o make enquiries, they found the facts as
stated. In addition to Joe Brown's identification, they had found a "W"
tattooed on his arm. The body had also, they said, been identified by
two young fellows who had left for Brisbane a day or two before.

"Then we are to be cheated after all," said Reg, savagely.

"Won't you forgive the fellow now?" asked Hal.

"I can't, old fellow. I can't. I feel some satisfaction in having his
stick, though. However, Hal, we've done our duty, and he has met his
fate. God knows, he deserved it."

They squared up their accounts, and took train direct to Sydney, with
the intention of hunting up the Goodchilds.

When the police reported that the body had been identified by Joe Brown
and two other men they stated the literal fact. A stock-driver crossing
the creek had seen the body floating there with the face battered beyond
recognition. He had pulled it out of the water, and rode into town to
report to the police, who brought it in. Joe Brown was one of the first
to hear of the discovery, and a brilliant idea struck him that he might
make a good thing out of Wyck by reporting the body to be his. As soon
as the girls heard it they reluctantly went, too. There was a decided
resemblance in the build of the dead man to Wyck, but the features were
too bruised for them to be certain. However, Joe swore positively to the
tattoo on the arm, and that settled the matter, and the corpse was
buried as that of Villiers Wyckliffe, a young Englishman out to gain
colonial experience.

The same evening the girls left for Brisbane, but not alone, for Hil was
taking the colt with her. Tom, the old groom at the hotel stables, had
taken a violent fancy to both horse and owner, that she decided to take
him with her to Sydney. At Brisbane they had to explain to him that his
master was a mistress, and they sailed without delay for Sydney, none
the worse for their experience, but feeling rather subdued at the tragic
disaster which had robbed them of the spoil after which they had
started.

When Wyck arrived at Toowoomba the first person he looked out for was
Bill Adams, whom he found in the yard of the "Royal."

"Hullo, boss, back again! I've got all your togs stowed away," said he,
as he led him to his room.

"I had a small black stick," said Wyck to him, after he had inspected
the contents of his portmanteau.

"That's all you had, governor," said Bill, with emphasis. And Wyck,
seeing it was useless to a