CAMPING OUT.
When Hil mounted her colt the next morning, that fractious animal could not resist having another set-to, just to convince himself that his master was really on his back. Hil was quite agreeable and having satisfied the creature on that point, she and May started at a brisk canter along the road, following the wheel-tracks, which were still clearly defined. Hil was not disappointed in either purchase, for both horses settled down to their work admirably, and by eight o"clock they considered they were twenty miles away from Dalby. They therefore pulled up at Jimbour Creek, dismounted, hobbled their horses, and let them roam for a feed, while they prepared breakfast. Both had excellent appet.i.tes after their ride, and did full justice to the meal their own skill had prepared. During the repast, they heard horses" hoofs approaching, and shortly were joined by two young men of the bush type, probably shearers.
"Good-day, mates," called out one, as they came near.
"Good-day to you," said May. "Have a cup of tea, the water"s just boiling."
It sounded more like an invitation in a lady"s boudoir than from the bush, but putting them down as new chums, the pair dismounted and accepted the offer.
"Where are you young fellows making for?" asked one.
"Going along the river. Did you come that way?"
"Yes, we"ve come in from Condamine station."
"See anything of a buggy along the road?"
"Well, I"m blowed! Yes, we did. Why?"
"We are trying to catch up to one," said Hil.
"We camped alongside two fellows with a buggy last night, and they told me they were after two other fellows, and now I suppose you fellows are after them?" said the stranger, with a laugh.
"Are there two buggies ahead?"
"Yes, one is broken-down at Campbell Camp, and the other ought to be there by this time. Are you policemen after them?"
"No, not at all. They are friends. We have missed one another. That"s all."
"Well, come along, matey," said the younger of the two to his companion.
"Good-day to you, and much obliged," and they mounted and disappeared.
"Time to get on, Hil," said May.
"Yes, I think so," and a few minutes later they were on the track of the fugitives once more.
The roads now became rough and hilly, and the travelling much slower.
About three o"clock they reached Campbell Camp crossing, and there they found the buggy, broken-down as described. An old man was camped close by, and seemed in possession of the turn-out, as he had the horses tied up close at hand.
"Had a smash?" asked Hil, greeting him.
"Yes, axle bent," said he, coming towards them.
"Seen anything of another buggy go by?"
"Yes, one drove across to the station this morning, with two men in it.
They drove a pair of bay horses."
"We may as well camp here for the night," said Hil, "the feed seems pretty good, and water"s scarce ahead they tell us."
"Are you coves going to camp here?" asked the man.
"Yes, we are thinking of doing so."
"That"s the style, it"s a bit lonely here all day."
"Who"s trap is that?"
"It belongs to a young chap going to Chinchilla. He"s gone on ahead."
"What sort of a fellow is he?" asked Hil.
"A youngish chap. Seemed like as he was in trouble, for he sweared a lot when we broke down."
"What"s your name?"
"Joe Brown."
"What time did he start from here?"
"About eight o"clock this morning: but what do you want to know for?"
"Oh! nothing, he"s a friend of ours."
"That"s just what them other coves said who drove up in a buggy, only they was more inquisitive."
"Could they be the boys?" said Hil, turning to May.
"No, impossible; and yet they may be, like us, in disguise for all we know."
"Which way did they go?" said she, turning to the man.
"They went to Chinchilla after him."
"Oh, well, I expect we shall catch up with them to-morrow. Come along, May, let"s get our tent rigged up."
While they were fixing their tent, a hawker"s van, drawn by four horses, drove up. Beside the driver sat a man and a boy. Pulling up alongside the creek, the driver walked towards Joe Brown.
"Are you Joe Brown?" he called out in a loud voice.
"Yes, that"s me. What"s up?"
"Well, I met a young chap going to Chinchilla this morning, and he told me to try and straighten the axle of his buggy, and take it back to Dalby."
"I"ve got no objection," said Joe, looking significantly at the other man in the cart.
"Then come and give us a hand to get my team out, and we"ll set to work at once," said the hawker, whose name was Abraham Abrahams.