"I told Ted," he murmured apologetically, "to keep an eye on Rummy, as he's coming home. If there's rats about, you never can tell what may happen. We ain't discovered yet who put it over on Rummy and Jun on the day of Mrs. Rouminof s funeral. So I just worded Ted to keep an eye on the old fool. He comes our track most of the way ... And if he's tight, he might start sheddin' his stones out along the road—you never can tell."
George Woods laughed. The big, genial soul of the man looked out of his eyes.
"That's true," he said heartily.
Archie and he smiled into each other's eyes. They understood very well what lay behind Archie's words; They could not bring themselves to admit there was any danger to the sacred principle of Ridge life, that a mate stands by a mate, in letting Rouminof wander home by himself. He might be in danger if there were rats about; they would admit that. But rats, the men who sneaked into other men's mines when they were on good stuff, and took out their opal during the night, were never Ridge men. They were new-comers, outsiders, strangers on the rushes, who had not learnt or assimilated Ridge ideas.
After a few minutes George turned away. "Well, good-night, Archie," he said.
Watty moved after him.
"'Night!" Archie replied.
George and Watty went along the road together, and Archie walked off in the direction Michael had taken.
But Michael had not gone home. When the trees screened him from sight, he had struck out across the Ridge, then, turning back on his tracks behind the town, had made towards the Warria road. He walked, thinking hard, without noticing where he was going, his mind full of Paul, of Sophie, and of his promise.
Now that Paul had his opal, it was clear he would be able to do as he wished—leave the Ridge and take Sophie with him. For the time being at least he was out of Jun Johnson's hands—but Michael was sure he would not stay out of them if he went to Sydney. How to prevent his going—how, rather, to prevent Sophie going with him—-that was Michael's problem. He did not know what he was going to do.