r, governor. I'll fix yer note for yer: never fear.
Good-day."

"Now we can catch the boat nicely, Reg," said Hal, when they had done
laughing over this depraved juvenile.

"I say," said Reg. "Did it strike you that Wyck might have crossed in
the same boat? We may be able to pick up something from some of the
officers. I suppose we are free from the 'lords in disguise' business
this time?"

"We can feel safe on that score. The Tasmanians are too slow to trouble
about us; and not only that, but it might be dangerous to mention it."

"Why?"

"I'll tell you later on."

CHAPTER XI.

LAUNCESTON.

"What time do you expect to make Launceston, Mr. Wilson?" asked Hal, of
the chief officer of the _Pateena_ during his watch.

"At mid-day, all being well, sir."

"Do you remember having a passenger named Wyckliffe, on board during
your last trip across?"

"Wyckliffe, or Wyck, as they called him--rather, do I not?--the funniest
thing I ever saw"--here Wilson fairly roared at the recollection of the
incident. This interested the boys, and they begged Wilson to tell them
the joke.

"There was a lady in it, I bet," said Hal.

"You are right; there was. It was like this. We had a pretty big
passenger list, and amongst them was a Mr. Goodchild and his
daughter--but perhaps you know them?"

On being assured the contrary, he continued:

"This Goodchild is a very wealthy squatter, and lives about twenty miles
from Launceston. He made his money in the early days: how I don't know,
but he had something to do with convicts. At any rate, he's very rich,
and owns a lot of country. His only daughter, May, is a girl of
twenty-one, with about as pretty a face as one can see in a day's march.
Goody--as we call him behind his back--adores this girl. She is
everything to him, and he lives for her; he jealously watches her and
wards off every man who comes near her. He once nearly snapped _my_ head
off for bringing her a chair. She is a good girl and tries her best to
please and humour him in every way, taking very little notice of anybody
else. This Wyckliffe seemed to have no difficulty in making himself
popular with the ladies, and began to pay special attention to Miss
Goody. Old Goody noticed this, and twice carried his daughter away from
him. Tea being over, old Goody had stayed below to finish one of his
yarns, and did not notice his daughter had left the saloon. Coming to an
interesting episode, he happened to look r