e cattle
to start you on a new run after a bit.'

'If we could throw our past behind us, I'd do it, and thank God on my
knees,' said Starlight. 'It would make me almost a happy man again. But
why think of that or any other honest life in this colony now? We've
debarred ourselves from it now and for ever. Our only hope is in another
land--America--if we can get away. We shan't be long here now; we're
both sick of this accursed work.'

'The sooner the better,' says George, taking his hand and giving it
a hearty grip. 'And, look here, you work your way quietly down to
Willaroon. That's my place, and I'll give you a line across to the
Queensland border. From there you can get over to Townsville, and it's
easy to sail from there to the islands or any port out of reach of harm
from here.'

'We'll tackle it next month if we're alive,' says I. So we parted.

Not long after this we got a letter from Jim. He'd heard all about the
way to do it from a man he'd met in Melbourne that had worked his way
down overland from the North. He said once you were there, or near
there, there was little or no chance of being interfered with. Jeanie
was always in a fright every day Jim went away lest he might be taken
and not let come back. So she was always keeping him up to the mark,
making him inquire here and look out there until he got a bit of
information which told him what he wanted.

This man that worked in the store with him was a fast sort of card,
who had been mate of a brig cruising all about and back to Sydney with
sandalwood, beche-de-mer, and what they call island trade.

Well, the captain of the craft, who was part owner, had settled in
his mind that he'd trade regular with San Francisco now, and touch at
Honolulu going and coming. He was to be back at Gladstone in about three
months, and then start for California straight away.

This was the very thing, just made to suit us all to pieces. If we could
make out to one of the Queensland northern ports it would be easy enough
to ship under different names. Once in America, we'd be in a new world,
and there'd be nothing to stop us from leading a new life.

Chapter 47

When we got the notion into our heads, we set to work to carry it out.
We didn't want to leave Aileen and mother behind. So it was settled that
I was to go over and see them, and try and persuade them to go down to
Melbourne and stop with Jeanie after Jim had started.

Then, if we all got safe over