rode
out upon the track in front of him young Bobby Murray. Here was the one
person in the district he would care to use, for he had ample assurance
of Bobby's admiration for him, and had, on his part, done many a good
turn for the youngster one way and another. He coo-eed and waved his
hand, and Bobby, looking round, turned his horse and rode to meet him.

"I was just riding in to have a yarn with you," he called out as he came
near. "I was hurrying to catch you before you started, for they said you
were off to the diggings before midday. I want to join your party, if
you'll have me."

"Want to join us, do you? Why, what's in the wind now?" Tony asked in
surprise.

"Oh, I don't know. I'm full of the selection, and they all say you're
going to strike it rich again, so I thought it was a good business to
join in with you, if you want another in the party."

"Well, we don't," Tony replied. "You see, we're broke as it is, and we
have to get even our stores on credit, and if we don't strike anything,
it will be enough for us to do to clear our own score. But if we have
another to help to eat the stores, they won't last us any longer, and
there'll be a bigger tally to settle."

"I'll pay my own share, and a bit over if need be," Bobby said quietly.

"You will?"

"Certainly. Why not? I don't want you to take me on as a loafer. I'll do
my share at the graft and bring in my share of the tucker and tools.
That's fair, isn't it?"

"It's fair enough for me," Tony answered. "And if the others don't
object, why, I suppose you can join the camp."

"They won't object," Bobby said quickly. "I told them last night, and
they said if I was a mate of yours, and you said so, I could join,
tucker or no tucker."

It put an end to the chance of having a friend in the enemy's camp to
report progress when he returned, and tell him whether his suspicions
were well or ill founded; for even if he did not agree to Bobby's
joining the camp, that would not prevent his leaving the district and
following them, while it would certainly put an end to any claims on
Bobby's kindly services. On the other hand, if Bobby came with them, he
might learn a lot about what was said around Birralong on the subject of
Ailleen and Dickson, and with that in his mind Tony gave his consent.
When they reached the township, they found that the others had
everything ready for a start, Bobby's share in the tools and the tucker
being made up with the others, as t