realize how all night through he had tended her, putting aside every other consideration, giving no heed to the aff

ng as for life to fight the worst foe a squatter has to face in times of drought. He knew that if the fire spread, it might mean his ruin. As it was, he rushed up to the Quarters to rouse Ninnis and send him with Moongarr Bill and al

thoughts the while. Every now and then, he would creep on tip-toe to the veranda railings and gaze out upon the lurid smoke which it seemed to him was thickening over the horizon. When the sun was risen he washed and dressed and went up to the Bache

rpose to see the Boss, because his tale was impossible to write. Then he told his own version of the capture a

ap has got the whole constabulary lay-out at his finger ends-besides having the ear of the Governor and the Executive down in L

g to do with us,' pu

her Ladyship's, I under

t got to do with Wombo?

ew in his

his bedroom that night, and, being a close friend of her Ladyship's, he was no doubt aware that she didn't relish the notion of Wombo's being

gin Oola could easily have stolen the key-they're cunning as the devil-half-castes-and as treacherous-I

ay what I know, and you c

to hear. But be quick about it, man,

for no apparent reason, all seeming quiet around, he had got up as he was, half dressed and in his boots-had stepped across to the hide-house, had found the padlock intact and, hearing no sound, had concluded the black-boy was inside safe asleep. How then, with a relieved mind, he had been going back to his stretcher, when the noise of a goat bleating had set him on the look-out from his veranda. How, presently, looking at the veranda opp

Who was it

Lady Bridget

m struck out and McKeith's hand clut

kunk! Take back that lie, or I

ault. He freed himself by a dexterous duck of his head, and a sharp shake of his bod

d from their full sockets. But he was wary, an

e finish what I was going to say, I'll show you the proof that I'm not tell

ll you,' McKeith snarled, his tee

means that this Wombo business will have to be reported, and if you can help me to the right

aid nothing. His brows puckered, and he stiffened himself a

f that room,' he jerked his thumb along the veranda. 'The moon was right on her just then. I saw her give a shiver-she'd been out in the w

re on the veranda over there, you co

soms 'If you try yourself from there, you'll find you can look slick through to the front garden. That's where I saw Maule step out of-I guessed he'd come round by the back of the Old Humpey. I guessed too, he thought she oughtn't to be sitting out there in

t to touch of him, came from McKeith. Again he stiffened himself; his lips hard pressed;

o make sure, if I could, where the key of the hide-house might be. There was a candle left alight, and I saw the key right enough on the chest of drawers beside Maule's watch and chain. It n

af torn out of Maule's notebook, folded and addressed. He opened it out, and laid it on the

tained his difficu

at had been left in another person's roo

ustn't let any clue to mischief escape him. How was I to know that there wasn't some plot to cheat the law? How do I know that there wasn't? That's wh

r carried it to the window, where he stood with his back to H

rfectly intelligible to Willoughby Maule, conveyed little to him beyond the fact of a secret understanding between his wife and a man whom he knew had once been her lover. That idea drove every other into the background of his thoughts. He did not care in the least how Wombo had escaped. It seemed clear to him that Oola had stolen the key after Harris had gone back to his room, while Maule and his wife were together-together in Lady Bridget's own chamber. The blood surged to his brain, and his temples throbb

termination not to betray himself or her. It beat upon him with insistent force. Though his goddess must be dethrone

ed nonchalance that bordered on insolence. 'Can you

fice table. McKeith's eyes blazed, his taut sinews quivered; his face was now quite pallid, and the hand in which he held t

d. His eyelids dropped, and when he lifted th

o his usual

Harris?' he said, and Harr

ly satisfactory, thank you.... I'm only amused-as you see... to find that I was qu

aning.' Harris' manner wa

the muscles of his throat showed under his beard, working, as it were, automatically. It really seemed as if the man's mechanical merriment were no part o

h an air of iro

You aren't subtle enough for it. You jump too quickly at conclusions which have

you who are-well, damned queer about this affair. I'm sure I don't know what you've got to laugh at.

e leaned forward, facing Harris with his hands on the paper which he

was asleep, and let Wombo out when YOU were asleep-a longer time perhaps than you imagined, Harris. The black-boy made for the scrub, and I suppose they were in too great a hurry to think of shutting the door. Oola sneaked b

rce the last words f

s quite simp

r ladyship when she might have sneaked back with the key to the place she took it from. And then there's all the rest-the putting the

uring to square probabilities.

t your details for yourself. I've my own bus

, deliberately put it in his breast pocket

s important-for my

temper b

o and find them for yourself if you choose. You have no warrant, remember. No, I'm not going to be bothered an

ship....' spl

her that night, and if she had to be carried to her room in a fit of shaking, what business is that of yours? Understand me, Harris. Don't you go

d to do my duty,' protested the Police In

protecting the sheep-owners against the Unionists. And I might remind you, as I reminded that damned Organiser who's fired my ru

g out by the further door of the of

rt to help in getting the bush fire under. You can arrest that Organiser if you are keen on arresting

at with his arms folded across his chest. His shoulders heaved. Deep dry sobs shook his huge frame. He would not let a groan escape from between his clenched teeth, but there was blood on his lower lip where

k. He drew two deep breaths, braced himself, wiped the blood from his lip, put on the s