and knowed it would, through Starlight's
cussed flashness and carryin's on in fine company. If he'd cleared out
and made for the Islands as I warned him to do, and he settled to, or as
good, afore he left us that day at the camp, he'd been safe in some o'
them 'Merikin places he was always gassin' about, and all this wouldn't
'a happened.'

'He couldn't help that,' says Jim; 'he thought they'd never know him
from any other swell in Canterbury or wherever he was. He's been took in
like many another man. What I look at is this: he won't squeak. How are
they to find out that we had any hand in it?'

'That's what I'm dubersome about,' says father, lightin' his pipe again.
'Nobody down there got much of a look at me, and I let my beard grow on
the road and shaved clean soon's I got back, same as I always do. Now
the thing is, does any one know that you boys was in the fakement?'

'Nobody's likely to know but him and Warrigal. The knockabouts and those
other three chaps won't come it on us for their own sakes. We may as
well stop here till Christmas is over and then make down to the Barwon,
or somewhere thereabouts. We could take a long job at droving till the
derry's off a bit.'

'If you'll be said by me,' the old man growls out, 'you'll make tracks
for the Hollow afore daylight and keep dark till we hear how the play
goes. I know Starlight's as close as a spring-lock; but that chap
Warrigal don't cotton to either of you, and he's likely to give you away
if he's pinched himself--that's my notion of him.'

'Starlight 'll keep him from doing that,' Jim says; 'the boy 'll do
nothing his master don't agree to, and he'd break his neck if he found
him out in any dog's trick like that.'

'Starlight and he ain't in the same cell, you take your oath. I don't
trust no man except him. I'll be off now, and if you'll take a fool's
advice, though he is your father, you'll go too; we can be there by
daylight.'

Jim and I looked at each other.

'We promised to stay Chris'mas with mother and Aileen,' says he, 'and if
all the devils in hell tried to stop us, I wouldn't break my word. But
we'll come to the Hollow on Boxing Day, won't we, Dick?'

'All right! It's only two or three days. The day after to-morrow's
Chris'mas Eve. We'll chance that, as it's gone so far.'

'Take your own way,' growls father. 'Fetch me my saddle. The old mare's
close by the yard.'

Jim fetches the saddle and bridle, and Crib comes after him, out of the