Still the detective hesitated about breaking his carefully-guarded secret to any one.
It was the day after the night of vigilance, and Old Broadbrim found Waters smoking in the little house where the recruits slept.
He was alone.
"This is beastly work!" exclaimed Waters, as the detective came in.
"You don't like it, Dick?"
"I'd sooner run poachers," cried he. "It's better work and just as good pay. As for me, I never expected to become a ranch guard when I came out and now I'm ready to throw up my commission and put off back to Perth."
Old Broadbrim came closer to the young man and looked him fairly in the eye.
"Let's go together," he said.
"Oh, you're all right here. They think the world of you since you saved Merle from the bandits; and Belle Demona is stuck on you, Riggs."
"I can't help that. It's not my style of life, anyhow."