"Yes; and her mother had the cheek to ask me to the wedding, but, needless to say, I did not go. I very nearly went to the devil instead."
"Now, just listen to me. Suppose that man had come between you two, and, after separating you, had jilted and deserted the girl, and was directly the cause of her death, what would you have done then?" said Reg, excitedly.
Winter did not reply at once. He guessed instantly that Reg was referring to his own case.
"What would you have done?" asked Reg, again, impatiently.
"I think I should have shot him dead, or marked him for life," he answered, deliberately.
"Winter, shake hands. You are a man," said Reg, jumping off his bunk. "I apologise for my previous rudeness."
"Accepted, with pleasure," said Winter, cordially; and the two men shook hands.
Reg thereupon unfolded to him his whole history, which the reader knows. Winter listened attentively and, when he had finished, stood like a man dazed with horror. For the second time he put out his hand, and gripped Reg's hand with a grip that spoke volumes of sympathetic help. For a minute or two there was silence between the two men, which Winter broke by saying:
"Morris, I am an Australian. I know the Colonies well. You will let me join you?"
"Thanks, Winter; but I live for nothing but revenge."