ay.

I was sorry for it when I came to think. I daresay I might have got him
round with a little patience and humbugging. It's always a mistake to
lose your temper and make enemies; there's no knowing what harm they may
do ye. People like us oughtn't to throw away a chance, even with a chap
like Warrigal. Besides, I knew it would vex Starlight, and for his sake
I would have given a trifle it hadn't happened. However, I didn't see
how Warrigal could do me or Jim any harm without hurting him, and I knew
he'd have cut off his hand rather than any harm should come to Starlight
that he could help.

So I got ready. Dad and I had our tea together pretty comfortable, and
had a longish talk. The old man was rather down in the mouth for him.
He said he somehow didn't expect the fakement to turn out well. 'You're
going away,' he said, 'from where you're safe, and there's a many things
goes against a man in our line, once he's away from his own beat. You
never know how you may be given away. The Captain's all right here, when
he's me to look after him, though he does swear at me sometimes; but he
was took last time. He was out on his own hook, and it's my belief he'll
be took this time if he isn't very careful. He's a good man to fight
through things when once he's in the thick of 'em, but he ain't careful
enough to keep dark and close when the play isn't good. You draw along
steady by yourself till you meet Jim--that's my advice to ye.'

'I mean to do that. I shall work my way down to old George's place, and
get on with stock or something till we all meet at Cunnamulla. After
that there ain't much chance of these police here grabbing us.'

'Unless you're followed up,' says the old man. 'I've known chaps to go
a deuce of a way, once they got on the track, and there's getting some
smart fellows among 'em now--native-born chaps as'll be as good at
picking up the tracks as you and Jim.'

'Well, we must take our chance. I'm sorry, for one thing, that I had
that barney with Warrigal. It was all his fault. But I had to give him
a hardish crack or two. He'd turn dog on me and Jim, and in a minute, if
he saw his way without hurting Starlight.'

'He can't do it,' says dad; 'it's sink or swim with the lot of you.
And he dursn't either, not he,' says father, beginning to growl out his
words. 'If I ever heard he'd given away any one in the lot I'd have his
life, if I had to poleaxe him in George Street. He knows me too.'

We sat yarning