“The track will be completed in a few days,” Scarlett remarked, “and your agent couldn’t possibly lose his way in the bush.”
“Could not lose his way? Exactly. It would be very awkward if he were to get lost, with £20,000 in his possession.”
“I can imagine what sort of a losing it would be considered,” said Mr. Crewe, laughing.
“How far is it to the field?” asked the Manager.
“As the crow flies, about forty miles,” replied Jack, “but by the track, some eight or ten miles more.”
“The difficulty will be the escort,” said the Manager. “There must be an escort to convey gold to town. If the police, now, would give assistance, it could be managed.”
“Failing them,” said Jack, “the diggers would be only too glad to provide an escort themselves.”
The banker smiled. “I was imagining that the Government might undertake the transportation.”
“This is a detail,” said Mr. Crewe. “It could be arranged when your agent wished to come to town with all the gold he had bought on the field.”
“I make the proposal to you on behalf of the syndicate which I represent,” said Jack. “There is a demand for a branch of your Bank on Bush Robin Creek: communication is now easy, and the field is developing fast.”