e whispered. "We had to fix
suspicion on someone. When I saw him he had no nerve. I offered to
shelter him. He agreed, and I let him out of the window, and pretended
to go on talking to him all the time he was getting away into the bush.
You know what happened then."

"At the bank? Yes. But what became of Eustace?"

"He was at the house. He was there the night you came. He nearly gave
himself up. He was coming when he heard you say who you were. So Dad
knocked him on the head and put him in the cellar."

"While I was there?" Durham exclaimed.

"Yes. When you went to see to your horse. Then later we had to trick
you. Dad put something in the tea like I did at the bank, only it would
have killed you all he put in. He wanted to. He wanted to after, and
tried to, but I--I wouldn't let him--because I loved you. But I made you
sleep that night--Dad had to make fresh tea, and I put the stuff in. We
watched you go off on the verandah while you were smoking, and then tied
you up. It was hard to make you wake, but we had to--Dad had taken
Eustace's handkerchief--we knew you would be convinced if you found
it--after seeing me--and we--we shot your horse, and made the others
bolt."

"But afterwards? What happened to Eustace afterwards?" he asked as she
stopped.

"We had to keep him there, then, because he knew. He was there in the
cellar the night you came from Taloona. You heard him cry out. So Dad
brought him here and tied him up. He was here all the time you were at
the house. The evening after you saw Brennan, when you talked to me on
the verandah, Dad came and found him escaping. Dad killed him. He had
to. He shammed drunk next day, so that you should not suspect him. There
is a short cut from the house, and Dad took it after you left, and got
to the ford before you. That's all."

"When Taloona was stuck up----"

"Dad and I," she said. "We didn't know you were there. You hit me, and
I--oh, darling, it broke my heart when I saw you fall, but I had to.
That is why I took you away to nurse you. I kissed you when you didn't
know."

"The other night--when you rode through the town?"

She lay silent and he repeated the question.

"I was--half drunk. So was Dad. We did it out of devilment. They were
all such fools--all but you--and you nearly shot me. The bullet grazed
my horse. You will see the cut on the shoulder. You nearly caught Dad.
He was in the police-station when you got back. He cracked every crib in
the plac