DALBY.
As the 1.50 train was preparing to start, four men stood round the
ticket-office. They were the boys and the girls. The former had chosen
clothes similar to those Hal had used with so much success, while the
latter assumed a dress that might be worn by anyone without being
conspicuous.
There is no country in the world where it is more difficult to judge a
person by his dress than Australia. You may sit beside a rough,
vulgar-looking fellow, with an old cabbage-tree hat and a dirty pair of
moles, with all the appearance of a tramp; yet he may be a squatter, who
could write a cheque for twenty thousand. To a casual observer, the boys
would easily pass as shearers or men on the look-out for work, and the
girls would pass as easily for new chums. There were plenty of both
classes scattered over the country, and neither party was likely to
attract exceptional attention.
"You can only book to Dalby," said the ticket-clerk. "There has been a
break-down beyond that point."
"When?" asked Hal.
"Last night. I fancy it is due to some of the shearers, who are out on
strike, so, if you are going for a job, you had better look out and join
the union."
"We won't trouble them," answered Hal. "We are going for cattle," and he
took two second-class tickets for Dalby.
"Two second, Dalby," said Hil, following close behind him.
As the train started May laughed and said:
"Wonder where the boys are now?"
"Probably in Brisbane still. We ought to have returned good for evil,
and wired them where Wyck has gone; but I think they had better find out
for themselves, as they fancy themselves so much."
"I wonder what our lady detectives are doing," said Reg to Hal, lighting
his pipe.
"In bed, asleep, I suppose, dreaming of Wyck."
"We ought to have wired them at Sydney, and given them a hint."
"No, not at all. It would be ridiculous to think of women in this
country. But where's the stick, Reg?"
"It's in my swag. I had to cut it in two, but I reckon now that we have
that, we shall soon have the owner, and when we do, God help him."
"Yes, he'll stand in need of all the help he can get," said Hal, looking
musingly at Reg's resolute face.
The railway station at Dalby presented an unusually animated appearance
on their arrival, for the word had been given that a large number of
non-union shearers were coming to take the place of those on strike, and
the latter had collected to give the newcomers a warm welcome. As soon
as the train stopped a crowd gathered round the carriage in which the
boys and the girls travelled.
"Here they are," shouted a burly, red-headed fellow, who appeared to be
their leader.
"What's your game, gentlemen?" asked Hal, boldly stepping out, followed
by Reg and the girls.
"Are you the black-legs?"
"What do you mean?"
"Are you shearers?"
"No, decidedly not. Why?"
"Because we heard some black-legs were coming. That's all."
Two of the passengers were injudicious enough to say they were shearers,
one of them calling out--"I'm a shearer, and I'm going to work, for I've
a wife and family to keep. D--n your unions."
With a war-whoop the whole body, headed by the red-headed bully, made
for the two men, who, in spite of the presence of six constables, were
doomed to be knocked about severely, if not in danger of being killed,
when Hil, in an impulsive moment, rushed forward to their rescue.
"Stand aside, you cowards," she called out, producing a revolver. "I
shoot the first man that touches them again." Then the crowd fell back
for a moment.
"You dirty cowards," said Hal, coming forward with Reg.
"Who the devil are you?" said the red-headed leader.
"I'm a man, and I'll see fair play. What right have you to kick these
fellows?"
"You're very plucky, all because your mate has got a shooting-iron."
"I can use my fists, too," said Hil, putting up her revolver and
standing forward.
"Here put up your hands," interposed Hal and, pushing Hil aside, gave
the fellow one from the shoulder that staggered him.
"A fight, a fight," yelled the crowd. "Go it, stranger."
Hal faced his man squarely and, watching his opportunity, landed him one
in the mouth that stretched him flat on his back.
"Any more?" asked Reg, looking round, as if he would like his share. But
the crowd had had enough and, as the two men who had been the cause of
the row had taken advantage of the fight to slip out of the way, Hal and
Reg and the girls got away without further adventure.
They found the town a very small one, which had once, like most inland
towns, been in a fairly prosperous condition so long as the railway kept
away from it; but the advent of the iron horse had caused it to fall,
like scores of similar towns, into a deserted condition. Luck favoured
the boys, for on calling at Condon's Hotel they got into conversation
with an old swag man.
"Seen any strangers about to-day?" asked Hal.
"What do you call strangers--men like yourself?"
"Yes."
"Well, I see one come with Joe Brown by the train this morning."
"What sort of a looking fellow was he?"
"He had old togs on, but didn't seem used to them."
"Where is he now?"
"Don't know. Last I see of him he was in a buggy."
"What was he doing?"
"Why, driving away, of course. Seemed in a blooming hurry, too, and
looked as if he was going a journey by the stuff he had aboard."
"Where did he get the turn-out?"
"Don't know; but this is awfully dry work, boss."
"Sing out then: a pint, eh?"
"Rather, boss."
Ten minutes later, the boys were in conversation with the proprietor of
the livery stables, if they could be called such.
"Well, all I know is that he paid me thirty pound down for the whole
turn-out, and I see him driving away with an old shearer, named Joe
Brown," said the owner, in answer to their questions.
"Which direction did they take?"
"Looked as if they were going to follow the river: in fact, they'll have
to, as water is scarce."
"We want to overtake these fellows. Have you another trap?"
"Not to sell. I've got a fine buggy and pair here. They could prick
spots off the others. I want a pound a-day for them."
"Then hitch them up as fast as you like, and put a good stock of feed
in, while we go and get ready."
"By George, this is good business," said the man to himself, as he
hastened away to get the horses ready.
The boys hurried off to one of the stores, and purchased a stock of
provisions, a small tent, and some cooking utensils. An hour later,
they drove away in pursuit of the fugitives, following the road along
the creek.
The girls had been unsuccessful in finding out anything. As they walked
along the street, they noticed a trap with two men in it drive out of a
yard.
"I wonder where they are off to," said May.
"Some squatter's turn-out, I suppose. Let's go to the yard they came out
of," answered Hil.
"They've gone after a gent who started this morning," said the
proprietor, in answer to her enquiry.
"Which way are they making?"
"Along the river, I think."
"I suppose you have not another trap and horses ready."
"No, sir. I've only got the two, and one of them I sold this morning to
the first gent."
"What's on there?" asked Hil, pointing to a crowd round some stockyards.
"Auction, that's all."
"Are they selling horses?"
"Yes, some scrubbers, I think."
"Come on, May. Let's have a look: we can do with a pair of
saddle-horses, for we must follow on horseback, or we shall never
overtake them."
"I'm agreeable."
"That's not a bad hack. Rather weak in the fore shoulder. Thirty bob,
eh?" "Well it's cheap at that," said Hil, examining the horse. "Now this
looks better. Come closer, I like the look of this one," and strolling
into the yard she opened the horse's mouth.
"I'll give you a couple of notes," she said to the auctioneer.
"Two pounds, two-ten, three, three-five, three-ten. It's gone. You've
got a bargain, young fellow. What name?" sang out the auctioneer.
"Cash," said she, promptly planking down the money.
Several other lots had been disposed of, but nothing seemed to suit Hil,
whose practised eye could pick out a blemish at a glance.
"Now then, stand aside. Look out. Hallo there, look out," shouted
several of the runners-in, as they drove an untameable colt into the
yard.
"Look out, young fellow. Come out," shouted the auctioneer to Hil, who
was quietly leaning against the post fixed in the centre of the ring.
"Look out," said he again, as the colt ran open-mouthed at her, but a
smack on the nose sent him back, and letting fly with his heels, just
missed her, as she stepped quietly on one side.
"Now then," said the auctioneer, with a wink at the crowd, "the breeding
of this horse is well-known. What shall we say for her? A tenner? Well
then, a fiver."
"Six," said Hil.
"Six, six-ten, seven, seven. Gentlemen, is there no advance? Seven once,
seven twice. It's yours, young fellow. What name?"
"Cash," answered Hil, calmly paying up.
"And now, young fellow, that you have got him, might I ask what you are
going to do with him," said the auctioneer in a jocular manner, which
the crowd greeted with roars of laughter.
"I'll ride him, I suppose," said Hil, quietly.
"You're not the man," answered the auctioneer, emphatically. "I'll bet
you a fiver you're not game to ride him now."
"It's a wager. Where's a saddle?" said she.
"I'll find a saddle quick enough," said the auctioneer, smiling; then he
added to the crowd, "Gentlemen, we'll adjourn the sale till this
youngster mounts the colt."
"Right you are! Two to one he don't stick," shouted an excited farmer by
the auctioneer's side.
"I'll take it," said May, handing a fiver to the auctioneer, which the
farmer reluctantly covered.
A saddle and bridle were brought and carefully examined by Hil. When she
had satisfied herself they were strong enough, the colt was driven into
a race, and after some delay the bridle was fixed on him. It was a
considerable time before the saddle could be got on and girthed to Hil's
satisfaction. Then the colt was led out.
The excitement now was intense, more especially as the colt began to
lash out furiously, to buck and pig in his efforts to dislodge the
saddle, for although dozens had tried to ride him he had as yet come off
best, and was known as incurable to the country round.
One man held the reins and tried to keep him still, as he danced about,
while Hil, with one hand gripping the colt's ear and the other on the
saddle, stood watching her chance. The instant the slightest weight was
put on the saddle, up went the horse in the air. Hil leaned heavily on
him several times, and then stood aside till the colt began to become
cunning and stood perfectly still the next time she leant upon the
saddle. Hil seeing her chance leapt into the saddle, grasped the reins,
and fixed her feet in the stirrup-irons in an instant. The colt was
looked upon as a champion bucker, and he deserved the honour, for rising
into the air with all four feet off the ground, he gave a twitch that
must have dislodged most riders, but Hil and the horse were one. After
bucking and pigging all he knew, without succeeding in upsetting his
rider, the wary animal tried a new dodge. He reared suddenly and fell
back, trying to crush his rider, but Hil was on the alert, for few knew
the ways of buck-jumpers more thoroughly and, as the horse came down,
she coolly stepped on one side, and was on his back again the instant he
had recovered himself. That was too much for the obstreperous animal; he
knew he was conquered and gave in to the inevitable, allowing himself to
be handled and put through his paces with suspicious docility.
"I'll trouble you for the stakes," said May, pocketing fifteen pounds.
"I want five from you, sir," said Hil. "Thank you. Now then, boys, if
you will come over to the pub we'll blue this fiver."
They adjourned to the public-house and had drinks round. Hil, turning to
the auctioneer, said:
"I'll tell you what it is, boss. I'd not take ten times what I gave for
him. Mark my word, you'll hear something of that colt some day."
"Well, I don't mind losing my fiver at any rate, for you certainly have
earned it. That colt has been looked on as a terror to the
neighbourhood. Nobody would have him at a gift, and it was only because
you looked like a new chum that I ran him in."
"I'm very glad you did. Can you fix us up with a couple of saddles and
bridles."
"Certainly. Come on over here."
Saddles and bridles were bought and put on their new purchases. Then the
girls rode their horses to the hotel stables, where they were putting
up. They groomed and fed them themselves, and went off to purchase a
stock of provisions and a small tent. These were all rolled in a blanket
and fixed to the front of each saddle; quart pots were slung at the
side, and they were at last ready to start.
"I'll christen my colt Wyck," said Hil, as they turned in for the night.
"And mine shall be Liffe," said May.
Daylight the next morning saw them on the track of the two conveyances.