ill, considering
the advertisement an ample recompense. Besides this presentation at court
was a useful testimony in support of the his claims of the Missing Link,
and the Waddy Bugle's grave account of the trial under "Police Court
News" was added to the archives of the Museum.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE KIDNAPPERS.

LOO was a small triangular township, subsisting on agriculture, road
traffic, and the patronage of thirsty shearers and station hands from
runs within a half-day's ride of Sawyer's "Emu Hotel," which was the
incisive point of the triangle.

Thunder's tent was pitched on a small clearing facing the "Emu Hotel."
and Professor Thunder, clad somewhat after the manner of the bushranger
in lurid Australian melodrama, in high boots, cord trousers, a red shirt,
and an immense cabbage-tree hat, stood on a borrowed rum keg at the door
of his show, and earnestly besought Sawyer's customers to visit his
unrivalled show and complete their education.

"Roll up, gents, roll up, roll up, roll up!" cried the Professor, in a
voice keyed to stir the whole town ship. "Bring your families to learn
how man sprang from the ape, and when the ape's got claws like my
gorilla's he shows his good sense in springing. Walk in, walk in, walk
in, all together, one after the other, and witness the most miraculous
performance of Madame Marve, the Egyptian Mystic, converse with the
educated pig, and behold for the first time the amazing Missing Link, the
wonder of the universe, the only true authentic Missing Link now in
captivity, certified correct in every particular by the great Darwin
himself, and approved by all the crowned heads of Europe."

It was Saturday noon, and the township of Loo was rapidly filling with
convivial shearers. The sheds were cutting out at Dim Distance, Devil's
Bend, and the Emu, and the men were full of money, and eager for beer and
diversion.

When a score or so had collected inside, the Professor came down from his
keg, and assumed the office of lecturer, explaining the quaint physical
peculiarities of Matty Cann, and the intellectual eminence of the
educated pig, and then passing to his trump card--the Missing Link.

"Here we have, gentlemen," he exclaimed, "a living exemplification of the
truth of the teachings o the great Darwin. Behold the descent of man in
all its stages, from the smallest ape that capers on the rocky
declivities of the Himalaya Mountains, to the noble Missing Link himself,
having th