ent sentimentality of a good mother's
pink-cheeked cub of nineteen. Has it occurred to you that I have run a
very great risk in being seen for five minutes in your company? Your name
is Done, and you made the name rather familiar along Forest Creek; we are
alike, as you have noted, and although Richard Done, the escaped convict,
is not much thought of at this date, it is certain that hearing your name
awakened recollection amongst the old Vandemonians in the police here,
and they have probably run the rule over you more than once. If I were to
join with you, they'd clap the darbies on me within a week.'

Jim spread his hands in a gesture of despair. 'I have been mistaken for
Solo once; that risk must always follow you,' he said.

'I am prepared; but the Government shall never pay their thousand pounds
for a live man. I appear as little as possible in the diggings in this
guise, however. You did not know me as the chief performer in that little
comedy with Brigalow on Diamond Gully. You did not recognise me in the
dark man who talked with you and Burton while the madcap from Kyley's was
leading the troopers a merry dance along the lead. By the way, I admire
your taste in women, Jim. She's a fine, unshamed barbarian, this Aurora.'

The subject was distasteful to Jim. He put it aside hastily. 'If I worked
with you in this scheme for disposing of the gold you would run the same
risk,' he said.

'No; I need not appear in the matter. The field I speak of, which is
probably very rich in itself, is so situated that we might work it for a
year without being discovered. Meanwhile, by making frequent trips to
Ballarat and Bendigo, you could sell a great deal of my gold along with
such as we may earn. Then I should sail for England, taking with me as
much gold as I could safely handle, leaving you to sell more, and
eventually join me with the remainder. In this way we can, if we choose,
rid ourselves of three hundred thousand pounds' worth without attracting
any particular attention.'

'You reckoned on finding me greedy for gold.'

'I reckoned more on finding you willing to seize an opportunity of
exacting from society some return for death, torture, and infamy!'

'There was a time when you might have prevailed.'

'That time may come again. It needs only a new grievance--the law to
bruise you, the women to betray.'

Jim shook his head. He felt the disc of Lucy's locket pressing against
his breast under his folded arms. 'I