. 'I'm not likely to think about him or any one
else just now; but it seems such a dreadful thing to think a man like
him, so clever and daring, and so handsome and gentle in his ways,
should be obliged to lead such a life, hunted from place to place
like--like----'

'Like a bush-ranger, Ailie,' I said, 'for that'll be the long and short
of it. You may as well know it now, we're going to "turn out".'

'You don't say that, Dick,' she said. 'Oh! surely you will never be so
mad. Do you want to kill mother and me right out? If you do, why not
take a knife or an axe and do it at once? Her you've been killing all
along. As for me, I feel so miserable and degraded and despairing at
times that but for her I could go and drown myself in the creek when I
think of what the family is coming to.'

'What's the use of going on like that, Aileen?' I said roughly. 'If
we're caught now, whatever we do, great or small, we're safe for years
and years in gaol. Mayn't we as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb? What
odds can it make? We'll only have bolder work than duffing cattle and
faking horse-brands like a lot of miserable crawlers that are not game
for anything more sporting.'

'I hear, I hear,' says sister, sitting down and putting her head in her
hands. 'Surely the devil has power for a season to possess himself of
the souls of men, and do with them what he will. I know how obstinate
you are, Dick. Pray God you may not have poor Jim's blood to answer for
as well as your own before all is done. Good-bye. I can't say God bless
you, knowing what I do; but may He turn your heart from all wicked
ways, and keep you from worse and deadlier evil than you have committed!
Good-night. Why, oh why, didn't we all die when we were little
children!'

Chapter 22

I brought it out sudden-like to Aileen before I could stop myself, but
it was all true. How we were to make the first start we couldn't agree;
but we were bound to make another big touch, and this time the police
would be after us for something worth while. Anyhow, we could take it
easy at the Hollow for a bit, and settle all the ins and outs without
hurrying ourselves.

Our dart now was to get to the Hollow that night some time, and not to
leave much of a track either. Nobody had found out the place yet, and
wasn't going to if we knew. It was too useful a hiding-place to give
away without trouble, and we swore to take all sorts of good care to
keep it secret, if it was to