o'clock the same evening. On enquiry, Wyck found a train left at eight
and, making Abrahams a present of his turn-out, he left by that train,
feeling sure he had attracted no notice whatever. Before leaving, he
told Joe to wire him any news to "Grosvenor, Sydney," or "Gaiety,
Melbourne," under a false name; and Joe, who had lined his pocket
considerably during his acquaintanceship with his chum, promised to keep
a sharp look-out.

When the girls left the camp, they followed the tracks of the hawker's
waggon, and after a couple of hours' ride pulled up at a water-hole for
breakfast. The road was very rough, and they did not reach the station
until late. The manager gave them a cordial welcome, considering they
were strangers, but could afford no information about anyone resembling
Wyck. As they naturally did not care to accept the hospitality offered
them, that of the single men's hut, they turned their horses and rode
some way back, till they found a good camping-place for the night. The
next day looked even more threatening than the day before, and large
drops of rain fell before they started.

"I think we are in for a drenching, May," said Hil, looking anxiously
round.

"So do I. Let's clear to Dalby as fast as we can."

As they proceeded on their journey the rain fell steadily, and when they
reached Dalby, at a late hour, they were wet to the skin. They saw to
their horses, dried their clothes, and made themselves comfortable for
the night at the hotel.

"If this keeps on much longer we shall have a flood," said the landlord
to them.

Dalby presented a picturesque appearance the next morning, for the
Condamine was overflowing its banks and all the low-lying country was
flooded. As a wash-away seemed imminent, the railway people suspended
all traffic. Twelve inches was measured in twenty-four hours, and by the
evening of the second day the country for miles round was a sheet of
water. Many houses in Dalby were flooded, and several had been washed
away.

The girls were now locked up, for boats were plying in the streets. The
delay made them very wild, but nothing could be done but wait. They were
lucky, however, in comparison with the fate that befel the boys.

When the boys arrived at their camp, they found their man still asleep,
and waking him up they had a hasty breakfast and started on their
journey for Chinchilla. Dobbs, the tramp, said he knew a better road
than the one they were on, and they let him