y suddenly, and disappeared through
the doorway with suspicious alacrity.

Mr. Cumshaw laughed softly. "Weak stomach," he murmured. "Well,
someone's got to clear this old chap out, and, as it's certain to be me,
I might as well do it first as last."

At that he gathered the white, clean-picked bones up in his arms,
carried his burden through the doorway, and deposited it carefully on
the grass outside the hut. His eye lighted on Mr. Bradby, who was
sitting on the ground some distance away, looking very pale, and having
all the appearance of a man who had reluctantly parted with his lunch.

"What the deuce are you doing?" he asked in tones that betrayed a
certain amount of trepidation not unmixed with vague horror.

"Evicting the late tenant," Mr. Cumshaw grinned with cheerful
inconsequence.

"Why?"

There was more than a question in the quick monosyllable. It contained
also a hint of protest.

"Because we're going to camp inside the hut, and two's company and
three's more of a crowd than I like. This old chap can stop out here for
the night; I don't suppose he'll mind it much. If he's gone to the Abode
of the Blessed he'll be above worrying over such mundane matters, and if
he's anywhere else he'll be too much occupied to do anything but attend
to the burnt spots."

"You shouldn't speak like that of the dead," Bradby said solemnly. "It's
not right."

"If we stopped to consider whether a thing was right or wrong before we
did it," Cumshaw retorted, "you and I wouldn't be here this evening. If
you're wise, you'll leave all that talk till morning. The shadows are
closing in, and we'll have the night on us before we know where we are.
I'd suggest that we catch the horses while the light's still good. You
must remember they've got those saddle-bags on them still. Of course,
there's just enough food to make a meal for a pair of small-sized
tom-cats, but I fancy we'll manage on it till morning. Who knows what we
may find then? Perhaps a kangaroo, or at the worst a native-bear."

Bradby rose reluctantly to his feet, and, with a nervous glance at the
remains of the unknown, followed his partner in crime. The horses had
not strayed far; they were busily cropping the grass, and seemed quite
content with their lot. The two men unloaded the saddle-bags and carried
the contents into the hut. Then they hobbled the horses and turned them
loose for the night.

The shadows were gathering in by this, and already the trees we