ree-fern, and eat and drink. There
was not a creature to harm him; no venomous reptile, no ravenous beast
dwelt in those vast sub-tropical forests; no poisonous miasma reeked
from the moist valleys below; in the evergreen trees countless pigeons
cooed, _kaka_ parrots and green paroquets screamed, and black
parson-birds sang. It was a picture of Nature in one of her most
peaceful and happy moods. Forgetful of the distractions which he had
left behind him, Jack's mind had turned to the contemplation of the
bright prospects which lay before him, when his reverie was broken by
the sound of voices and the noise of horses' hoofs; and round a bend of
the track, slowly ascending the uncertain gradient, appeared the
gold-escort.

Leading the cavalcade, rode a mounted constable dressed in a blue tunic,
with silver buttons, dun-coloured, corded riding-breeches, top-boots,
and a blue shako. His carbine was slung negligently, and he whistled as
he rode.

Behind him came Isaac Zahn, sitting loosely on his horse; a revolver
strapped in its case at his belt. He was followed by an unarmed mounted
man who led the pack-horse which carried the gold; and an armed digger,
who rode a white horse, brought up the rear.

The leading horse whinnied, and Jack's mare answered.

"Good morning," said the constable, reining up. "A beautiful day, sorr.
Have ye such a thing as a match wid you?"

Jack, who was smoking, handed a box of matches to the man, who lighted
his pipe. The whole cavalcade had come to a halt, and Zahn, who
pretended not to recognise Jack, sat on his horse, and scowled.

Scarlett's eyes involuntarily fixed themselves on the heavily-laden
pack-horse.

"I should advise you to keep your weather eye lifted, constable," he
said.

"Bedad, an' we'll attend to that," replied the Irishman, with a broad
smile. "The escort's as good as in Timber Town already. Thank you,
sorr." He handed back the matches. "Good morning t'you." And lightly
touching his horse with the spur, he passed on.

Disregarding Scarlett's nod of recognition, Zahn followed the leader,
without so much as a glance at the man whom he hated as his supposed
supplanter in the affections of the beautiful Jewess.

The pack-horse and its leader, a stoutly-built man, went heavily by, and
the rear-guard let his horse drink at the stream, but he was a man
filled with the importance of his office, and to Jack's greeting he
replied merely with a mechanical nod, as though he