A few minutes later Captain MacAlister asked Gerrard and Fraser to come up on the bridge, and Gerrard unfolded Lacey's missive and read:
“Just recognised one of your fellow-passengers—tall, stout,
good-looking, yellow moustache, jewellery. Look out for him—
noted card-sharper, and all-round blackguard. Calls himself
Honble Wilburd Merriton, but has heaps of aliases—ex-gaol
bird.”
Gerrard showed the note to Fraser, who nodded, and said he had noticed the man.
“I think there is a party of them. See, there they are together at the companion; and, by Jove, I can swear to one of them! I tried him at Araluen for being concerned in gold-stealing, and gave him three years 'hard.' That is he with the black moustache and Jewish features—Mr Barney Green.”
CHAPTER XX
Not only the saloon, but the steerage accommodation of the Gambier was taxed to the utmost, and Gerrard and Fraser were not surprised to see that there were quite a hundred diggers on board, for Lacey had told them a few days previously that the Sydney and Melbourne newspapers as well as the Queensland Press had, weeks previously, reported that many prospecting parties were doing well on both sides of Cape York Peninsula.
Some of them the ex-judge quickly recognised as men he had met at Gympie and other Queensland gold-fields, and he was especially pleased to see one man—a tall, broad-shouldered Irishman named Blake, who at that moment was engaged in an altercation with the fore-cabin steward, and causing roars of laughter every few moments from his rough companions.
“That's a 'broth av a boy,' and no mistake,” said Captain MacAlister, coming over to Fraser and Gerrard; “he's as full of mischief as a monkey, but a great favourite with every one on board, except the unfortunate stewards. He is a lucky digger from Gympie, and came aboard at Brisbane, and has kept the ship in an uproar ever since. He took a four-berth state-room for himself, but only uses it to sleep in—if the devil ever does sleep—and spends all his time among the other diggers in the fore-cabin.”
“I know him,” said Fraser with a smile. “Just listen now—he is taking a rise out of the poor steward.”