"There's only one thing to do," said Chaytor. "I must go to the cattle station to-night, get there early in the morning, and buy mutton and flour. I shall have to look out sharp that I'm not followed when I make my way back again, but I think I can manage it. I've done more difficult jobs than that."
"And you will be tramping the bush," said Basil, "while I remain at my ease here. Why can't I go instead of you?"
"Because," replied Chaytor, in a tone of affectionate insistance, "as you have already confessed, I am the cleverer of the two, and because I have an idea, if we lose this chance, that we shall never get another. I don't want you to be seen, Basil, that's the plain truth of the matter. You're not up to the men we meet. Now, I am sly and cunning----"
"You?" interrupted Basil. "You are the soul of candour and honesty, Chaytor. No one else should say that of you while I stood by."
"I don't mean exactly what I said, Basil, but I am sure I can do the job more neatly than you could. As to the tramp through the bush, I think nothing of it, so let it be as I say."
Basil making no further objection, the tent was put up and a trench dug around to carry the rain away. Then a camp fire was made, and the water for tea boiled in a tin billy, after which they finished the biscuits and sardines.
"You will have to hold out till I come back," said Chaytor. "As I need not start till past midnight, I'll turn in for an hour or two."
Shortly afterwards the comrades were wrapt in slumber, and the man with the evil conscience slept the sounder of the two. A little after midnight he rose and without disturbing Basil, started for the cattle station. It was a warm starlit night, and he pondered upon matters as he made his way through the bush. Indeed, during the past two days he had thought deeply of the situation in which he was placed. Old Corrie's proposition to take Basil to England had greatly alarmed him, and had opened his eyes more clearly to its gravity. It was this which had caused him to hurry Basil away from the vicinity of Old Corrie, for it was quite likely that Corrie would make another attempt to prevail upon Basil before he took his departure, and the second time Basil might yield. At all hazards this must be prevented; step by step he had descended the abyss of crime, and it was too late for him now to turn back. In entering upon an evil enterprise men seldom see the cost at which success must be purchased; it is only when they are face to face with consequences that they tremble at their own danger.
By daybreak Chaytor was at the cattle station and had made his purchases; by noon he had rejoined Basil. His purchases, at the station had attracted no attention; it was a common enough proceeding, and now they had food for a week. Fifteen miles beyond the cattle station was a small township where they could also obtain supplies; a pilgrimage once a week to station or township would keep them going. In the township such gold as they obtained and wished to dispose of could also be turned into money. Thus, although they were quite alone, they were within hail of all that was necessary. Shortly after Chaytor's return they set to work on the banks of the river. Basil showed his mate some pieces of quartz with fair-sized specks of gold in them, but Chaytor decided to try the river first, alluvial digging being so much easier. They found gold in the sand, and sufficient to pay, but not sufficient to satisfy Chaytor's cupidity. The result of a week's labour was between two and three ounces.
"This is better than we have done yet," said Basil.