Even as they spoke they saw strangers, talking excitedly, coming towards them. They crouched down in the bush, and hid themselves from the men. "The damned villain!" Richard heard one say. "The mean, cowardly villain, to kill poor old Tom! And he put himself up for a gentleman, too, and didn't think us good enough for him!" Honest Steve nudged his companion as if to direct his attention to the speaker. But Richard needed no reminding; he heard the words, and they burnt into him and made him writhe. "If we catch him, we'll lynch him, by God!" exclaimed another. Richard caught sight of their faces, and felt that there would be no mercy for him at their hands. Guiltless as he was, he breathed more freely when they had passed out of hearing.
"Come now," said Honest Steve, "we can't afford to lose time. It is too precious."
In silence, Richard rose and followed him.
They set off stealthily, looking warily about them, and walked for nearly an hour, Honest Steve leading the way. So well did he know the locality, that they did not encounter a single person. When they came to Breakneck Gully, and were within sight of Jim Pizey's tent--
"Do you know whose tent that is?" he asked.
"No."
"That's Jim Pizey's tent."
A light broke upon Richard, but he checked the expression of the thoughts which rushed upon his mind.
"Is Jim Pizey there?" he asked, almost calmly.
"Yes, he's there, waiting for us."