and inns, particularly since the diggings. Whatever becomes of the money
made in such places? Where does it all go to? Nobody troubles their
heads about that.

A goodish lot of the first people was huddled away in the graveyard
under the sand ridges. Many an old shepherd had hobbled into the
Travellers' Rest with a big cheque for a fortnight's spree, and had
stopped behind in the graveyard, too, for company. It was always a
wonderful place for steadying lushingtons, was Ballabri.

Anyhow we rode over to the barracks because we knew the senior constable
was away. We'd got up a sham horse-stealing case the day before, through
some chaps there that we knew. This drawed him off about fifty mile. The
constable left behind was a youngish chap, and we intended to have a bit
of fun with him. So we went up to the garden-gate and called out for the
officer in charge of police quite grand.

'Here I am,' says he, coming out, buttoning up his uniform coat. 'Is
anything the matter?'

'Oh! not much,' says I; 'but there's a man sick at the Sportsman's Arms.
He's down with the typhus fever or something. He's a mate of ours, and
we've come from Mr. Grant's station. He wants a doctor fetched.'

'Wait a minute till I get my revolver,' says he, buttoning up his
waistcoat. He was just fresh from the depot; plucky enough, but not up
to half the ways of the bush.

'You'll do very well as you are,' says Starlight, bringing out his
pretty sharp, and pointing it full at his head. 'You stay there till I
give you leave.'

He stood there quite stunned, while Jim and I jumped off and muzzled
him. He hadn't a chance, of course, with one of us on each side, and
Starlight threatening to shoot him if he raised a finger.

'Let's put him in the logs,' says Jim. 'My word! just for a lark; turn
for turn. Fair play, young fellow. You're being "run in" yourself now.
Don't make a row, and no one'll hurt you.'

The keys were hanging up inside, so we pushed him into the farthest cell
and locked both doors. There were no windows, and the lock-up, like
most bush ones, was built of heavy logs, just roughly squared, with the
ceiling the same sort, so there wasn't much chance of his making himself
heard. If any noise did come out the town people would only think it was
a drunken man, and take no notice.

We lost no time then, and Starlight rode up to the bank first. It was
about ten minutes to three o'clock. Jim and I popped our horses into the
police stab