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diff --git a/41269.txt b/41269.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 9345786..0000000 --- a/41269.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7204 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, Sheilah McLeod, by Guy Boothby - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - - - - -Title: Sheilah McLeod - A Heroine of the Back Blocks - - -Author: Guy Boothby - - - -Release Date: November 3, 2012 [eBook #41269] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SHEILAH MCLEOD*** - - -E-text prepared by D Alexander, Martin Pettit, and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made -available by Internet Archive (http://archive.org) - - - -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 L100? 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 dais 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 dais, 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. 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