and then they'll come in."

"When is the wet season, then?"

"Oh, a couple of months, likely. Perhaps three months. Perhaps there
won't be none at all to speak of. What'll you have?"

"Oh, I have just had a drink, thanks. Fact is, I'm a bit anxious to get
out to this camp. It's a bit important. You don't know where they are
for certain?"

"Lord knows! Anywhere! Might be on one river, might be on another.
They'll come in in the wet season. Better have a drink, anyhow. You must
have something. What'll it be--square? Beer? Can't stand beer in this
climate, myself."

"Oh, well," said Hugh desperately, "I'll have another square. Make it a
light one. Do you think I can get anyone who knows where they are camped
to go out with me?"

"Tommy Prince'd know, I expect. He was out in that country before. But
he's gone with a bullock-team, drawing quartz to the new battery at the
Oriental. At least I saw him start out three weeks ago. Said he was in
a hurry, too, as the battery couldn't start until he got the quartz
hauled."

"Perhaps he didn't start," said Hugh; "perhaps he put it off till after
the wet season?"

"Well," said the storekeeper, meditatively, "he might, but I don't think
he would. There's no one else, that I know of, can find them for you.
Lord knows where they are. They camp in one place till the buffalo are
all shot, and then they shift to new ground. Perhaps ten miles, perhaps
thirty. Have another drink? What'll you have?"

"No, not any more, thanks. About this Tommy Prince, now; if I can find
him he might tell me where to go. Where can I find him?"

"Down at the Margaret is where he camps, but I think he's gone to the
Oriental by this time--sure to be. That's about forty miles down past
the Margaret. There was a fellow came in from the Margaret for supplies,
and he'll be going back to-morrow--if he can find his pack-horses."

"And supposing he can't?"

"Well, then, he'll go out next week, I expect, unless he gets on the
drink. He's a terrible chap to drink."

"And if he starts to drink, when will he go?"

"Lord knows. They'll have to send in after him. His mates'll be pretty
near starved by now, anyhow. He's been in town, foolin' round that
girl at the Royal this three weeks. He'll give you a lift out to the
Margaret--that's forty miles."

"What is there out at the Margaret when I get there? Is it a town, or a
station, or a mine? What is it?"

"Oh, it's not so bad. There's a store there, and a