ith a price on my head before. A thousand pounds too! Quite a
new sensation. It settles the question. And we'll enter Rainbow for
the handicap. He ought to be good enough for anything they're likely to
have.'

'Captain Starlight's Rainbow, 9 st. 8 lb.,' I said, 'with Dick Marston
to lead him up to the judge's box. How will that wash? And what are the
police going to be about all the time? Bella's gone out of her senses
about her marriage and thinks we are too.'

'You're a good fellow, Richard, and stanch, but you're like your
father--you haven't any imagination. I see half-a-dozen ways of doing
the whole thing. Besides, our honour's concerned. I never made a promise
yet, for good or for evil, that I didn't carry out, and some have cost
me dearly enough, God knows. Fancy running our horses and going to the
ball under the noses of the police--the idea is delicious!'

'I daresay you're about tired of your life,' I said. 'I'm pretty sure I
am; but why we should ride straight into the lion's mouth, to please
a silly girl, I can't see. I haven't over much sense, I know, or I
shouldn't be here; but I'm not such a dashed fool as all that comes to.'

'My mind is made up, Richard--I have decided irrevocably. Of course, you
needn't come, if you see objections; but I'll bet you my Dean and Adams
revolver and the Navy Colt against your repeating rifle that I do all
I've said, and clear out safe.'

'Done!' I said. 'I've no doubt you'll try; but you might as well try
to pull down the walls of Berrima Gaol with a hay-rake. You'll make Sir
Ferdinand's fortune, that's all. He always said he'd die happy if he
could only bag you and the Marstons. He'll be made Inspector-General of
Police.'

Starlight smiled in his queer, quiet way.

'If he doesn't rise to the top of the tree until he takes me--alive, I
mean--he'll die a sub-inspector. But we'd better sleep on it. This is an
enterprise of great pith and moment, and requires no end of thought. We
must get your sister to come over. That will crown all.'

'Good-night,' I said, rather hasty. 'We'd better turn the Hollow into
Tarban Creek, and advertise for boarders.'

Next morning I expected he'd think better of it--we'd had a glass or two
of grog; but no, he was more set on it than ever, and full of dodges
to work it to rights. He certainly was wonderful clever in all sorts of
ways when there was any devilment to be carried out. Half as much in
the straight way would have made a man