“Then I tell you what, sir: just you tell our three that, as they’ve been very good boys, they may have a holiday and go and get a good lot o’ bunya nuts.”
“Get a lot of what?” said Nic, in a tone of disgust.
“Bunya nuts, sir: grows on them trees something like firs. They ain’t half bad, I can tell you.”
“But I don’t want to send them out nutting,” said Nic. “They’re better at work.”
“You don’t understand, sir. I saw them staring over the fences at the perlice. You give them leave, and off they’ll go and watch everything, just as if they were on’y playing about. Then we shall know everything.”
In the result, there was very little to know; for when the three blackfellows came back that night, they could only tell that there had been a long hunt for the convict. They got to know, too, that there was to be another next day.
Then the police returned, received their letters for the doctor, and as they rode off for their long journey to the port they told Nic in confidence not to make himself uncomfortable, for they would be back soon with a little troop and some trackers, and that then they would soon catch the escaped man.
“I don’t suppose he’ll venture near the station, sir; but if he does, and don’t surrender, you’re justified in shooting him down.”
Nic drew his breath hard as he went back to the house very thoughtfully, but he said nothing indoors.
That afternoon he mounted, and sent the two collies nearly frantic by whistling to them to come after him; and as they dashed on Nic rode after at an easy canter, to take a long round amongst the grazing, off-lying cattle, and carry out another project he had in mind.