"You have heard—that they are coming?"
"No—who?"
"You have heard, or why are you on horseback?"
"To look for you. I was on the point of starting. I made sure you must be bushed."
"I was. But I got to a camp. They looked after me; I am all right. And now they are coming in here—they're probably on their way!" Each little sentence came in a fresh gasp from his parched throat.
"But who?"
"Those two tramps who came the other day, and Simons, the ringer of the shed. Villains—villains every one!"
"Ah! And what do they want?"
"Can't you guess? The silver! The silver! That fat brute who insulted you so, who do you suppose he is? Tigerskin's mate—just out of prison—the man whose finger your father shot off ten years ago! You remember how he kept his hands in his pockets the other day? Well, that was the reason. Now there isn't a moment to lose. I listened to their plans. Half an hour ago—or it may be an hour—they lay down for a spell. They were drunk, but not very. They only meant to rest for a bit; then they're coming straight here. They left me tied up—they were going to bring me with them—I'll tell you afterward how I got loose. I daren't stop a moment, even to cut adrift their horses. I just bolted for the moon—I'd heard them say the station lay due east—and here I am. Thank God I've found you up and mounted! It couldn't have been better; it's providential. Now you mustn't get off at all; you must just ride right on to the shed."
"Must I?" said Naomi, with a tight lip and a keen eye, but a touch of the old banter in her tone.