er his belly. Then one
of the men took the bridle and led me away. Goring rode in front and the
other men behind.

As we rose the hill above the place I looked back and saw mother drop
down on the ground in a kind of fit, while Aileen bent over her and
seemed to be loosening her dress. Just at that moment George Storefield
and his sister rode up to the door. George jumped off and rushed over to
Aileen and mother. I knew Gracey had seen me, for she sat on her horse
as if she had been turned to stone, and let her reins drop on his neck.
Strange things have happened to me since, but I shall never forget that
to the last day of my miserable life.

Chapter 17

I wasn't in the humour for talking, but sometimes anything's better than
one's own thoughts. Goring threw in a word from time to time. He'd only
lately come into our district, and was sure to be promoted, everybody
said. Like Starlight himself, he'd seen better days at home in England;
but when he got pinched he'd taken the right turn and not the wrong one,
which makes all the difference. He was earning his bread honest, anyway,
and he was a chap as liked the fun and dash of a mounted policeman's
life. As for the risk--and there is some danger, more than people
thinks, now and then--he liked that the best of it. He was put out at
losing Jim; but he believed he couldn't escape, and told me so in a
friendly way. 'He's inside a circle and he can't get away, you mark
my words,' he said, two or three times. 'We have every police-station
warned by wire, within a hundred miles of here, three days ago. There's
not a man in the colony sharper looked after than Master Jim is this
minute.'

'Then you only heard about us three days ago?' I said.

'That's as it may be,' he answered, biting his lip. 'Anyhow, there isn't
a shepherd's hut within miles that he can get to without our knowing
it. The country's rough, but there's word gone for a black tracker to go
down. You'll see him in Bargo before the week's out.'

I had a good guess where Jim would make for, and he knew enough to hide
his tracks for the last few miles if there was a whole tribe of trackers
after him.

That night we rode into Bargo. A long day too we'd had--we were all
tired enough when we got in. I was locked up, of course, and as soon as
we were in the cell Goring said, 'Listen to me,' and put on his official
face--devilish stern and hard-looking he was then, in spite of all the
talking and nonsen