es, I hope," said Reg.

"We have only recently returned from Brisbane, and Mr. Goodchild told us
you, too, had been out of town."

"Yes, we went for a trip. I hope you weren't inconvenienced by the
floods."

"We were; very much. The mere mention of them makes me look round,
expecting to see a tribe of ants, or two or three snakes on the floor."

"Do tell us about your adventures," said May.

"When we left Brisbane we went on to Toowoomba and got on Wyck's tracks
and chased him out West as far as Dalby. From there we set off in a
buggy for Chinchilla, and we caught up his buggy, but found it had
broken down, and that there was no trace of Wyck. We suppose he lost his
way and was drowned in the creek, where his body was found."

"How did you manage in the bush? Did you have to camp out?" asked Hil,
with an appearance of great interest, and gently touching May's foot.

"Oh, of course, and it was great fun," and they both laughed.

"Do tell us about it. I am so fond of hearing tales of the bush," said
May.

"Well, when we reached the creek, we found an old fellow, named Brown,
in charge of the buggy, and from him we learnt that his boss, as he
called Wyck, had gone on to Chinchilla on foot, so we started after him,
but, losing our way, had to return to the creek. Now, it struck us that
Wyck might possibly return to his buggy during the night, so we camped
about half-a-mile away, and, leaving a man in charge of our trap, we
dressed up as swagmen and joined the party at the crossing, which had
now been increased by the arrival of two new chums and a hawker's van."

"Tell them about the ants, Hal," said Reg.

"Oh, yes. Joe and the hawker had a dispute as to who should have a seat
on the log used for the fire, but Joe had possession and determined to
stick to it, which he did until a swarm of green-heads climbed up his
back, and then he jumped up with a yell and flung off his clothes. Joe
frightened the new chums, for they cleared off to their tent."

"What kind of fellows were these new chums?" asked Hil.

"Oh, nothing out of the common. Very ladylike in appearance and
namby-pamby looking. I felt really sorry for them, but they ought never
to have left their ma's apron-strings."

"Yes, I fancy this flood will send them back," said Reg, laughing.

"How very interesting: but you have been spreading the story about
well," remarked Hil.

"Why, what do you mean? I have never spoken to a soul about it. Have
you, R