Part 30 (1/2)

”Not a bit of it, Mr Frank,” replied Jacob, bluntly. ”He knowed precious well how to play his game. I'll be bound there's summat wrong about his getting this gold; I'll ne'er believe he dug it up hisself. I shouldn't wonder if he hasn't robbed some poor chap as has worked hard for it; and now he wants to get out of the colony as fast as he can afore he's found out. And, in course, he's been carrying this bra.s.s lapped up a long time, just in case you should light on him at any time, and he might seem to have a proper tale to tell. But you may be right sure, Mr Frank, as you'd ne'er have seen a penny of it if he could only have got clear out of the colony without coming across yourself.”

”You're not very charitable, Jacob, I think,” said his master; ”but it may be as you say. And yet, why should he be so anxious to go out in the same s.h.i.+p with me? If he wanted to keep his money to himself; why didn't he keep close till the _Sabrina_ was gone, and then sail by the next vessel?”

”Perhaps he did mean it, Mr Frank, only you happened to light on him.”

”No, that cannot be, for he says he has paid for his own pa.s.sage.”

”Then, if that's a true tale,” said the other, ”I'll be bound he's not done it with any good meaning for you or me. I shall keep both my eyes well open, or he'll be too much for me. And as for you, Mr Frank, oh, don't listen to him, or he'll hook all your bra.s.s as he's given you out of your pocket again, or he'll lead you back to the drink if he can.”

Frank coloured, and looked troubled, and turned the conversation to another subject.

At last the day of sailing came. The _Sabrina_, taken in tow by a steam-tug, soon made her way to Holdfast Bay, where she was to lie at anchor till Sat.u.r.day morning. Hubert and his uncle accompanied Frank Oldfield thus far, and then returned in the steam-tug. Before they parted, Hubert had a long conversation with his friend in his cabin.

His last words were of Mary, and Frank's one special temptation; and they separated with a fervent grasp, and eyes br.i.m.m.i.n.g with tears. Yet in neither of their hearts was there hope. Hubert felt that his friend had not satisfied him that he really meant utterly and for ever to renounce strong drink; and Frank felt that he had withheld any positive promise so to abstain, because he knew that the deep-rooted purpose of his heart was to resume the indulgence which would be his ruin, body and soul.

And where was Juniper? No one saw him on deck; and yet a.s.suredly he was on board the vessel, for Jacob had seen him come up the side.

Sat.u.r.day morning, and a fine favourable wind. Up comes the anchor--the _Sabrina_ bends to the breeze--away they go! Kangaroo Island is reached and pa.s.sed. Then emerges Juniper Graves from his cabin between decks, and smiles as he looks around him. All is safe now.

The _Sabrina_ had been gone ten days, when a weary, downcast-looking man entered Mr Abraham Oliphant's office.

”Your name ain't Oliphant, is it?” he asked, doggedly.

”Yes, it is,” said Hubert, whom he was addressing.

The man got up, and stared steadily at him for a minute.

”It ain't him!” he muttered to himself.

Hubert was inclined at first to be amused; but there was something in the man's manner that checked his merriment.

”You want my uncle, perhaps,” he said.

Mr Abraham Oliphant came at his nephew's summons. The man, who had all the appearance of a returned digger, shook his head.

”_You've_ neither on you been to the diggings, I reckon?”

”No; we have neither of us been,” said the merchant.

”Are there any of your name as has been?” asked the other.

”None; I can answer for it,” was the reply. ”My sons have none of them been; and we, with my nephew here, are all the Oliphants in this colony.

No Oliphant has been to the diggings from South Australia.”

The man sighed deeply.

”Can you make anything out o' that?” he asked, handing a piece of soiled paper to Mr Oliphant. ”I can't read myself, but you can read it.”

The merchant took the piece of paper and examined it. It had once been part of an envelope, but had been torn and rolled up to light a pipe, and one end, where it had been used, was burned. The words left on it were all incomplete, except the names ”Oliphant” and ”Australia.” What was left was as follows:--

_yes_, _Oliphant_, _delaide_, _th Australia_.