CHAPTER XVII.—CONTINUED.

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 237, 15 November 1873, Page 3

CHAPTER XVII. — CONTINUED.

' Bleeding,' exclaimed Walter, holding up his hand, and in doing so, pushing the letter-case, which he had meclinically closed, off the looker, whence it fell on the floor." 'So it is. I cut my wrist with a hit of stone this morning, nnd, washing my hands now, have set it bleeding again. It's a nasty deep three-coi nered cut to<> ' He was twisting a handkerchief round it, when Deering said : ' Stay; I'll do it up far you,' and took out of hia pocket a leather case contaiumg a fen small surgical instruments, and a provision of lint and sticking-plaster. Witb the aid of these materials he fastened up the cut in Walter's wrist, after a fashion, -which he declared to he very comfortable, though it stiffened his hand, and caused him to write the names Miriam and Florence upon the several letters intended for his sister and his wife, in a formal and constrained manner. This done, and the letters confided to Deering, Walter cleared away the writing materials, and resumed his customary peoition. The three young men talked on for a considerable time. There was no very strong or real liking between them, but they were of th» same class in society, living among men who, for the most part, belonged to inferior "lasses ; and the kind of association which theiis had been, if it had lesi beating in the future than the associations of less exceptional phases of society, had nearer importance in the present. When at length Deering announced that he must go, and was taking a cojdial leave of Daly, combining good wishes with some final professional instructions, Walter dechred his intention to accompany him a bit of the way. He would see him past the bluff, he said ; and they were leaving the hut together, when Deering saw his leather instrument-case lying on the floor in front of the locker. He picked it up, put it in his pocket, and they went out. At first they talked exclusively of Daly, but after awhile I observing Walter shading his eyes with his hand, though hw broad-leaved Panama hat sheltered them already, Deering asked him if he fell ill. ' No,' said Walter, ' it's only the glare of the sun ; it is hotter than usual to-day, I think, and I was up all night, and I feel queer.' ' Indeed Anything wrong with Daly ?' ' No,' Walter answered confusedly ; ' I had something particular to do, which kept me up, and 1 was always bad at doing without sleep.' ' I should say so, 1 said Deeiing quietly. ' for you are inclined to stagger now ; only, you aio guarding against it at every step. ' Don't come any farther, 1 beg ; and don't np gleet yourself in my way, just now. You are overdone. He stood still as he spoke, and put out his hand. They hid reached the bluff by this time, and, with some friendty words, they parted, Deering walking quickly on, and Walter watching his receding figure so long as it was in sight. 'He is a queer, restless fellow , and rather a bad lot, I suspect,' thought Walter. ' I wonder whether I shall ever see him again.' 1 What the devil was he doing,' thought Deering, ' that kept him up all night, and made him look so confused. I don't think he rightly knew what he was saying. Should not be in the least surprised if he were in for the fever. '

The light was sprea ing over the faoo of the iky before "Walter, now all unconscious of fatigue, left the spot, having matured and considered hit plan of action. Then he went out, stepped down into the rugged road, and from thence rapidly climbed a stony path which led to the brow of a ravine, forming a portion of their claim, distant about a quarter of a mile from the hut. The place was perfectly silent and solitary, the mining tools were lying about, the whole scene *yt peaceful. He gazed from the top of the ri\ mo it ft «pot where the rugged earth was scooped deeply I oit under the ragged edge, and after a few minutes' search, ' hi* eye lighted on the tpot he was looking for. It wat & larje piece of rock, which stuck out from the earth; and exactly beneath it, at an interval of about ill feet, there was another —the two forming natural slabs, by whose rough sides were clumps of stringy, harsh, brownish vegetation. The lower of the tiro ilsbs was so placed that a strong active man could reach it by a spring from the winding path, which was, in fact, a dry watercourse, that led upwards into the ravme on the side opposite to that from which Walter had approached it. He once more looked cautiously all round, and rapidly retraced hit steps into the hut. A couple of hours later, when Walter had lain down in his hammock to rest, and Lawrence Daly was thinking of getting up, when the hut andi ts surroundings wore a moit unusual aspect of stillness and idleness, Dpering, making an early visit to his patient, found Spoiled Five sitting on a 9 wooden bench before the door, arrayed in a rough leathern apron, and cleaning all the arms belonging to the establishment. ' I'm doubly glad to find you quite off tho sick-list,' snid Deering, after he and Daly had talked for some time, ' became I shall have no hesitation about starting to-morrow.' ' To-morrow ! Are you going so soon ?' 'Ye?; poing to Sacramento, and thenco on th» "roll." I told Clint I meant to try, down New Mciico way.' ' .And when to England?' ' That the Fntcs only can tell. I have bo particular wish to get back, hate jou ?' ' Well— yes—l think I have. I don't take very kindly to any other countvj, for lonj; at a time In that sense, I'm a wanderer too. But we can't go back uutil we've got what we came for.' They talked of the prospects of the country, and of the state generally, and exchanged some common-places about tho prospect of their meeting again. Presently, Walter, who had hoard tli« voices on awakening, came in. He was looking palo and tirutl. Ho wore a short canvas coat over v. hi 3 digger-, shirt, and in on<; of the gaping dog's-eared pockets |t there was a small green leather case, considerably tho worse for wear, which served the manifold purposes of purse, portfolio, and housewife. He shook hands with Deering, and ■ •ated himself m his favourite place on the locker, leaning bis head against the wall. Daly told Walter that Deering was leaving the place on the following day, and Deering ~ otlered to take charge of any letters they might have ready, I to bo mailed at. Sacramento. J Tins was a welcome offer to Walter, who had written to Florence at interials during Daly's illness, and also to Miriam, and was very glad of an opportunity of securing a eom- • p.imtively early despatch of his letters. They were ready ; ho had only to put that intended for Florence into a cover, enclose it in the leter for Miriam, and direct both to Mrs fat Quentin at the Fir% Drington, Hampshire. Tho letters were in the leather ca-»e in his pocket, and he got writing Jiiticri-ilii, which he plueed on tko 1< o'cci, and fchrn pulled out I le cjisc, |ji\>ili!<v 1 the letfrr-i, and was about to write Hie addresses, when D^orim; uitentipted him. ' VVliaVa tho matter with your wrist, Chut?' ho asked. ' It is bleeding, and you ,vr« smearing the edges of your lcttcro with bjood.'