"Anyway, that's where they're gone," Tony replied. "If you don't believe it, go and look for yourself. I'm ready for breakfast."
Further news came to them as they were finishing the meal, for the advance guard of the detachment Barber and Tap had met on the road arrived at the camp. The pace at which they had been travelling for the last few miles made a brief rest welcome, and they trooped up to the fire.
"It's good enough, lads; it's good enough. There's whips of it there for all of us. Two mates passed down the road this morning for stores with a couple of horses loaded with gold," one of the new arrivals cried.
"How many?" Peters asked.
"Two, mate—two, with four horses."
"Saddled?" Tony asked.
"No, mate, save for the swags of nuggets."
"Were the horses three bays and a grey?" Gleeson asked quickly.
"That's so. Thanks; I'll set her here," the man went on, as Tony moved on one side for him to put his billy by the fire.
"We'll shove along," Walker said, as he and Gleeson exchanged looks.