his time dinner was over. The waiters began to turn out the lights
on the vacant tables; and, as the party rose it was arranged nem. con.,
and with much enthusiasm, that Carew should accompany Gordon on his trip
to No Man's Land, and that Gordon should, by all means in his power, aid
and abet Carew in his search for Considine.

Then, all talking together, and somewhat loudly, they strutted into the
smoking-room.

CHAPTER III. IN PUSH SOCIETY.

The passing of the evening afterwards is the only true test of a
dinner's success. Many a good dinner, enlivened with wine and made
brilliant with repartee, has died out in gloom. The guests have all
said their best things during the meal, and nothing is left but to smoke
moodily and look at the clock. Our heroes were not of that mettle. They
meant to have some sort of fun, and the various amusements of Sydney
were canvassed. It was unanimously voted too hot for the theatres, ditto
for billiards. There were no supporters for a proposal to stop in
the smoking-room and drink, and gambling in the card-rooms had no
attractions on such a night. At last Gordon hit off a scent. "What do
you say," he drawled, "if we go and have a look at a dancing saloon--one
of these larrikin dancing saloons?"

"I'd like it awfully," said one Englishman.

"Most interesting" said the other. "I've heard such a lot about the
Australian larrikin. What they call a basher in England, isn't it? eh,
what? Sort of rough that lays for you with a pal and robs you, eh?"

The Bo'sun rang for cigars and liqueurs, and then answered the question.
"Pretty much the same as a basher," he said, "but with a lot more
science and dog-cunning about him. They go in gangs, and if you hit one
of the gang, all the rest will 'deal with you,' as they call it. If they
have to wait a year to get you, they'll wait, and get you alone some
night or other and set on to you. They jump on a man if they get him
down, too. Oh, they're regular beauties."

"Rather roughish sort of Johnnies, eh?" said the Englishman. "But we
might go and see the dancing--no harm in that."

Pinnock said he had to go back to his office; the globe-trotter didn't
care about going out at night; and the Bo'sun tried to laugh the
thing off. "You don't catch me going," he said. "There's nothing to be
seen--just a lot of flash young rowdies dancing. You'll gape at them,
and they'll gape at you, and you'll feel rather a pair of fools, and
you'll come awa