e decidedly slow. They do not care to hurry and
bustle about, but take their own time. Launceston has a great deal of
the leisurely element, but so many Victorians have gone over there to
settle that the older residents have had to enliven themselves a bit.
Launceston and Hobart are as jealous of each other, if not more so, than
Melbourne and Sydney. Launceston is the best business town, so many
mines having been opened up on the North-West coast, but their sore
point is their mud-hole, the Tamar; while Hobart has one of the finest
harbours in the world. Launceston people repudiate their connection with
'that old convict settlement' and claim to rightly belong to Melbourne."

At dinner they made acquaintance with a young fellow named McKintosh,
who had been a passenger on the boat with Wyck, so they carried him off
to the smoking-room for a jaw.

McKintosh verified the first mate's account of the _contretemps_ on
board, and remarked that the strangest feature about it was the girl's
infatuation.

"Do you know them at all?" asked Hal, puffing vigorously at his cigar.

"Oh, yes, I have known the old man for some years, as I am a frequent
visitor here. I met him in town to-day, and I have never seen a man so
changed in so short a time. He seems completely upset. I should advise
Wyck to keep out of his way, for if he meets him there will be
bloodshed."

"Did you see anything of Wyck after landing?"

"Once I saw him in the street, but I don't know where he is staying. Do
you know him?"

"I met him in England," answered Reg, quietly.

"He's the funniest chap I ever saw," continued McKintosh. "He shared my
cabin, and just before landing I went down to pack. I had tennis shoes
on, and I came upon him unawares, and he seemed a bit flurried."

"What was he doing then?"

"I don't know, exactly, but he seemed to be whittling a stick--a black
stick with a lot of notches in it."

"My God!" said Reg, startled out of his reserve.

"What's the matter?" said McKintosh.

"Nothing," answered Reg, as, excusing himself, he left the room.

"He's subject to sudden attacks like that. Don't mind them," said Hal to
McKintosh, in a casual way; and, bidding him good-night, left the room.

When he joined Reg in the room they shared, he was taken aback at what
he saw. Reg was polishing his die with a chamois leather, and his face
wore an expression of sternness.

"Hal, old chap. We must get this in use at once."

"My dear boy, we