. Terence O'Flynn."

"What's the guide say, Reg?"

"Express 6.30. It's now 4.30."

"What's he making for the bush for? He thinks he will escape us that
way. If he does he's mistaken, for he's tumbling right into my arms,"
remarked Hal with a grim smile.

"I must say he is a bit smarter than I gave him credit for," said Reg.

"This is not a bad place, Reg, is it?"

"No. It's a bit warm. What are the people like--same as down South?"

"No, my boy. They are like the climate--warm--and they make it so if
anything displeases them. They are the most independent and democratic
lot in the colonies and, when the great smash comes, I shall be much
mistaken if the voice of Queensland is not the first to cry 'Australia
for the Australians.' But now to business. If we are going in for bush
work we must have a bush outfit, so come on," and they walked towards
the same outfitter's at which ten minutes previously the girls had
rigged themselves out.

They were hardly out of sight of the Post Office when a hansom-cab drew
up at the door, and a young man, looking furtively round, hastily alit
and hurried into the office to enquire for letters. One was handed to
him with the letters O.H.M.S. upon it, which he opened, signed the
certificate enclosed and received from the savings-bank clerk a sum of
money in gold. Pocketing the money, he hurried into his cab and drove
away. The man was Villiers Wyckliffe, and there was anything but a
pleasant look on his face, for at heart he was an arrant coward.
"Confound those fellows," he muttered to himself, "they may get here at
any time. I had to come back here for money, but I'll go back to
Toowoomba again, as it is a handy place to make for the open country at
a moment's notice. Who in the deuce would have thought that a fellow
would make so much fuss over a girl as that fellow Morris is doing. He
and his friend mean mischief, for Dick told me of their carryings-on at
Melbourne. If they track me I'll shoot them down like the dogs they are.
If I could only get away I'd go back to England, for people are not so
particular there. Damn Australia, I say! I wish I had never seen it."
His face had grown black with anger, and falling back, he fell to
commiserating his lot. "There are so many pretty girls here," he
murmured. "And these confounded fellows are spoiling all my fun." Here
any further reflections were disturbed by his arrival at the "George."

"Call for me in time to catch the 6.30 exp