between you two, and,
after separating you, had jilted and deserted the girl, and was
directly the cause of her death, what would you have done then?" said
Reg, excitedly.

Winter did not reply at once. He guessed instantly that Reg was
referring to his own case.

"What would you have done?" asked Reg, again, impatiently.

"I think I should have shot him dead, or marked him for life," he
answered, deliberately.

"Winter, shake hands. You are a man," said Reg, jumping off his bunk. "I
apologise for my previous rudeness."

"Accepted, with pleasure," said Winter, cordially; and the two men shook
hands.

Reg thereupon unfolded to him his whole history, which the reader knows.
Winter listened attentively and, when he had finished, stood like a man
dazed with horror. For the second time he put out his hand, and gripped
Reg's hand with a grip that spoke volumes of sympathetic help. For a
minute or two there was silence between the two men, which Winter broke
by saying:

"Morris, I am an Australian. I know the Colonies well. You will let me
join you?"

"Thanks, Winter; but I live for nothing but revenge."

"Then I will join you. You swore an oath to devote all your time and
money to vengeance upon this man who has so foully wronged you. Let me
swear too that I will join you. I will go with you, and the same spirit
that animates you shall animate me too."

There was no mistaking the genuineness of the appeal, and Reg frankly
gave him his hand. From that day they were "Reg" and "Hal" to each
other, and Wyck had two determined men on his track, the one endowed
with all the shrewdness of a keen detective, possessing also a thorough
knowledge of Australian life and habits; the other of strong
determination and obstinate will that no obstacles would foil. Both
awkward customers to deal with, and whose bitter enmity no man could
afford to despise.

From that day they were observed by all the passengers to be close
friends, and they showed very plainly how little they wished to be
disturbed by, or to come into contact with, the other passengers. Now it
happened that, although there was a large number of passengers, eligible
young men were scarce, and when two of the best-looking young fellows on
board gave it to be clearly understood that they intended keeping aloof
from the general company it naturally caused a little sensation.

"I can't understand them two gents. They be always together, always
talk, talk; and when