be married at
Christmas and go over to Tasmania or New Zealand, when this terrible
blow fell upon us like a shell. I did see one explode at a review in
Melbourne--and, my word! what a scatteration it made.

Well, we had to let Kate and Jeanie know the best way we could that our
business required us to leave Melbourne at once, and that we shouldn't
be back till after Christmas, if then.

It was terrible hard work to make out any kind of a story that would
do. Kate questioned and cross-questioned me about the particular kind
of business that called us away like a lawyer (I've seen plenty of that
since) until at last I was obliged to get a bit cross and refuse to
answer any more questions.

Jeanie took it easier, and was that down-hearted and miserable at
parting with Jim that she hadn't the heart to ask any questions of any
one, and Jim looked about as dismal as she did. They sat with their
hands in each other's till it was nearly twelve o'clock, when the
old mother came and carried the girls off to bed. We had to start at
daylight next morning; but we made up our minds to leave them a hundred
pounds apiece to keep for us until we came back, and promised if we were
alive to be at St. Kilda next January, which they had to be contented
with.

Jeanie did not want to take the money; but Jim said he'd very likely
lose it, and so persuaded her.

We were miserable and low-spirited enough ourselves at the idea of going
away all in a hurry. We had come to like Melbourne, and had bit by
bit cheated ourselves into thinking that we might live comfortably and
settle down in Victoria, out of reach of our enemies, and perhaps live
and die unsuspected.

From this dream we were roused up by the confounded advertisement.
Detectives and constables would be seen to be pretty thick in all the
colonies, and we could not reasonably expect not to be taken some time
or other, most likely before another week.

We thought it over and over again, in every way. The more we thought
over it the more dangerous it seemed to stop in Melbourne. There was
only one thing for it, that was to go straight out of the country. The
Gippsland men were the only bushmen we knew at all well, and perhaps
that door might shut soon.

So we paid our bill. They thought us a pair of quiet, respectable chaps
at that hotel, and never would believe otherwise. People may say what
they like, but it's a great thing to have some friends that can say of
you--

'Well, I