"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, G.o.d 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 pa.s.sengers 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 p.r.i.c.k 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.