t matter that a drunken old Irishman was saved from arrest? He
would probably have contented himself with warning the old reprobate to
get home as quickly and as quietly as he could. But she did not know
that. All she could do was to think how to save her foolish servant from
the penalty of his folly--how like her that was, how like the great
warm-hearted noble creature she was! Pride in her, pride, love,
adoration, welled up in his heart. The yearning of his soul was
satisfied, the longing of his being set at rest.

Her love was his! In that knowledge all the contradictions of her
attitude became clear. She had only sought to hide the truth from him
lest he should think her too easily won. He laughed aloud as he
galloped.

Too easily?

No matter how great the sacrifice he had been called upon to make, it
would have ranked as nothing if, at the end of it, her open arms were
waiting to enfold him. But there was no sacrifice, no toll to be exacted
from him. Of her own initiative she had sounded the note which called
him to her and made her his. To-morrow he would ride out to her, not
alone to give her the pledge of his affections, but to carry to her the
tidings of his discovery. Although he had not yet recovered her papers,
he would be able to assure her that he would have them as soon as he
captured the man who stole them, the man who had murdered Eustace, the
Rider whose hiding-place he had discovered.

For there was no doubt in his mind about that capture. Once let the
gold be safely removed to the bank, he would return to the cave and wait
till, as he was certain would happen sooner or later, the Rider came for
his disguise.

Then Nora Burke should have her papers returned in safety, and he would
have won more than the promised five thousand pounds reward.

CHAPTER XVII

DUDGEON PROPOSES

For the first time since the outrage at Taloona, Dudgeon visited
Waroona.

He drove up to Soden's hotel in the old rackety buggy at a crawl, for
his horse had gone dead lame on the way. At the time he arrived Patsy
was making ineffectual attempts to mount his horse for the ride which
led to so dramatic a turning in Durham's romance, having just staggered
out of the bar highly indignant because Soden had refused to allow him
to have anything more to drink on the premises.

"Have you a horse I can borrow from you, Soden? My old crock has gone in
the off hind-leg and wants a rest. Can you let me have one to get bac