came up and stood before us--then, placing his hand +upon my shoulder, said,-- + +'James Heggarstone, in the Queen's name, I arrest you on a charge of +murder. I warn you that anything you may say will be used as evidence +against you.' + +Darkness seemed suddenly to fall upon me but before it enveloped me +completely I saw the crowd draw closer to us. I felt Sheilah slip from +my side and fall, with a little moan, to the ground. After that I +remember no more of what happened, till I woke to find myself in a cell +at the police station, feeling the most miserable man in the whole +scheme of the universe. + +The blow had fallen at last. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE TRIAL + + +It was strange, but nevertheless a fact, how to be accounted for I do +not know, that when I came to my senses again and found myself in the +cell at the police station, I was easier in my mind than I had been at +all since Pete's visit to my house. The truth was the blow had fallen +and my mind was set at rest once and for all. At first I was like a man +dead, but now that my wits had returned to me, I was like a man who had +still to die. Of Sheilah I dared not think. + +About sundown the Sergeant entered my cell and found me lying on the +rough bed-place with my face turned to the wall. He had known me since I +was a boy, and it didn't take much to see that he was really sorry for +me. + +'Come, come, Jim, my lad,' he said kindly, walking over and sitting down +on the bed beside me. 'Don't give way like this. Look your difficulties +in the face and meet them with a bold front like a man.' + +'It's all very well for you to say meet them with a bold front,' I +answered, sitting up and looking at him. 'But think what all this means +to me.' + +'I know about that, my poor lad,' he replied. 'And there's not a soul +but is downright sorry for you. Unfortunately we had no option but to +arrest you as we did. We received our instructions by telegraph from +Brisbane.' + +'But what made you arrest me?' I asked. 'Surely they're not going to try +to prove me guilty of the murder of this man?' + +'I can't tell you anything about that, of course,' he answered. 'But we +had to arrest you, and as you are to be brought before the magistrates +first thing to-morrow morning you'll know then. In the meantime, if you +want to send for a lawyer, you are, of course, at liberty to do so!' + +'I'll do so at once then,' I answered eagerly, clutching, like a +drowning man, at the straw held out to me. 'I'd like to have Mr Perkins +if you will let him know. And might I have some paper, pens, and ink? I +must write some letters.' + +'Of course, you can have anything you want in reason,' the Sergeant +answered. 'Remember, Jim, you're innocent until you're proved guilty.' + +When he went away he did not forget to send in the things I had asked +for, and as soon as I had received them I sat down and wrote a letter to +Sheilah. With a mind that was not nearly as easy as I tried to make it +appear, I told her to keep up her heart, and tried to make her believe +that this absurd charge must be quickly disproved, as, indeed, I +confidently expected it would be. Even if the stigma should remain upon +my character, they could never convict me of connivance for want of +evidence. As long as the grave under the rocks remained undiscovered, +all would be well. By this time Pete was probably in America, and the +One-eyed Doctor with him. The man who had taken the horse from me at the +corner fence could say nothing about the body, because he had not seen +it. So that in any case I could scarcely fail to be acquitted. With this +idea firmly implanted in my mind, I described my arrest as the only +possible result of all the malicious reports that had lately been +circulated concerning me, and even went so far as to say that I was +glad the business had been brought to a head at last. What was more, I +stated that I felt so far convinced of the result as to arrange +to meet her the following day--after the examination before the +magistrates--when we could enter our new home together freed of all +false charges and suspicions. How far my hopes were destined to be +realised you will see for yourself. + +During the afternoon Mr Perkins, a solicitor who had done two or three +little bits of legal business for me in brighter days, arrived at the +station, and was immediately brought to me. He was a sharp, +ferrety-faced little fellow, with a bald head, clean-shaven chin and +upper lip, and bushy grey eyebrows. He had a big knowledge of Colonial +law, and had the wit to remain in the country, quietly working up an +enormous business for himself, when so many of his fraternity were +rushing to the cities to take their chances of losing or making fortunes +there. He seated himself on a stool near the door, and, while doing so, +expressed himself as exceedingly sorry to see me in such an unpleasant +position. Then, taking his note-book from his pocket, he set himself to +ask me a few questions. + +'I understand that you are prepared to admit having seen the man Jarman +on the day of the race in question?' he began. + +'Quite prepared,' I answered. 'I was introduced to him immediately after +I had weighed out!' + +'By whom was this introduction effected, and at what spot?' + +'By Whispering Pete,' I replied. 'And alongside the refreshment bar at +the back of the grand stand.' + +'And he dined with you a couple of hours later, I understand. At whose +invitation?' + +'At Whispering Pete's, of course. It was his house.' + +'To be sure. Now think for one moment before you answer the question I +am going to ask you. Were you present when Whispering Pete invited him? +And what words did he use, to the best of your recollection?' + +'It came about in this way. We had finished our drinks and were moving +along the track that leads up to the township, when Jarman said he was +sorry the amusement was all over, as there was nothing to do in a little +up-country township like ours in the evening. Then Pete said, "Well, if +you're afraid of being dull why not come up and dine with us?" "I'll do +so with pleasure," said Jarman, and then we started off for home.' + +'That was exactly what occurred, to the very best of your remembrance?' + +'It was. I think I have given you an exact description of it.' + +'And when you reached Pete's house--you sat down to dinner, I suppose?' + +'Not at once. We each had a glass of sherry first, and sat for a while +in the verandah.' + +'After which you went into dinner? Next to whom did Jarman sit?' + +'Between Pete and myself.' + +'Was he in good spirits, think you? Did he seem to be enjoying himself? +I am not asking these questions out of idle curiosity--you will of +course understand that.' + +'In excellent spirits. He told several good stories, described two or +three sensational arrests he had made in his career, and I should say +enjoyed himself very much.' + +'And after dinner? What did you do then?' + +'We sat at the table smoking and talking--then I rose to go.' + +'Leaving them still at the table, I presume? Please be particular in +your answer.' + +'Yes, they were still at the table. I bade them good-night, and then +started for home.' + +'Had you any reason for going away at that moment? By the way, what time +was it when you said good-bye to them?' + +'Ten o'clock exactly. I remember looking at my watch and thinking how +quickly the evening had passed.' + +'And what was your reason for going?' + +'I could hardly tell you, I'm afraid. You see I was expecting trouble +with my father because I had ridden the horse for Pete, and I wanted to +get the fuss over and done with as soon as possible.' + +'And when you reached your home, what happened?' + +'I saw my father, and we had a violent quarrel. He ordered me out of his +house then and there, and I went.' + +'Where did you go?' + +'I went back to Pete, having nowhere else to go.' + +'And when you got there was Jarman still there?' + +I stopped for a second. This was the question I had all along been +dreading. But I had no option. If I was going to keep my plighted word, +and Pete was to be saved, I could not tell the truth. So I said,-- + +'He had gone.' + +'Did you see him go--or meet him on the road?' + +'No. I am quite sure I did not.' + +'And when you were alone with Pete and the other man, Finnan, what did +you do?' + +'I told Pete what a nasty fix I was in, and let him see that my father +had turned me out of doors for riding The Unknown.' + +'You still consider, then, that the horse was The Unknown--and not the +Gaybird, as people assert?' + +'I cannot say. I never saw Gaybird. I only know that Pete told me his +horse's name was The Unknown, and having no reason to doubt his +veracity, that satisfied me, and I asked no further questions.' + +'I see! And what had Pete to say when you told him your condition?' + +'He said he was extremely sorry to hear it, and asked how he could help +me.' + +'And what answer did you give him?' + +'I told him that he could best help me by finding something for me to +do. I said I was not going to remain in the township idle, to be gaped +at and talked about by everybody.' + +'A very proper spirit. And I understand Pete said he would find you +something?' + +'Yes. He told me he had a mob of cattle then on the way to Sydney. He +had had to put a man in charge who was not quite up to the work, and +then he went on to say that if I liked to have the post I was welcome to +it. He said he thought, if I looked sharp, I could catch them up by +daybreak.' + +'So you started off there and then to try and overtake them?' + +'Not at once. I had on my best clothes, you see; so I went home again, +crept in by a side window, changed my things, got a stock whip, packed a +few odds and ends into a valise, and then rejoined Pete, who had a +saddle-horse and a pack-horse waiting for me by the creek. Then off I +went, and by riding hard caught the mob just as day was breaking.' + +'Well, if that is exactly what happened,' said the worthy old lawyer, 'I +really think I can get you off.' + +'I hope and pray you may. Fancy being arrested on such a charge on your +wedding-day. How would you have liked that, Mr Perkins?' + +'Provided it happened before the ceremony, and they did not lock me up +for more than ten years, I should think it the most fortunate thing +that could befall me,' he answered. And as he said it I remembered that +he was a confirmed woman-hater. + +Shaking me by the hand, he left me, and I sat down again to my thoughts. +But my reverie was soon interrupted by the reappearance of the Sergeant. + +'There is a lady here who wishes to see you,' he said, and forthwith +ushered Sheilah into my cell. Then, softly closing the door behind him, +he left us together. Sheilah ran into my arms, and for some minutes +sobbed upon my shoulder. When she had recovered her composure a little, +I led her to a seat and sat down beside her. + +'Sheilah--my poor little wife,' I said, with my arm round her neck, 'to +think that I should have been separated from you like this on our +wedding-day. But we must be brave, little wife, mustn't we?' + +'Oh, Jim! My poor Jim,' was all she could say in answer. 'You are +innocent. I know you are innocent. Oh, why are they so cruel as to bring +this charge against you?' + +'Of course I am innocent, darling,' I replied, kissing her tear-stained +cheeks. 'I would not have laid a finger upon the man to hurt him for +all the world. But you need have no fear. I have Perkins's word for it +that he can get me off. He has just left me after asking half-a-hundred +questions.' + +'But if the man was not murdered as they say, he must be alive at this +moment, and in that case he will be sure to come forward and clear your +character.' + +'Of course he will, if he's alive. But, thank goodness, I think I shall +be able to clear myself without troubling him.' + +'Pray God you may. Oh, Jim, I feel like an old woman instead of a young +bride. I have been so ill all the afternoon that my father would not let +me come to you before. But I am going to be brave now, and to-morrow I +shall have you with me again. Then I will make it up to you for all the +misery you are suffering now.' + +'Who knows that better than I do, my darling.' + +She rose to her feet, and then, stooping, kissed me on the forehead. + +'My own true husband,' she said, 'I believe in you before all the world, +remember that. Now I must be going. But first, my father is outside. May +he come in?' + +'I should like to see him before all others,' I said--and she went to +the door. The officer outside opened it for her, and next moment old +McLeod entered and shook me by the hand. + +'I wonder that you care to do this,' I said, as I returned his +salutation. 'I hope it shows me that so far you do not believe me guilty +of the horrible charge they have brought against me?' + +'I do not!' he answered stoutly. 'No, James, my lad, in Sheilah and +myself ye have two stalwart champions.' + +'And I thank God for it,' I replied fervently. 'I will repay it you +both, as you will see, when I am released.' + +The time was soon up for them to leave, so bidding me good-bye, they +went out, and once more the heavy door closed upon me. But they had done +that which had cheered me and made me happier than I had been for some +time past. Half-an-hour later my tea was brought to me, and by eight +o'clock I was in bed and asleep. For the reason that I had had no rest +at all on the previous night, I slept like a top now--a heavy dreamless +slumber that lasted well into next morning. In fact, it must have been +considerably after six o'clock before I opened my eyes. Then for a +moment I was puzzled to know where I was, but my memory soon returned to +me, and the recollection of the arrest and all that had followed it +rushed back upon me. However, I was quite confident that in another few +hours I should be at liberty, so my present captivity and inconvenience +might only be regarded as temporary, and, therefore, easily to be borne. +Outside the cell window the birds were chirping merrily, and now and +again I could hear the voices of passers-by. Giving up an attempt to +hear what they said, I began to wonder what Sheilah was doing, and +whether she was as anxious to see me as I was to see her. + +Then breakfast was brought in, and by the time I had finished my meal +and taken some exercise in the yard it was time to be going into Court. + +The Court House at Barranda adjoins the police station, so that, +fortunately, I was not called upon to face the public before my case was +called on. Then a constable signed to me to follow him, and I crossed +the yard and went towards a narrow door. This led directly into the +Court itself, and as soon as I had passed through it, I found myself +standing in the centre of a large room, of which the gallery at one end +and a daïs at the other were all densely crowded. A trooper opened the +gate of the dock, and I immediately went up two steps and entered it. +Almost every face in the Court was familiar to me, and the magistrate on +the Bench I had known ever since I was a little boy. At the further end +of a long form, below the daïs, I saw old McLeod sitting. Mr Perkins was +just in front of him, and the Lawyer, who was to act as prosecutor for +the Government, stood opposite him. Then, just as the case was about to +commence, the door at the back of the Bench opened, and who should +appear but my father. He looked very bent and old, and seemed to be +labouring under the influence of some powerful excitement. He glared +round the Court as a little buzz of astonishment naturally went up, and +then took his place on the form where the witnesses were seated. The +case then commenced. First and foremost the charge was read to me, and +in reply to questions asked, I gave my name, age and address, and +pleaded not guilty. A witness was then called to prove that I had ridden +the horse The Unknown, supposed to be the property of, and entered in +the name of Peter Dempster, in the race for the Barranda Cup, and that I +was afterwards seen in the company of the missing man. The landlord of +the hotel deposed that Jarman had dined out on the evening in question, +and had not returned since then, either to pay his bill or to remove his +effects. This evidence created a sensation, which was intensified when +another witness stepped into the box, and swore that on the night in +question, somewhere about half-past ten, he was taking a short cut +across Pete's paddock to reach the township when he heard a sharp +scream, such as would be made by a man in pain come from the direction +of Dempster's house. + +'And what did you do on hearing it?' asked the Lawyer, who, as I say, +was conducting the prosecution. + +'I stood still and listened for it again,' answered the witness. + +'And did you hear it?' asked the Lawyer. + +'No, not again,' replied the witness. + +'And then?' + +'I continued my walk towards the township.' + +'You did not consider it sufficiently peculiar as to warrant your making +inquiries?' + +'It was so sharp and sudden that I did not know what it was.' + +The Prosecuting Lawyer resumed his seat, and Mr Perkins thereupon +jumped up and began to cross-examine the witness after his own fashion. +When he had finished and had sat down again, he had elicited from the +man--first that he could not even swear it was a human scream he heard; +secondly, that it was so sudden and so short that he would hardly like +to swear solemnly that he heard anything at all. It might have been, so +the cross-examination elicited, the wind in the grass, a mopoke in a +tree, perhaps, or a curlew down by the river side. The man could not +state anything definitely, and Mr Perkins asked the Bench to severely +censure the police for bringing such paltry and unreliable evidence +before the Court. This was decidedly a point in my favour. + +Pete's cook and housekeeper was the next witness called. After a good +look at me, she asserted that she remembered seeing me sitting next to +Jarman in the dining-room when she took in some hot water which had been +ordered by Pete. That was about nine-thirty o'clock. The missing man, +she said, was talking and laughing, and seemed to be enjoying himself +immensely. When she entered a second time, about ten-fifteen, I was not +present in the room, though Jarman was. She did not hear a scream, nor +did she see any of the visitors leave the house. She went to bed early, +having to be up by daybreak next morning to bake her bread. On being +asked if she had noticed anything peculiar about the dinner, either +while it was proceeding or afterwards, she answered that she had not. +Thereupon a small and dirty square of linen was produced by the police +and laid on the table in the centre of the Court. The witness was asked +if she recognised it, and she was obliged to admit that it was a +tablecloth that had once belonged to Whispering Pete. It had been +discovered by the police about a week after the dinner on the edge of a +burned-out bonfire. The rest of the cloth had evidently been consumed by +the fire. She was next asked if she could swear to the cloth that had +been used on that occasion. This she could do, she answered, on account +of a small iron mould in the corner. She was thereupon shown a mark of +that description in a corner of the cloth. Having recognised it, she was +told to step down, and Marmaduke Heggarstone was called. + +With a hasty glance at me, my parent walked into the box and took the +customary oath. In reply to the Lawyer's questions, he asserted that I +had ridden the race against his wishes, and that he had promised to turn +me out of his house if I did so. I rode, and when I visited him shortly +after ten o'clock on the night mentioned, he acted upon his word and +turned me out. At the time I was the worse for liquor, and to the best +of his belief was in a very quarrelsome condition. I had remained with +him about a quarter-of-an-hour. Where I had gone after that he could not +say, but he had since learned from his housekeeper that I had returned +to the house later and had changed my clothes. After a short +cross-examination by Perkins, which elicited very little, he sat down, +and old Betty, our housekeeper, was called. She went into the box in +fear and trembling, and immediately she got there began to cry. But the +Lawyer was very easy with her, and in a few minutes she was able to +answer his questions after her usual fashion. She deposed to hearing me +come back to the house about half-past eleven, and to finding my best +clothes hanging on the peg next morning when she went into my room. The +Lawyer thereupon took up a coat from where it lay on the table and +showed it to her. + +'Do you recognise this garment?' he asked. She signified that she had +seen it before. + +'Where did you see it last?' he went on. + +'When it was hanging up in Master Jim's room,' she said. 'Before you +took it away.' + +'How do you account for this stain on the left cuff? Or, perhaps, you +have not yet seen it?' + +The witness answered that she had noticed it on the morning following +the dinner, and had intended to sponge it out, but had forgotten to do +so. + +Mr Perkins then cross-examined her as to the time at which she thought +she had heard me re-enter the house, but he failed to shake her. When +she left the box, the Government analytical chemist from Brisbane was +called, and to my horror and astonishment swore that the stain upon the +coat cuff was undoubtedly that of blood, and human blood. He had +carefully examined it and tried it by all the known tests, and his +opinion was not to be shaken. When he had finished his evidence my case +had altogether changed. My tongue seemed to cleave to the roof of my +parched mouth. I clung to the rail of the dock, and felt as if by this +time all the world must be convinced of my guilt. I glanced at the form +on which old McLeod sat, and saw that his face was ashen pale. + +Then the last witness was called. He was a stranger to me. A tall, +black-bearded man, with a crafty, unpleasant face. In answer to the +usual questions he said his name was Bennett and that he was a settler +on the Warrego River. On the day preceding the night in question, he had +been in Carryfort township, when he received a letter sent by special +messenger from Peter Dempster to say that he had a valuable horse which +he wanted him to take charge of for a few months. A man would meet him +at a certain corner of Judson's Boundary fence near the Blackfellow's +well, outside Barranda township, about one in the morning, and give +delivery. Yes! he had had many dealings in horses and cattle with the +before-mentioned Dempster, and not liking to disappoint him in this +case, camped near the place mentioned and waited for his messenger to +make his appearance. At about twenty minutes past one o'clock, a man +came into view bringing with him three horses, one of which, carrying an +empty pack-saddle on its back, was the animal he was to take away. He +had no difficulty in recognising the prisoner as the man who had brought +him the horse. On being asked what he did with the animal after he had +received it, he informed the Court that he took it back to the Warrego +River, where it was afterwards seized by the police, with the +pack-saddle which had been reposing on a shelf in his store ever since +he had brought it home. Try how he would to do so, Perkins could not +shake his assertion that I was the man who had handed him the horse. + +The Government Analyst was then recalled and asked certain questions +regarding the pack-saddle before mentioned. He stated that he had +examined it carefully and discovered on both sides large stains, which +he unhesitatingly declared to be blood, but whether the blood on the +coat cuff and that on the pack-saddle were identical he could not +decide. Again Perkins was to the fore, and endeavoured to prove that the +marks upon the saddle might have been there prior to the ride that +night. But I could see with half an eye that the Court had counted this +as another point against me. The evidence of the Government Analyst +concluded the hearing, and the Prosecutor thereupon asked the Court to +commit me for trial. Perkins followed, and submitted that there was not +sufficient evidence before the Bench to warrant them in doing anything +of the sort. It was a forcible speech but quite useless, for after a +brief consultation the verdict was, 'committed for trial at the next +criminal sessions to be held in Marksworth.' + +I was then removed and conducted back to my cell. + +How I got through the rest of that miserable day I cannot remember. I +believe I spent it cursing myself and the day I was born. Oh, what a +pitiful fool I had been! If only I had listened to advice and had had +nothing to do with Whispering Pete, what a different fate might have +been mine. Even now it was possible for me to put myself right by giving +evidence against him. But bad as my position was I could not save myself +by doing that, and so I knew I must take the consequences whatever they +might be. + +All that afternoon and evening I sat with my head on my hands, thinking +and wondering what Sheilah and her father would believe in the face of +the evidence against me. They would see that I had perjured myself to +them that night when I swore I had had nothing to do with Jarman's +disappearance. What their feelings would be now seemed too horrible to +contemplate. + +Soon after nightfall I heard a commotion in the yard, and presently the +Sergeant entered my cell. He was booted and spurred as if for a journey. + +'Now, my man,' he said in a very different tone to that in which he had +addressed me yesterday, 'you must prepare for a long ride. We're off to +Marksworth at once. I've got an old horse for you, and I'll make it all +as easy as I possibly can--provided you give no trouble, and don't make +any attempt at escape.' + +I was too much surprised at the suddenness of it all to do anything but +assent, and so I was accordingly conducted to the yard where several +horses stood ready saddled. The Sergeant had his well-known iron-grey, +the trooper who was to accompany us was on another fine beast, and held +the leading rein of a pack-horse in his hand, while a strong but patent +safety animal was waiting for me. I mounted, and my hands were thereupon +chained to the front of the saddle, the Sergeant took my reins, and we +were in the act of riding out of the yard when someone ran out of the +office and came towards me. It was Colin! + +'Heggarstone,' he said hurriedly. 'Before you go I want to wish you +good-bye and to say how sorry I am for you.' + +'Thank you, Colin,' I said sincerely, more touched by his generosity +than I could say, 'Tell Sheilah, will you, that I still assert my +innocence, and that my every thought is of her.' + +'I'll tell her,' he answered. 'You may be sure of that! Good-bye!' + +Then we rode out of the yard, and down the street. Fortunately it was +quite dark so our passage through the township attracted no attention. I +looked at the lamp-lit windows and thought of the happy folk inside, and +could have cried for very shame when I remembered that I too might have +been in my own house, happy with my pretty wife, but for my own +obstinate stupidity. Then we turned away from the creek, and in doing so +left the houses behind us. For nearly four hours we rode steadily on in +the dark--then reaching the end of a long lagoon, we stopped and +prepared to camp. The trooper jumped off his horse and lit a fire, +unpacked the load of the animal he led, while the Sergeant dismounted +and unfastened my handcuffs. Then I descended from the saddle and stood +by the fire. As soon as the horses were hobbled and belled we had our +supper, after which blankets were spread, and I laid myself down to +sleep with my right hand handcuffed to the Sergeant's left wrist. +Overhead the stars shone brightly, and hour after hour I lay looking up +into the vault of heaven, thinking of the girl who had trusted me and +whose life I had wrecked. By-and-by a lonely dingo crept down from the +Ranges behind and howled at us, and then I fell asleep and did not wake +till daybreak. + +As soon as breakfast was finished we mounted our horses and proceeded on +our way again, not to stop until mid-day, and then only for +half-an-hour. All the afternoon we continued our march and all the next +day--indeed, it was not till nightfall of the day following that again +that we saw ahead of us the lights of Marksworth, the biggest township +on our side of Queensland. Arriving there, we rode straight up to the +gaol, and I was duly handed over to the Governor. A cell was allotted to +me, and, thoroughly tired out, I turned into my blankets and was soon +fast asleep. + +Three days later the Assizes commenced, and I learned from a warder +that my case would be the last on the list. Mr Perkins had obtained an +eminent Brisbane barrister to defend me, and I knew that, whatever the +result might be, I should be able to say that I had had a good run for +my money. The case had become widely known and had attracted an enormous +amount of attention, so that when the morning of the trial came, and I +entered the Court, I found it crowded to its utmost holding capacity. +The Judge sat on the bench, clad in his robes and wig--the barristers in +their gowns and wigs occupied their usual positions. But though I looked +along the rows of staring people for the face of someone I knew, I could +see nobody. Then my heart gave a great leap, for in the front row of the +gallery, heavily veiled, sat Sheilah and her father. I was just going to +make a sign to show that I saw her--when the door of the dock opened +again, _and who should be ushered in than Whispering Pete_. My +astonishment may be imagined. I had thought him thousands of miles away +by this time, and had as little counted on seeing him as of having the +Wandering Jew in the dock beside me. He was looking very ill; his face +was pinched and haggard, and his eyes were ringed with dark circles. He +bowed gravely to the Court, and then coolly shook hands with me. As he +did so the work of empannelling the jury commenced, and when this had +been satisfactorily accomplished, and we had both been charged and +pleaded not guilty, the trial commenced. In its early stages it differed +but little from the magistrate's examination, save for the wrangling and +disputing that went on between the barristers. A man who had seen me +ride The Unknown in the race gave evidence, followed by the individual +who had met us with Jarman on the road to Pete's house, the person who +had heard the cry came next, then Pete's housekeeper, and the incident +of the tablecloth, after which my father, who looked in even worse +health than at the magisterial examination, gave his evidence in more +than his usual irritable fashion. Betty and the incident of my clothes, +the Government Analyst, and the selector who had taken the horse from me +followed in due order. The latter's complexion turned a sort of pea +green when he was confronted with Pete. After that the Government +Analyst deposed to the finding of the blood upon the pack-saddle. + +When he left the box a sensation was caused by the appearance of the +owner of the horse Gaybird. In answer to questions put to him he +described the clever way in which the robbery of his famous horse had +been accomplished. His stud groom and stable boys, it appeared, had been +drugged, and the horse, with his feet swathed in flannel bandages, had +been ridden out of the loose box between two and three in the morning. A +blacksmith's shop was next visited and broken into, and the forge fire +lit. The horse had then been re-shod all round, the only difference +being that the plates were put on backwards. The result of this was that +when the police thought they were following the tracks, he had in +reality been going in an exactly opposite direction. That was the last +he saw of the animal until he heard that he had been discovered by the +Queensland police on the Warrego River, and he had gone up to identify +him. Some spirited cross-examination followed, but without doing either +of us very much good. The witness then stepped from the box and a +Sergeant of Police took his place. + +The Crown Prosecutor glanced at his notes and prepared to question him. + +'On Thursday of last week, the day following the examination of one of +the prisoners before the magistrates at Barranda, you received certain +information, and on the strength of it you left Marksworth with another +trooper and a black tracker. In what direction did you proceed?' + +'To the pool known as the Blackfellow's Well, on the old Barranda road,' +was the reply. + +My heart turned to ice--a deadly cold sweat broke out all over me. What +was coming now? + +'Having arrived there, what did you do?' + +'I dragged the well.' + +'And what did you find?' + +'A workman's shovel.' + +The Crown Prosecutor took up a shovel from a heap of articles lying upon +the table before him and handed it to the witness, who examined it. + +'Is that what you found?' + +'Yes! It is!' + +'How do you recognise it?' + +'By the brand upon the handle.' + +'Very good. Now step down for one moment.' + +The Sergeant did as he was ordered, and Timothy Cleary was called and +took his place in the box. When he had been sworn, the Crown Prosecutor +looked at him for a moment, and the examination proceeded as follows,-- + +_Crown Prosecutor._--'You describe yourself as a station hand. Were you +ever in the employ of either of the prisoners?' + +_Witness._--'I was!' + +_Crown Prosecutor._--'Which one?' + +_Witness._--'Mr Dempster.' + +_Crown Prosecutor._--'When, and for how long?' + +_Witness._--'It's difficult reckoning, sir, but 'twas in October two +years back I went to him, and 'twas three months come next Tuesday that +I left.' + +_Crown Prosecutor._--'Very good. Now take this shovel in your hand and +examine it carefully. Have you ever seen it before?' + +_Witness._--'Many's the time, sir!' + +_Crown Prosecutor._--'Whose property was it when you knew it?' + +_Witness._--'Sure, it belonged to Mr Pete!' + +_Crown Prosecutor._--'The elder prisoner you mean--Peter Dempster. You +are on your oath, remember, and you swear to this?' + +_Witness._--'I do, it's the truth sure I'm telling ye, sir, if it's my +last word.' + +_Crown Prosecutor._--'Never mind your last word. Tell me this: How is it +that you are so certain that this particular shovel was the prisoner's +property?' + +_Witness._--'Because of the brand on the handle, and the burn just +above the blade, sir! I put both on meself.' + +_Crown Prosecutor._--'Acting on the elder prisoner's instruction, of +course?' + +_Witness._--'Of course, sir!' + +_Crown Prosecutor._--'That will do. I have done with you.' + +Our barristers immediately began to cross-examine, but elicited nothing +of any importance. + +The Inspector of Brands was next called and sworn. His evidence was to +the effect that the brand upon the shovel was that registered in the +elder prisoner's name, and after our counsel had stated that he had no +desire to cross-examine him he withdrew, and the Sergeant of Police who +had found the implement was recalled. + +He informed the Court that after discovering the shovel in question in +the well, he had instituted a thorough and careful search of the +locality. The result was that a rock on the hillside showed signs of +having been tampered with and moved from its original position. This +struck him as being curious, so he had it cleared away altogether. He +then discovered that under where it had stood a large hole had been dug. + +Here the excitement in Court became intense. I dared not look to right +or left but stood staring straight before me at the Judge upon the +bench. + +'And having rolled away the stone, pray tell me what you found in that +hole?' the Crown Prosecutor continued in the same remorseless voice. + +'I found the decomposed body of a man sir!' + +Great sensation in Court. + +'And when you had made this alarming discovery, what did you do?' asked +the Prosecutor. + +'I brought it into Marksworth as quickly as possible.' + +'Have you been able to discover whose body it was?' + +'At the Coroner's inquest it was proved to be that of Jarman!' + +'How was that proved?' + +'By means of certain cards in a case,' the man answered, 'the name on +the linen, certain letters in the pockets, and the inscription inside +the cover of the watch.' + +The witness then stepped down, and certain other people, strangers to +me, were called. They affirmed that they had seen and identified the +body as that of the Sydney detective, James Jarman. + +Only one more witness remained to be examined, and he was now called. He +informed the Court that he was a swagman, and that, on the night in +question, he was camped near the main track on the outskirts of Barranda +township. About a quarter past twelve o'clock, as nearly as he could fix +it, he was awakened by the sound of horses approaching him at a smart +pace. There was sufficient light for him to see that it was a man riding +one horse and leading two others. The pack-horse on the right was loaded +in the usual way; that on the left had a bulky package upon his back, +and what looked very much like a shovel fastened to the top of it. On +being asked by our counsel how he knew all this, he stated that he was +lying under a tree scarcely ten yards distant from where the man passed. +He could not say that he would know the rider again. + +A doctor having given evidence as to the manner in which death had been +caused, the case for the prosecution was at an end. For the defence a +number of witnesses were called, particularly as to my character, and +an attempt was made to prove that it was a matter of impossibility for +me to have ridden from Barranda by the Blackfellow's Well track, dug the +grave, buried the body, delivered up the horse, and reached the cattle +camp at the time I did. Both our counsels made eloquent speeches, and +just as dusk was falling, the Judge began his summing up. He drew the +particular attention of the jury to the way in which all the +circumstances of the case dovetailed into one another. The murdered man +was at the house for the express purpose of arresting the prisoners on a +charge of horse-stealing; he had last been seen alive by the woman who +acted as housekeeper to the elder prisoner when he was sitting in that +prisoner's dining-room. That was about a quarter past ten o'clock. It +must be remembered by the jury, His Honour pointed out, that the younger +prisoner, Heggarstone, was not present on the last occasion that she +entered the room. From ten o'clock to ten-thirty it had been proved that +he was in his father's house, evidently the worse for liquor. It would +probably have taken him fully ten minutes in the state he was then in to +walk back to the elder prisoner's house, which would bring it up to the +time when another witness heard, or, more strictly speaking, thought he +heard a scream come from the house. Then there were the two particulars +about the burning of the tablecloth which had been used that night to be +carefully considered, also the stain upon the cuff of the younger +prisoner's coat, which he had gone back to his father's house to change +at half-past eleven o'clock. Then it must be noted that at or about a +quarter-past twelve o'clock a man was seen by another witness riding +swiftly from the township on one horse, leading two others, one of which +carried a peculiarly shaped burden with a shovel strapped upon it. At +one-twenty, or thereabouts, the younger prisoner was met by another +witness and relieved of one horse. That horse turned out to be stolen, +by whom His Honour could not say, but without a doubt with the elder +prisoner's knowledge and sanction. It was necessary for him to point out +that there were two other cases on record against the prisoner Dempster +of horse and cattle stealing in Queensland and one in the Colony of New +South Wales. For each he had suffered terms of imprisonment. The police +had obtained possession of the horse and pack-saddle, and the latter +was found to be stained with blood. Since that time the police had +discovered the shovel, marked with the prisoner's brand, at the bottom +of the well near where the horse was handed over to the selector from +the Warrego River; also the body of the murdered man buried beneath a +rock on the hillside. The identification had been complete. In +conclusion, he would draw their attention to the fact that there was a +third man concerned in the case who had not yet been brought to justice, +but who, doubtless, soon would be. It only remained for him to caution +the jury to carefully weigh the evidence that had been submitted to +them, giving the prisoners the benefit of every doubt that existed in +their minds, and then to ask them to bring in a verdict in accordance +with those beliefs. + +When he had finished his address, the jury filed out of their box and +left the Court, the Judge vanished into an adjoining room, and, amid a +buzz of conversation, we were led to cells in the rear of the building. +The heat was intense, and in the interval of waiting, which was less +than a quarter-of-an-hour, I seemed to live my whole life over again. +God help me, what a wretched man I was! Then we were called back to our +places; the Judge entered, and silence was demanded. Next moment the +jury filed in again. The foreman, I remember, was a little bald-headed +fellow, in a long black coat, and wore spectacles. In reply to the usual +questions by the Judge's associate, he stated that he and his colleagues +had arrived at a decision. + +'Do you find the prisoners guilty or not guilty?' + +There was such a silence in the Court that you could have heard a pin +drop as we waited for his answer. + +It seemed years in coming. Then the foreman said,-- + +'We find both prisoners guilty. The younger, however, we strongly +recommend to mercy, believing him to have been intoxicated at the time +and under the influence of the elder.' + +A little moan came from the gallery--followed by a cry of 'Silence in +the Court.' Then came the solemn question,-- + +'Prisoners at the bar, have you anything to say why sentence should not +be pronounced against you?' + +Pete went to the front of the dock, and I thought he was going to give +an explanation which would have saved me; but he only licked his thin +lips and said,-- + +'I have nothing at all to say, Your Honour.' + +I followed his example, with the addition that I reiterated my +innocence. + +Then the Judge turned to me and said,-- + +'James Heggarstone, you have been found guilty of complicity in the +murder of James Jarman. You have had the benefit of the advice of a +learned counsel, and you have had a fair trial. The jury, who have +carefully weighed the evidence submitted to them, have recommended you +to mercy, so nothing remains for me now but to pass sentence upon you.' +(Here he glanced at a paper before him.) 'The sentence of the Court, +therefore, is that you suffer penal servitude for the remainder of the +term of your natural life.' + +I murmured something in reply--what I could not tell you. Just as I did +so there was the sound of a heavy fall at the back of the Court, and I +looked round to see two policemen carrying my father out. Then the Judge +fumbled about among his papers once more, and finally took up the awful +black cap, and placed it upon his head. Then he turned to Pete, who was +leaning quietly on the rail, and said,-- + +'Peter Dempster, you have been found guilty of the cruel murder of the +man James Jarman, and with that verdict I most fully concur. Of the +motive for the crime I say nothing, but the sentence of this Court is +that you be taken back to the place whence you came, and there be hanged +by the neck until you are dead. And may God have mercy on your soul!' + +While the Judge was speaking Pete did not move a muscle of his face, but +looked at him just as usual, and when he had finished, said as quietly +as usual,-- + +'I thank Your Honour.' + +After that we were led away. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +HOW I ESCAPED + + +I am not going to attempt to furnish you with a description of my +sensations during the first fortnight of my imprisonment. It would be +quite impossible to give you any adequate idea of them. I believe for +the greater part of the time I was on the verge of madness, one moment +buoyed up with hope that Pete, seeing his own inevitable doom +approaching, would make confession of my innocence, and the next hurled +down into the depths lest he should not do it at all, and so leave me, +an innocent man, to suffer undeserved punishment for the remainder of my +natural existence. The day of his execution was drawing closer, and with +every moment my anxiety was growing more and more unbearable. As if to +make it harder, by the rules of the prison I could not appeal to him in +any way. Of Sheilah I dared not think at all, and by the same token I +could only speculate what had happened to my father. + +One morning, however, I was destined to be enlightened on two of these +subjects. The Governor, going his rounds, stopped at my cell, and when I +saw him I dropped the work upon which I had been engaged and stood at +attention. + +'Prisoner,' he said, 'you have this morning addressed a letter to me +asking if the condemned man Dempster has made any confession of your +innocence. In reply I have some news to give you which I fear will +greatly distress you. Dempster died suddenly this morning of aneurism of +the heart, leaving no confession of any kind.' + +'Dead!' I cried, hardly able to believe my ears. 'And left no +confession. Then I am ruined indeed! I shall have to spend my life in +prison and I am an innocent man.' + +With that I fell back on my bed-place and fainted away. When I +recovered, the Governor was still with me. But his face was less stern +than it had been. + +'My man,' he said, 'if you are innocent, as you say, your case is indeed +a hard one. But you must prepare yourself for some more sad news, which +I think it my duty to communicate to you.' + +I looked up at him with a white face. If the truth must be known, I +feared some misfortune had befallen Sheilah. + +'What is it, sir?' I whispered, almost afraid to speak. + +'I have to tell you that your father is also dead,' he answered; 'he was +seized with a stroke of paralysis in Court and lingered until this +morning, when he passed quietly away.' + +Strange though it may appear, a feeling of positive relief seized me +when I heard this last piece of news. I had so dreaded hearing that +something had befallen Sheilah that the news of my father's death failed +to affect me as keenly as it would have done at any other time. Perhaps +the calmness with which I received it struck the Governor as +extraordinary, for he looked at me in a curious fashion, and then, with +a few brief words of advice, to which I hardly listened, left the cell. +When he had gone I had plenty of leisure to think over my position, and +my consternation was boundless. Now that Pete was dead, and the One-eyed +Doctor could not be found, my innocence might never be proved, and in +that case I should have to remain a prisoner at least for thirteen +years. Pete was dead, my father was dead! The words seemed to ring in my +head like a passing knell. Pete was dead, my father was dead, and +I--well, I was buried alive. + +According to custom I was to remain at Marksworth Gaol for a month and +then be transferred for the balance of my term to Burowie Convict +Prison, in the township of that name, a hundred miles distant, and in +the opposite direction to Barranda. So for the rest of that month I +fretted on, doing the work set me almost unconsciously, dreaming all the +time of my wife and the beautiful free world outside that I was not to +see, save on my journey between the gaols, for thirteen long years. The +mere thought of such captivity was enough to kill any man, especially +one born and bred in the bush as I had been. + +At last the day, long looked for, came for me to change gaols. It was +scorchingly hot, and for this reason our departure was delayed till the +cool of the evening. About seven o'clock I and two more prisoners were +paraded in the central yard. Our guard, consisting of a sergeant and +four troopers, well mounted and equipped, paraded with us, leading the +three horses which were to carry us to our destination. They were not +bad looking beasts, the horses I mean, but nothing like as good as those +ridden by our guards. When all was ready we were ordered to mount, and +having done so our hands were manacled behind us. Then the sergeant in +charge taking the lead, we started off, skirted the town and the common, +and at last entered the scrub. + +Throughout the journey my mind was occupied, almost without cessation, +endeavouring to find an opportunity to escape. But not one presented +itself. Next morning we were on our way again by the time the sun was +above the horizon, jogging quietly through the scrub. And now I come to +recall it, I think that was the hottest day's ride I ever remember. +Little by little, however, the sun sank below the tree-tops, and at +last, when we had arrived at a suitable spot, the sergeant called a +halt. The troopers immediately dismounted, and we were told to follow +their example. While the sergeant stood guard over us, two men +unharnessed the horses and turned them loose, and the other two set +about preparing the camp. Suddenly, like a flash, I saw my opportunity. +The sergeant's horse, the best of the whole lot, a well-bred young +chestnut, had not been hobbled, and was grazing barebacked, with his +bridle still on, a short distance from the others. Thinking all was +safe, the sergeant had unfastened my handcuffs for a moment to give my +arms a rest. I leaned idly against a tree, keeping my eye all the time +fixed upon the horse. Then suddenly I called out at the top of my voice, +leaping away as I spoke. + +'Great Scott, sergeant, look out for that snake!' + +He jumped as if a dynamite cartridge had been exploded under his feet, +and, while he was turning to look for the snake, I made a rush as hard +as I could for the spot where his horse was standing. In less time than +it takes to tell I had reached him, sprung upon his back, driven my +heels into his sides, and was off across the plain at a racing gallop. +When we had gone about fifty paces a carbine cracked in the air; but I +was going too fast to be any sort of a mark for a bullet, so that did +not trouble me very much. The shot, however, had one good effect; fast +as my horse had hitherto been travelling, he now went even faster. +Across the little open plain we dashed, into the thick scrub timber on +the other side, and just as we did so I looked behind me. Short as the +warning had been, two troopers were already scrambling into their +saddles. Keeping well to the left, and having by this time secured the +reins that at first had been flying loose about his head, I set the +horse going in downright earnest. The ground was broken and by no means +safe for galloping, but I trusted to be able to keep my pursuers at a +distance until it was thoroughly dark, when I knew I should stand an +admirable chance of giving them the slip altogether. As I left the +timber, and emerged on to another bit of plain, I saw them descending +the ridge behind me. What was worse, they had evidently cut a corner +somehow, for now they were not more than a couple of hundred yards +distant. My mind, however, was fully made up. I would risk anything, +even my life, rather than be captured. If they came up with me, I was +determined to fight to the death. + +Once more I reached the security of the timber, but this time it was all +down hill--broken ground, strewn here and there with big rocks, and the +trunks of fallen trees. But if it had been paved with razor blades I +believe I should have gone down it just as fast--for could I not hear +the rattle of stones and the shouts of the men behind me. Suddenly my +horse stuck his forelegs out and stiffened his whole body, and +experience told me he had scented danger ahead. I looked over his ears, +and there, straight before me, in the half dark, was a dry water-course, +stretching away as far as I could see to right and left. In front it was +at least thirty feet wide and sixty feet deep--a formidable jump, even +on the best steeplechaser living. What was I to do? If I turned to the +right or left, the men behind me would certainly head me off and capture +me. If I went back up the hill I should come face to face with them; +while, if I jumped, I might break my neck and so end my flight for good +and all. But one thing was certain, to remain where I was meant certain +capture, so at any cost I made up my mind to attempt the leap. Taking my +horse by the head, I turned him round and rode him a little way up the +hill. As I did so the troopers came into view, riding helter skelter, +and making certain they had got me. The nearest was not more than half +a dozen lengths or so from me, when I turned my animal's head down hill +again. + +'It's no good, Heggarstone,' he shouted, as he saw the ravine ahead. +'You can't escape, so throw up your hands.' + +'Can't I,' I cried, and digging my heels into my horse's side, I set him +going again at his top speed. He tried to pull off the jump, but it was +no use, I'd got him too tight by the head for that, and I wouldn't let +him budge an inch. He tried to stop, but I shouted at him and forced him +to go on. So, seeing that there was nothing for it but to jump, he made +a dash forward, gathered his legs well under him, and went at it like a +shot out of a gun. With a snort he sprang into the air. I heard the +little stones he dislodged go tinkling down to the bottom of the ravine, +and next moment he had landed with a scramble on the opposite bank. It +was a wonderful leap, and I thanked God from the bottom of my heart that +I was safely over. As I reached terra firma, I turned and looked round. +The two troopers had pulled their horses up and were standing watching +me. One of them was raising his carbine, so I did not stop, but waved +my hand to them and disappeared into the scrub. In ten minutes I had +left them far behind me, and by the time darkness had fallen was far +beyond their reach. + +But though I had come so well out of my scrape, I was not safe yet by +any manner of means. After spelling my horse alongside a pretty little +creek for half-an-hour, I mounted him again, and set off in the +direction I knew Barranda to lie. About nine o'clock the moon rose, and +by her rays I was able to pick my path quite comfortably. I had fully +planned my movements by this time. Come what might, I was going to make +my way back to the township and see Sheilah once more, if only for the +last time. If she cast me off and refused to have anything more to do +with me--well, then, God help me, I would either kill myself or give +myself up to the police and go back to serve my sentence with the +additional punishment for escape, whatever it might be. + +All that night I made my way through the scrub, keeping my eyes wide +open for chance travellers' camps or station homesteads. Throughout the +next day I lay hidden in a cave in the Ranges, hobbling my horse with +his reins, so that he could not stray very far. Unfortunately I had +nothing to eat, and by nightfall I was literally starving. As soon as it +was dark I went on again, still keeping a constant watch about me. +Towards midnight it seemed that I was on a definite track, and presently +this supposition became a certainty. I could distinctly see wheel marks, +and, for this reason, I knew I must be approaching a habitation of some +sort. Then the outlines of a fence hove in sight, and after a little +while the white roofs of buildings, glistening in the moonlight. It was +a station; and, if I might judge by the number of huts and outhouses, a +big one. Now, I told myself, if only I could get into the kitchen +without exciting attention, I might be able to satisfy my hunger, and, +perhaps, obtain a few provisions to carry along with me. Accordingly I +got off my horse, and tied him carefully to the fence; then, stealthily +as a thieving dingo, crept across the small paddock towards the building +I had settled in my own mind was the kitchen. Every moment I expected +some dog to bark and give the alarm, but all was quiet as the grave. I +reached the hut, and crept round it, looking in at the side window to +see if anyone slept there. I could not, however, distinguish a sign, so +I went back to the door and turned the handle. It opened, and I crept +in. Yes! I was right. It was the kitchen, and a fire was still +glimmering on the hearth. A big, old-fashioned meat safe stood along one +wall, and to this I made my way. A box of matches lay on the table, and +having struck one I shaded it with my hand and commenced to explore. +Cooked meat there was in abundance, and a loaf and a half of bread, +which I took, with a knife I discovered in a box upon the dresser. Then +out again I crept, softly closing the door behind me. A minute later I +was back with my horse. Before unhitching him I had a good feed, and +then stowed away the rest of my provender in my pockets. What a meal +that was--never before had bread and meat tasted so good. Then, mounting +and gathering up my reins, I went on again--to lie hidden all the day +following and the day after that, in each case resuming my journey +immediately the stars appeared. So far I had been fortunate almost +beyond my expectations, but the nearer I approached the township the +more afraid I became of being seen. At length, by the lay of the +country, and by numerous land marks familiar to me from my youth up, I +knew I could not be more than fifteen miles from my home; and +accordingly I started that night almost at dusk, resolved to leave my +horse in a bit of thick scrub, near where Sheilah had met with her +accident the previous year, and to approach the house on foot. Reaching +the timber in question, I accordingly turned my horse loose, and, after +a short rest, made my way towards the homestead, which was now not more +than three miles distant. Just as I reached it I heard a clock in the +kitchen strike ten. + +Little by little, taking infinite pains not to make a noise, I made my +way along the garden fence, and then, crawling through it, went on under +the old familiar pepper-trees into the verandah. A light was burning in +the sitting-room, and when I was near enough, I craned my neck and +looked inside. Sheilah, my wife, was there alone. She was sitting in her +father's arm-chair, knitting--though, at the moment that I looked, her +work lay in her lap, and she was staring into the empty fireplace. Her +face was just as beautiful as ever--but, oh, so worn and sad. While I +watched her she heaved a great sigh, and I saw large tears rise in her +eyes. Something seemed to tell me that she was thinking of me, so +creeping closer to the window I rapped softly with my fingers upon the +pane. Instantly she sprang to her feet and ran to the door; another +minute and she was in the verandah and in my arms. + +'Oh, Jim, Jim! my husband! my dear, dear boy!' she whispered again and +again. 'Thank God you have come back to me once more.' + +The tears were streaming down my cheeks, and my heart was beating like a +wheat flail against my ribs, but I had the presence of mind to draw her +into the house and shut the door as quickly as possible. Then I +disengaged myself from her arms and looked at her. + +'Sheilah,' I said, 'you should not receive me in this fashion. I am not +worthy.' + +'Hush! hush!' she cried; 'you must never say that to me. Jim, to me you +are innocent; let the world say what it will. I am convinced you did not +do it.' + +'But, Sheilah, I am not as innocent as you think. No, no! Do not look so +scared. I did not kill the man, but I told you a lie when I said that I +knew nothing of his death. I did know something about it, for I saw him +murdered--but I could not say so, or I must have betrayed another man. I +had sworn to Pete that I would not reveal what I had seen. So my lips +were tied.' + +'My own dear husband,' she said, looking up into my face, and then led +the way towards the sitting-room, 'I have never thought you guilty. But +come in here now--I must not let you be seen. Your escape is known to +the police, and they were here looking for you only this afternoon.' + +'Where is your father, Sheilah?' + +'He has gone up to the township to attend a meeting of the Presbyterian +Church. He may be back at any moment. First you must change your +clothes. Go in there,' and as she spoke she opened the door of her own +bedroom. 'You will find a suit hanging in the cupboard. While you are +doing that, I will prepare a meal for you.' + +I did not stop to ask how she had come to prepare for me in this way, +but went into the room and changed my things as I was told to do. That +done, and having folded the other hateful garments up and hidden them on +the top of the cupboard, I rejoined her in the sitting-room. By this +time she had a meal spread on the table for me, but I did not want to +eat until I had told her the whole history of my trouble from beginning +to end, without keeping anything back. + +'And now, Sheilah,' I said, in conclusion of my narrative, 'Whispering +Pete is dead. And what is worse, he died without exonerating me. +Therefore, if I am caught, I shall have to go back to gaol again and +serve my sentence to the bitter end.' + +'But you must not be caught. I have taken steps to ensure your safety. +As soon as you have eaten your meal you must start again. I have a +saddle-horse and pack-horse ready in the stable--they have been there +every night since you left here. You must take them, cross the border +near Engonia, and set off by a roundabout route marked on this map for +Newcastle--arriving there, you will go to this address (here she gave me +a slip of paper which I deposited in my pocket) and interview the +captain of the ship named upon it. I have got a friend whom I can trust +implicitly to arrange it all. The captain will give you a passage to +Valparaiso, and three hundred pounds when you land there. You can either +settle in Chili or the South Sea Islands as you think best. In either +case, when a year has elapsed, if you will let me know where you are I +will join you. In the meantime, I am going to set to work to find this +One-eyed Doctor, Finnan, and to prove your innocence.' + +'Sheilah!' I cried, 'what can I say to you?' + +'Say nothing, Jim, but do as I tell you. Remember your wife believes in +you, whatever the world may say. So be brave and cautious for my sake.' + +'And, Sheilah, you forgive me for that lie I told you? Oh! my darling, +what misery my foolish obstinacy has brought upon us all--my father +included.' + +'But it will all end well yet, Jim; only you must do exactly as I tell +you!' + +At that moment my ear caught the sound of a footstep on the path. +Sheilah heard it as soon as I did, and cried,-- + +'Jim, somebody is coming; you must hide. In here at once!' + +She led the way to her own room, and made me go inside. A moment later I +heard someone enter the room I had just quitted. + +'Colin,' cried Sheilah, trying to speak in her natural voice, 'what on +earth brings you down here at this time of night?' + +'I have come to warn you, Sheilah,' said her cousin, 'that we have +received information that your husband is on his way here. You know, +don't you, that if he is discovered he will be at once arrested and +taken back?' + +'You would not arrest him, Colin, would you?' Sheilah asked, in agonised +tones. 'Surely you could not be so cruel to me!' + +Colin had evidently been studying her face. + +'I'm afraid I should fail in my duty for your sake, Sheilah,' he said, +after a moment's pause. 'But, my cousin, you know more than you are +telling me. Sheilah! I see it all; Jim is here!' + +Sheilah must have felt that she could trust him, for she answered,-- + +'You are right. He is here. Colin, you will not act against him?' + +'Have I not told you I shall not! But remember, Sheilah, this will cost +me my position. I shall send in my resignation to-morrow.' + +At this I walked out, and Colin stared; but did not say that he was glad +to see me. + +'Jim,' my wife said, 'everything is prepared; you must go. Colin is your +friend, you can trust him. Now come. Every moment you are here increases +your danger.' + +I went over to Colin McLeod and looked him in the face. + +'McLeod,' I said, 'you are acting the part of a brave and true man. God +bless you for it. Tell me one thing, do you believe me guilty of the +charge upon which I was convicted?' + +'No! I do not,' he answered; 'if I did I should not be helping you +now.' + +'Then I'll ask you to shake hands with me.' + +We shook hands; and, after that, without another word, I followed +Sheilah into the darkness. As she had said, two horses stood saddled and +ready in the stockyard. I led them out, and, having done so, took +Sheilah in my arms. + +'My wife,' I said, 'my Sheilah, what a wonderful and beautiful faith is +yours! Who else would have believed in me as you have done, through good +and ill report!' + +'It is because I love you so, and because I know you better than you +know yourself that I believe in you as I do,' she answered. 'Now, Jim, +darling, good-bye. Let me know what happens to you. Write, not only +before you leave Australia, but when you arrive in Chili; and, for my +sake, be careful. May the good God be with you and keep you safe for me. +Good-bye--oh, Jim, Jim, good-bye.' + +I kissed her sweet, upturned face again and again, and then, tearing +myself away from her, passed through the slip panels, which she had let +down for me, and with a last wave of my hand rode off into the dark +night, feeling that I had left what was more than my life behind me. + +Passing through old McLeod's paddock I made my way carefully along the +creek side to the old ford--the place where I had fought Colin McLeod +one memorable evening, and where I had spent that awful night after I +had lied to Sheilah about Jarman's death and she had believed and kissed +me before them all. Before I went down the steep bank to the water's +edge I checked my horse and looked back across the paddocks to where I +could just distinguish the outline of the house that sheltered the woman +I loved. How much had happened and how terrible had been my life since I +had last stood in this place and had gazed in the same direction. Then, +turning my eyes across the stream, I made out the house I had built with +such pride and loving care; the home to which I was to have brought my +wife after the wedding that had ended so disastrously. There it stood, +dark and forlorn, the very picture of loneliness, a grave of +disappointed hopes if ever there was one. The garden was straggling and +overgrown, the building itself already cried aloud for attention. Almost +unconscious of my actions, I crossed the ford and rode up to within a +few yards of it, thinking of the happy days I had spent in building it, +of the good resolutions I had then formed, and the way in which I had +afterwards failed in the trust reposed in me. In the darkness and +silence of the night the place seemed haunted with phantoms of the past. +I almost fancied I could see my father in one corner, and Pete from +another, watching me, the outlaw, as I sat in my saddle under the big +Gum Tree, gazing at what might once have been the very centre of all +that could have made life beautiful. At last, saddened almost to the +verge of despair, I urged my horse forward and quitted the spot, heaving +a heavy sigh as I did so for _auld lang syne_, and all the happiness +that might have been my portion had I only shunned Pete at the +commencement of our acquaintance instead of trusting him and believing +in him against my better judgment. Now, however, that it was all over +and done with, there was nothing for it but for me to eat my bread of +sorrow and drink my water of affliction alone. In the words of the old +saying, I had made my bed, and now it was my portion to lie upon it. + +Leaving the house, I made my way by a path, which I had good reason to +know as well as any man living, in the direction of my old home. Like +the other house it was quite dark. Not a light shone from the windows, +though instinctively I turned towards those of the dining-room where my +father had been wont to sit, half expecting to see one there. For my own +part I did not know whether there was anyone still living in the house. +My father was dead, I was cut off from the society of the living, Betty +might be dead, too, for all I knew to the contrary. Repressing a groan, +I turned my horse's head and set off through the scrub in the direction +Sheilah had advised me to follow. + +By the time the sun rose next morning I had put upwards of thirty miles +between myself and Barranda township. I had travelled as quickly as +possible in order that I might have more time to lay by later on, for I +was determined to push on at night and to camp during the day. I had two +reasons for this decision. In the first place, I wanted to give my beard +a chance of growing, in order that my appearance might be altered as +much as possible, and in the second, because I knew that in a district +where I was so well known the chances would be a thousand to one that +someone would recognise me in the daylight, and thus lead up to my +recapture. For the first two or three days, however, complete success +crowned my efforts. I was fortunate enough to be able to make my way +across country each night without attracting attention. But a serious +fright was saving up for me. + +On the third day after I had said good-bye to Sheilah and Barranda +township, I found myself leaving the Mallee scrub and entering more open +country. Here I did not like to attract attention by camping during the +day. Accordingly I made up my mind to risk meeting anyone who might know +me, and, saddling my horse, started down the track. It was a warm +morning, and seeing the amount of work that still lay before him, I did +not push my horse too hard. I therefore jogged easily along, smoking my +pipe, and thinking of Sheilah, my pretty wife, and of the old life I had +left behind me. For upwards of an hour I had been following a faint +track, which was now fast developing into a well-defined road. A little +later I heard behind me the sound of a couple of horses coming along at +a slow, swinging canter. For the reason that I was only travelling at a +walk they soon caught me up, when I discovered that the new-comer was a +smart, active, fresh-complexioned young fellow, obviously an Englishman, +mounted on a neat bay and leading a clever-looking grey pack-horse +beside him. + +'Good morning,' he said, as he drew up alongside me. 'Pretty warm, ain't +it? Travelling far?' + +In case I should be questioned I had already decided upon the sort of +answer I would return. + +'I'm thinking of turning off after the next township,' I said, 'and +following the river down till I strike the track for Bourke.' Then +reflecting that if he were an experienced bushman he would find +something wrong in this, I hastened to add, 'I should have gone in +higher up, I know, and followed the coach road along the foot of the +Ranges, but they say the country thereabouts is all burnt up and +travelling is next door to an impossibility.' + +'That is so,' he answered. 'I've come over the border myself, and had a +pretty rough time of it out towards the Warrego. Are you droving?' + +'Going down for a mob to take out to the Diamintina,' I answered. 'One +of Blake & Furley's of Callington Plains.' + +He shook his head. + +'I don't know them,' he said. 'I'm next door to a new chum myself; been +out on the Balloo best part of three years. Now, however, I'm going to +take a jolly good holiday.' + +For an hour or so we jogged on side by side, talking of horses, cattle, +sheep, and half a hundred other things. Then the township came into +view, and nothing would please my new friend but we must pull up at the +grog shanty and take a drink. I would have made an excuse and have said +good-bye to him, but he would not hear of such a thing. Accordingly, +very loth, but unable to persist in my refusal for fear of exciting his +suspicions, I consented and we pulled up at the Drover's Arms, as the +shanty was called, and having made our horses fast to the rail outside, +went in to the bar. There were two or three other men of the usual bar +loafer stamp present at the time, and according to bush custom they were +invited to join us in our refreshment. To my horror, as we were +satisfying their curiosity as to whence we had come and whither we were +going, and what the track was like further up, a police trooper entered +and called for a nobbler of whiskey. + +'How are you, Sergeant?' asked one of the loafers with well simulated +interest. 'Any news to-day of the man you're looking for?' + +The Sergeant shook his head. + +'Not yet,' he answered; 'but we'll nab him before long, never fear.' + +'Who are you looking for?' inquired my companion, with sudden interest. + +'For Jim Heggarstone,' replied the Sergeant; 'the man who got a lifer +for being mixed up with Whispering Pete in that murder case out Barranda +way in Queensland. He escaped on his way to gaol, and we were told to +look out for him in this direction, as it is supposed he is making +south.' + +My heart seemed to stand still for a moment as he turned round and ran +his eye over me. I felt that I must make some remark, but what to say +that would avert suspicion I could not for the very life of me think. +At last I found my voice. + +'What is he like--this, what's his name--Heggarfield?' I inquired, as +coolly as I knew how. + +The Sergeant glanced at me again as he answered,-- + +'Oh, a decent-sized sort of fellow. About your height, or a little +taller, I should say.' + +To my intense relief I was not permitted to monopolize the great man's +attention for very long, as one of the loafers was desirous of learning +what punishment the criminal would be likely to receive when he was +captured and taken back to gaol. + +'A year in irons, most likely,' I heard the Sergeant answer as I paid +for the drinks and, lighting my pipe, sauntered out into the verandah, +feeling ready to drop in my anxiety to be out of the township once more. +As soon as my companion was ready, which seemed to me an eternity, we +mounted our horses, and waving our adieux to the loafers in the bar, set +off down the street, and in something less than a quarter-of-an-hour +were clear of the houses and bidding each other good-bye at the spot +where the three cross roads branched off. Two days later I joined a mob +of fat cattle _en route_ to Bourke, with whom I kept company until I +reached the town. Then having sold my horse, saddle and bridle to the +drover in charge, I found the railway station, purchased a ticket for +Sydney, and placing myself on board the train was next day landed safe +and sound in the capital. To make my way thence to Newcastle was a +matter of small difficulty. + +Once there, I hastened to seek out the address written on the paper +Sheilah had given me. It was a nice house in a fashionable locality, and +when I inquired for Captain Blake of the _Amber Crown_ steamer, and gave +my name as George Brown, I was told by the maid servant to walk in. + +It appeared that old McLeod had once done a signal service for my new +friend, which the latter had never forgotten. For this reason he was +only too glad to have an opportunity of repaying his benefactor. Whether +or not he knew who I was I cannot say; at any rate he said nothing to me +on the subject. When I said good-bye to him I went straight off and +boarded the _Amber Crown_, then lying in the harbour. The following +morning I wrote to Sheilah, and during the afternoon we weighed anchor; +by nightfall Australia lay beneath the horizon behind us. I was free!!! + +Of the voyage across the Pacific there is nothing to tell. On arrival at +Valparaiso I had an interview with Captain Blake in his private cabin. + +'Mr Brown,' said he, for, as I have said, that was the name I was +travelling under, 'having landed you here, I have carried out half of my +contract. Now I must fulfil the other half.' + +As he spoke he handed me a canvas bag containing the three hundred +pounds in English gold Sheilah had told me to expect. I thanked him for +his kindness to me during the voyage, signed the receipt for Mr McLeod, +and then went ashore. The same night I sailed aboard an island schooner +bound for Tahiti, the capital of the Friendly Group, where I entered the +employ of the firm for whom I am now trading here on Vakalavi. + +Now, my friends, you know my curious story, and there remain but three +things to tell. The One-eyed Doctor was discovered at last by Sheilah, +after a tedious hunt, dying of consumption in a Melbourne slum. She +nursed him, and in a moment of gratitude, with the hand of death +clutching at his throat, he gave her, in the presence of a magistrate, a +full and complete confession of the murder of Jarman by Whispering Pete, +stating that, beyond burying the body, I had nothing whatsoever to do +with it. So my innocence was established, and I was cleared before the +whole world. That is the first thing. Now for the next. Your schooner +to-day brought me a letter from my wife, in which she tells me that she +is coming to join me by the next boat. God bless her! Her father, who is +tired of Barranda, is accompanying her. That is the second! The third is +that by my father's death, so the lawyers and bankers tell me, I am a +rich man. This being so, I shall send in my resignation to the firm, +move across to Apia, and once there, set about building a big house on +the mountain side overlooking the bay. In that lovely spot, for I shall +never go back to Australia now, I shall hope to begin a new life, with +Sheilah for my sweet companion. There is one point, doubtless, upon +which you will agree with me, and that is, try how I will, I shall +never be able to make up to her for her confidence and love during the +bitterest period of my life. But I'll try, God helping me, I'll +try!--you may be sure of that. + +And now you know why I say that I believe in and reverence the name of +woman. God bless the sex, and, above all, the girl, now my wife, who was +once SHEILAH MCLEOD! + + +_Colston & Coy. Limited, Printers, Edinburgh._ + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41269 *** |