s clever as he is, and might learn
something useful too. So that's how the matter lies at present. Are you
going to be jealous?'

'Not a bit in the world,' I said, 'even if I had the right. I'll back
you two, as simple as you look, against any inspector of police from
here to South Australia.'

After this we began to talk about other things, and I told Gracey all
about our plans and intentions. She listened very quiet and steady to it
all, and then she said she thought something might come of it. Anyhow,
she would go whenever I sent for her to come, no matter where.

'What I've said to you, Dick, I've said for good and all. It may be in a
month or two, or it may be years and years. But whenever the time comes,
and we have a chance, a reasonable chance, of living peaceably and
happily, you may depend upon my keeping my word if I'm alive.'

We three had a little more talk together, and Aileen and I mounted and
rode home.

It was getting on dusk when we started. They wanted us to stop, but I
daren't do it. It was none too safe as it was, and it didn't do to throw
a chance away. Besides, I didn't want to be seen hanging about George's
place. There was nobody likely to know about Aileen and me riding up
together and stopping half-an-hour; but if it came to spending the
evening, there was no saying who might have ears and eyes open. At home
I could have my horse ready at a minute's warning, and be off like a
shot at the first whisper of danger.

So off we went. We didn't ride very fast back. It was many a day since
we had ridden over that ground together side by side. It might be many
a day, years perhaps, before we did the same thing again. Perhaps never!
Who was to know? In the risks of a life like mine, I might never come
back--never set eyes again upon the sister that would have given her
life for mine! Never watch the stars glitter through the forest-oak
branches, or hear the little creek ripple over the slate bar as it did
to-night.

Chapter 48

We rode along the old track very quiet, talking about old times--or
mostly saying nothing, thinking our own thoughts. Something seemed to
put it into my head to watch every turn in the track--every tree and
bush by the roadside--every sound in the air--every star in the sky.
Aileen rode along at last with her head drooped down as if she hadn't
the heart to hold it up. How hard it must have seemed to her to think
she didn't dare even to ride with her own broth