Part 13 (1/2)

Sinkuer in his sleeves--he had made draht have befallen him

It presented to Eustace'sstanding over the shrinking chinkee, threatening his life if he did not obey the exorbitant deht There apparently really were black-fellows in the neighbourhood--a whole tribe living in the Bush

The story of the poor whiteup in the woodhad never come into their experience, but they knew the terrible possibility of it Many a ainst the ”wait-a-bit” or ”lawyer cane” It springs round its victi, and he is helpless to free himself if his arms happen to be pinioned Who could this particular poor fellow have been, found not far from the plantation? No one would ever know, Mrs Orban reflected pitifully

”And ere the things you had to buy, Sinku?” asked Eustace, with intense interest

Sinkuars, which he set sole her narrowly, to see what effect his action produced

She gave a start of surprise

”Why,” said Eustace, springing to his feet, ”this is the servants'

jewellery, and their watches The black-fellow never got theht out of our house”

Sinkum nodded drearily

So he had discovered, he said When too late he had heard of the reward for the catching of that black-fellow He could only claiood iven ten tis, and thus only had he saved them from the black-fellow

In his endeavour to point out that it was due to hi next fell into raptures over his own deeds Had he but known that reatest treasure--his fine long pig-tail--to have detained hireat air of devotion--a China-tail

But no aive the ht have to make, she said,went away in a transparently aggrieved frame of mind

”Mother,” Eustace said, as soon as the man's footsteps died away round the veranda, ”did you believe his story about the black-fellow?”

”At first, yes,” Mrs Orban ad is quite possible I pictured the black-fellow bringing in a wallet containing the poor traveller's kit, a worn leather belt, with perhaps some money in it, a pipe and pouch”

”Yes, that is what I expected,” said Eustace

”Then one could have believed that Sinkuht be taken in by the tale,” Mrs Orban went on; ”but never tell me he believed it when he saw those trinkets They are not the sort of things a Bush about with him, and Sinkum knows that as well as I do He is no siht be one, and he overreached hia”

”You don't even think Sinkus?”

Eustace asked

Mrs Orban shook her head and smiled

”I very much doubt it,” she said ”Indeed, I am inclined to fancy the thief was no black-fellow at all now It is just as likely he was a Malay or Manila boy fro is in collusion with hio shares in the reward; but Sinkum meant to make as much more out of me for himself as he possibly could”