d said
with a pleasant drawl, as he stroked his beard:

"Run away and play, Mr--er--Mr--I really forget your name. Oh, Merriton,
is it not?"

Forreste's face purpled with passion, and he took a step nearer to
Gerrard, who was quite ready for him. Then he stopped and said hoarsely:

"My name is Forreste. I don't know yours, but I do know that if I catch
you on shore I'll add some further adornment to your face."

"Oh, you contemptible creature, to say that!" and Kate looked at him
with blazing eyes.

Forreste raised his immaculate Panama to her. "This is hardly a matter
for a lady's interference."

"Better see to your friend for the present," said Gerrard in the same
placidly pleasant manner, as he drew him aside. "But I may mention
before you go that there is, on the lower deck, ample space if you wish
to fulfil your promise to complete the adornment of my prepossessing
features. I am quite at your service later on in the day."

Forreste uttered an oath and turned away, and in a few minutes was in
state-room No. 16, where "Mr Capel" was being brought to by his friends.

"Who is the man that did it, Barney?" was Forreste's first question.

"I didn't know him at first, but knew him quick enough when I heard him
speak," replied Capel; "he's the ------ judge"--here he broke out into a
torrent of blasphemy--"who gave me two years at Araluen."

"Ha!" and Forreste tugged his moustache. "The sooner we get that safe
affair over the better. The fellow with the scarred face who is with him
tackled me and called me 'Merriton.' Some one has blown upon us."

"Yes," assented the Jew, "the sooner the better." Then pouring out a
glass of whisky he gulped it down. "And if I get the chance I'll get
even with that Scotch swine. He's going to Somerset, and I'll get my
knife into him some day. I'd not mind swinging for it."

"Don't talk rot," said Forreste, who yet knew that the Jew was a man who
would not hesitate at murder, and that his expression about getting his
knife into Fraser was meant in a very literal sense. "I mean to get even
with my man if I come across him again. But I won't be such a fool as to
attempt it here. Take a look outside and see if Snaky is about."

"Snaky" was the name by which Swires was known to the gang--and the
Australian police; and in a few minutes that worthy appeared, and a
further conference was held.

That evening, whilst Captain MacAlister was being entertained on shore,
a collier came al