about it. But you will now. My turn's come.'

'I didn't do it to you more than to the rest. I had to keep order in the
gaol, and devilish hard work it was.'

'You're a liar,' says Moran, striking him across the face with his
clenched hand. 'You had a down on me because I wouldn't knuckle down
to you like some of them, and so you dropped it on to me every turn you
could get. I was a youngster then, and might have grown into a man if
I'd been let. But fellows like you are enough to turn any man into a
devil if they've got him in their power.'

'Well, I'm in your power now,' says he. 'Let's see how you'll shape.'

'I don't like ye any the worse for being cheeky,' says Moran, 'and
standing up to me, but it's too late. The last punishment I got, when
I was kept in irons night and day for a month because I'd tried to get
out, I swore I'd have your life if ever I came across ye.'

'You'll never shoot me in cold blood,' says the poor devil, beginning to
look blue about the lips.

'I don't know what old Ben's going to do with the man he found chevying
his daughter,' says Moran, looking at him with his deadly black-snake
eyes, 'but I'm a-goin' to shoot you as soon as I've smoked out this
pipe, so don't you make any mistake.'

'I don't mind a shot or two,' says Daly, 'but I'm dashed if I can stand
by and see men killed in cold blood. You coves have your own reasons, I
suppose, but I shall hook it over to the Fish River. You know where to
find me.' And he walked away to where the horses were and rode off.

. . . . .

We got fresh horses and rode over quick to Rocky Flat. We took Warrigal
with us, and followed our old track across Nulla Mountain till we got
within a couple of miles of the place. Warrigal picked up the old mare's
tracks, so we knew father had made over that way, and there was no call
for us to lose time running his trail any longer. Better go straight on
to the house and find out what had happened there. We sent Warrigal on
ahead, and waited with our horses in our hands till he come back to us.

In about an hour he comes tearing back, with his eyes staring out of his
head.

'I bin see old missis,' he says. 'She yabber that one make-believe
constable bin there. Gammon-like it surveyor, and bimeby old man Ben
gon' alonga hut, and that one pleeceman fire at him and all about, and
him break back alonga gully.'

'Any of 'em come back?' says Jim.

'Bale! me see um tent-dog tied up. Cake alonga f