"You won't always put it off like this? I am growing bad-tempered over there."
"You silly boy, you are only a few miles away. We see each other every week. But we may catch father in a soft moment. We must find him after he has locked the tanks. He'll be in such a good humour at the thought of a fight to-morrow, that he may say yes. Let's find him now. Go away, stupid, I want to get up."
Maud rose to her feet, shook out her dress, and pushed her hair out with her fingers. She kissed Power for the last time, and they went down the steps into the moonlight. She ran ahead, taking little heed of her footing. The stones in the creek were thick and rough, and she trod them with quick feet while Power crunched behind. The stable was not far away, and they followed the fence towards it. The horses stood together with drooped heads at the lower end of the yard. All this quarter of the camp was picked out plainly in the moonlight.
A figure moved about the stable. It was Neville back from his rounds. Maud nodded her head in his direction.
"There's father waiting for us," she said. "Now Mr.-my-friend-Jim, are you feeling as brave as you were?"
"You must look after me."
"Certainly not. I never pretended to be brave."
"I shall find courage somehow."
Old Neville's voice arrived. "Be smart ye two. You've been an awful time. I expected ye gone long ago, Power. That fool groom has jammed the door so as I can't get in. I'll let him hear about it to-morrow. See if you can do anything. He, he! ye'll have to do something, or ye'll go bareback home. What did ye want to come along for, Maud? Can't you let him alone for a minute? That's the way to sicken a man of ye." All three met outside the stable door. "D'ye see what I mean?" Neville said.