“Follow him to Melbourne. He’ll carry it there, and on the way we can relieve him of it.”
“There’s something in that.”
“We shall be together, and he won’t take me in as readily as he did you. After breakfast, if we are lucky enough to get any, we must go back to the camp, and find out what we can about his plans. Do you think any one saw you last night when you were in the cabin?”
“No.”
“That is well. Then you won’t be suspected. But I can’t say a word more till I have had breakfast.”
After half-an-hour’s walking—it was only half a mile, but the soil was boggy, rendering locomotion difficult—they reached a humble wayside cabin, which was in some sort a restaurant, and by dint of diplomacy and a promise of speedy payment, they secured a meal to which, despite their disappointment, they did ample justice.
Breakfast over, they resumed their fatiguing walk, and reached the mining camp about ten o’clock.
Fatigued by their exertions of the previous days and the late hours they had kept, Obed and the boys rose at a later hour than usual. About eight o’clock Obed opened his eyes, and noticed that his two young companions were fast asleep.
“It’s time to get up, boys,” he said, giving them a gentle shake.
The boys opened their eyes, and realised, by the bright sunshine entering the cabin, that the day was already well advanced.