“They won’t come back again?”
“Not to-night they won’t, but,” added Tom, vehemently, “they’ll be back to-morrow night sure, an’ they’ll want the loan of our boat!”
“The loan of it! But you ain’t goin’——”
“Dave Gibson,” cried Tom, sitting up, “you leave this business to me. I reckon we’ve struck a big thing. I reckon we’ve struck the biggest thing any two young coves in Australia ever struck in their lives.”
“What is it, Tom?” asked Dave, curiously.
“You’ll know later on,” replied Tom; “you’ll ’ave a hand in it. Are you fit?”
“My oath!” said Dave, bravely, forgetting his recent fears in the prospect of adventure. “I’m fit!”
“You’re an all-right mate,” said Tom. “You’ll do.”
“Who were they?” asked Dave, after a pause.
“I don’t know neither of ’em, but I reckon they must be coves workin’ about here somewhere. They’ve got a game on.”