“Because, as a young member of the band told us, the captain meant to spare us to join the band.”
“You are young to be travelling to the mines. Humph! your story sounds well enough, but how do I know that you are not spies of the bushrangers?”
Harry Vane’s eyes flashed indignantly.
“I hope you won’t think so badly of us,” he said.
The shepherd seemed somewhat impressed by his indignant denial, which certainly seemed genuine enough, but wanted information on one point.
“How did you manage to escape? That doesn’t seem very probable, at any rate.”
“We both took advantage of the excitement occasioned by the murder of Captain Stockton——” he began.
“What!” exclaimed the shepherd, in profound astonishment. “Captain Stockton murdered! When? By whom?”
Of course Harry told the story, but that need not be repeated.
The shepherd listened in evident excitement.