Somerset, and there await a steamer bound for either London
or Hongkong. At that place, where the steamers only remained for an hour
or two, they would attract no more than the casual notice taken of lucky
diggers; at Townsville or Port Denison they might be recognised. Already
they had nearly a thousand ounces of gold between them--some little
of it honestly earned from their own claim at Hansen's, but most of it
gained by robbery; and with the two thousand pounds' worth that they
knew were in Gerrard's possession, they calculated that they might leave
the hardships of mining life, and enjoy themselves for a considerable
time in England or America--without, however, the society of "Snaky"
Swires, who had left them at Cooktown, fearful of being arrested in
connection with the robbery on the _Gambier_.

CHAPTER XXX

"What a lovely spot!" thought Gerrard, as he caught sight of the Rocky
Waterholes, whose calm, placid surfaces were gleaming like burnished
silver under the rays of the sinking sun.

It was indeed a beautiful scene, for the five pools were surrounded by
noble Leichhardt and wattle trees, the latter all in the full glory of
their golden flowers, the sweet perfume of which scented the air for
miles around. Close in to the bank of the largest pool were a number of
teal feeding on the green weed, and chasing each other over the shining
water. As they caught sight of the intruders, they rose with a whir
and disappeared, followed a few seconds later by a pair of snow-white
cranes, which, however, merely flew noiselessly upward, and settled on
the branches of a Leichhardt.

The day had been intensely hot, and now, as the sun sank, there was
presage of a thunderstorm, and Gerrard and Tommy quickly unsaddled,
hobbled, and turned out the horses to feed upon the thick buffalo grass
that grew in profusion around the bases of the vine-clad rocks which
overlooked the pools. Then they hurriedly collected some dead wood for
their camp fire, and threw it, together with their saddles, blankets,
etc., under an overhanging ledge which would afford them complete
shelter from the coming downpour.

A fire was soon lit, and whilst Tommy attended to making the tea, his
master unrolled his own blanket and spread it out; then, from mere force
of habit, he took his revolver from his saddle and strapped it to his
belt, placed his Winchester and Tommy's Snider against the side of the
rock, where they would be within easy reach