is was merely a broad-shouldered, well-built, well-groomed youth,
about twenty-three years of age; his face was square and rather stolid,
clean-shaven, brown-complexioned, with honest eyes and a firm-set
mouth. As he stood at the door he adopted the wooden expression that
a University man always wears in the presence of strangers. He said
nothing on being introduced to Pinnock; and when the globe-trotter came
up and claimed acquaintance, defining himself as "Gillespie of Balliol,"
the stranger said he didn't remember him, and regarded him with an
aspect of armed neutrality. After a sherry and bitters he thawed a
little, and the Bo'sun started to cross-examine him.

"Mr. Grant of Kuryong wired to me about you," he said. "I suppose you
came in the Carthaginia?"

"Yes," said the stranger, speaking in the regulation English University
voice, a little deeper than usual. "I left her at Adelaide. I'm out for
some bush experience, don't you know. I'll get you to tell me some place
to stop at till I leave, if you don't mind."

His manner was distinctly apologetic, and he seemed anxious to give as
little trouble as possible.

"Oh! you stop here," said the Bo'sun. "I'll have you made an honorary
member. They'll do you all right here."

"That's awfully good of you. Thanks very much indeed."

"Oh! not at all. You'll find the club not so bad, and a lot better than
where you're going with old Grant. He's a regular demon to make fellows
work. It's pretty rough on the stations sometimes."

"Ah! yes; awf'lly rough, I believe. Quite frightened me, what I heard of
it, don't you know. Still, I suppose one must expect to rough it a bit.
Eh, what!"

"Charlie Gordon will he here in a minute," said the Bo'sun. "He can tell
you all about it. Here he is now," he added, as the door swung open and
the long-waited-for guest entered the room.

The newcomer was unmistakably a man from Far Out; tall, wiry-framed, and
very dark, and so spare and lean of figure that he did not seem to
have an ounce of superfluous flesh anywhere. His face was as hard and
impassive as a Red Indian's, and looked almost black by contrast with
his white shirt-front. So did his hands. He had thin straight hair, high
cheek-bones, and a drooping black moustache. But the eyes were the most
remarkable feature. Very keen and piercing they were, deep-set in
the head; even when he was looking straight at anyone he seemed to be
peering into endless space through the man in f