e
told me as much. He said he and his directors were satisfied no one
could solve the riddle as you could, and head-quarters had been asked
not to put anyone else in charge, but to leave you with an absolutely
free hand."

"It is very good of them," Durham said. "But still--look at the chance
it has given the thieves to get away with the gold."

"They haven't gone, sir," Brennan said quietly.

"How do you know?"

"One of them was seen only last night," Brennan continued in a low tone.
"He was seen on the Taloona road, riding the white horse. That is what
puzzles me. How does he hide that horse? It's never been seen in any of
the paddocks for miles round, for everyone is on the watch for it. And a
man can't hide a white horse in a hollow log--it must run somewhere some
time."

"Where is Mrs. Eustace?"

"She's at Smart's cottage. She came in from Taloona yesterday. That's
what makes it strange, to my mind, this white horse and rider being seen
on the Taloona road the day she leaves the place."

"Where are the troopers--Conlon and his mate?"

"Went away three days ago, sir, on orders from head-quarters."

"And Mr. Dudgeon?"

"Oh, he's still at Taloona. They say he's pretty well right again,
except that he limps with a stick."

"I suppose his gold was taken?"

"Every atom of it, sir. We found the spot where it had been dug up under
the ashes of the house. But that doesn't seem to trouble him very much.
All he wants is to have the men who stuck up the place caught and
hanged."

"How did Mrs. Eustace come in?"

"Mr. Gale drove her in, sir. He's been to and fro most every day."

"But he didn't meet the man on the white horse?"

"Yes, sir. It was Mr. Gale who brought me word of it. He said he thought
it must be Eustace, and asked if he would be justified in shooting him
if he met him face to face. Mr. Harding asked the same thing."

"Of course, you told them no."

"Well, sir, to tell you the truth, I said it might be the best thing for
Mrs. Eustace, seeing what the conviction of her husband meant for her,
but that it might mean a charge of murder if it were done."

Durham sat silent for a time.

"Come out for me to-morrow, will you, Brennan?" he said presently. "I
can't wait for the doctor. This has got to be dealt with promptly,
unless we are to lose the game."

When Brennan had gone, Durham sat on the verandah alone. Now that he had
taken hold of the case again, all the fascination his work had for