re."

'"In case you never see me afterwards," I said, "we'd better say
good-bye. We've been good mates and true friends, haven't we?"

'"Never better," he said. "I don't know what we shall do without you.
But, of course, you're not going very far?"

'"Good-bye, in case," I said. "Anyhow, I'll write you a line," and as I
shook hands with them--two regular trumps, if ever there were any in the
world--I had a kind of notion I'd never see them again. Hardly think I
shall, either. Sir Ferdinand surrounded the hut about an hour later, and
made them come out one by one--both of them and the wages man. I daresay
they were surprised.

'"Where's the fourth man, Clifford?" says Sir Ferdinand. "Just ask him
to come out, will you?"

'"What, Frank Haughton?" says he.

'I heard most of this from that young devil, Billy the Boy. He saw Sir
Ferdinand ride up, so he hid close by, just for the fun of hearing how
he got on. He'd seen Warrigal and me ride away.

'"Frank Devil!" bangs out Sir Ferdinand, who'd begun to get his monkey
up. "How should I know his infernal purser's name? No man, it seems
to me, has his right name on this confounded goldfield. I mean
Starlight--Starlight the cattle stealer, the mail robber, the
bush-ranger, whose name is notorious over the three colonies, and New
Zealand to boot--your intimate friend and partner for the last nine
months!"

'"You perfectly amaze me," says Clifford. "But can't you be mistaken? Is
your information to be depended upon?"

'"Mine came from a jealous woman," says Sir Ferdinand. "They may
generally be depended upon for a straight tip. But we're losing time.
When did he leave the claim, and which way did he go?"

'"I have no idea which way he went," says Clifford. "He did not say, but
he left about an hour since."

'"On foot or on horseback?"

'"On horseback."

'"Any one with him?"

'"Yes, another horseman."

'"What was he like?"

'"Slight, dark man, youngish, good-looking."

'"Warrigal the half-caste! By George! warrants out for him also," says
Sir Ferdinand. "On a good horse, of course, with an hour's start. We may
give up the idea of catching him this time. Follow him up as a matter of
form. Good-bye, Clifford. You'll hear news of your friend before long,
or I'm much mistaken."

'"Stop, Sir Ferdinand, you must pardon me; but I don't exactly
understand your tone. The man that we knew by the name of Frank Haughton
may be, as you say, an escaped criminal. All I kno