CHAPTER XVIII.—CONTINUED.

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 239, 20 November 1873, Page 2

CHAPTER XVIII. —CONTINUED.

Thik they talked of the probable value of their nugget ; o* when the next opportunity of conveying gold to kbs- station under safe escort would be likely to occur ; and of when they might hope to receive letters from England. It was now a long time since any communication from home had reached them, and Waller was getting very impatient. He did not cren know where Florence was. When he had lait heard from her, aha was at Naples, where Mr and Mr* Sfc Quentin meant to remainj&r the winter and th» early spring, and from thence she ey,J they would return to England. Her letter was wnttciPWipt. short time before that ot Mra M Kit clue had come to create on entire change in her life," actual and prospective. They referred to its content*, and to Florence's mentioning that Miriam wu sitting for her pert rait to a famous painter at Naples. • She is very handsome, is she not ?' asked Daly. 1 Yes ; I think so. Her features are not very regular, and she has not much colour, people say ; but I think her face lovely — the expression is so bright and fearlet* ; and ber eyea arc splendid ! Large golden eyes. Can you imagine an eagle's eye, with all the brightness left in them, and a great deal of exquisite softness added on occasion ?' ' It it not an easy effort of imagination, but I think I can. That is just the kind of beauty I hare imagined sometimes, but I never really saw it. But, Walter, a woman like your sister must have ranrried a rich man ; she never could hay» been happy in an obscure position.' A 'No,' said Walter carelessly; 'I suppose not. At all events, she has done it, and there's no good in grumbling/ ' How delighted she will be to welcome you to ber hotnt ! Wi ere is St Quentin's place?' ' I don't think he has one. Neither Miriam nor Florence has said anything about it ; and as to her welcoming me, that must depend in a great measure on my venerable brother-in-law. I hare rather a curiosity to see the old fellow. I I daresay he is not n bad tort, if h» were not Miriam's husband.' •There you go again! One would think you were her mother, Walter, you are so Imrd to please. You have just said, very sensibly, that, as the deed was done, there was no use in grumbling, and there you are, grumbling again.' ' I beg your pardon, old fellow,' said Walter, with his usual gay good-humour, ' for bothering you with my guesses and forebodings about the fate of a woman you never saw, and perhaps never will see, though I hope you will. I hay« been boring you horribly all this time.' I Indeed, you have not, Walter. Everything that inw* reats you interests me also, and I have the utmost curio* sity to see Mrs St. Quentin ; moreover, I am not at all inclined to doubt that it is much better for my peace of mind that I shall see ber first, if I see her at all, at Mrs Mrs St Quentin. How very white and tired yon are looking.' I 1 am tired. I think I will turn in for a good night* rest, and so pet rid of my headache. 1 ' Nothing was said between the fcwo of the care, as tender and the watching as vigilant, aa any which » woman might have b- stowed, which Walter had lavished on Daly'; but between these two men words were not needed. Their hearts were knit together in one of those friendships which have the gravity, dignity, and simpli- | city of the higher class of male character, uuited with the partial affection which women feel for one another. It bad grown out of a casual association into one of the moat ! enduring tie s which human feeling can create, and it was; wholly uninjured by the great superiority of Lawrenoe to Walter. _ 1 Just before they parted for the night, Daly said, I don't understand exactly where it is you have hidden our nugget, Walter. You must show me the spot to-morrow.' • I made an exact memorandum of it in my pocket-book, like the man in Edgar Poe's story ; only it is not in cipher. And I don't mean that any one else shall read it. Nothing like being bnsiness-like, you know. But as to shewing it to you to-morrow, it is out of the question. It's a good way up the ravine, and a steepiah climb to get within »i,'htof it. Don't flatter yourself you could do the distance, or anything hLe it even on the level, m yet. Deering cautioned me about your tendency to imagine yourself too well, and tire yourself.' How wts this ! He was on land, not in a ship, but striving to bi r>t open a 1« o'«d and barred door, but whether ho was wildly anxious to get in or out of the place which the door defended, he was not sure, he only knew that there was urgent need of him at the other side of those locks and bars ; he struggled with oil his strength, and, it seemed to him, with the strength of many others beside himself, to wrenck them open, for there vreJe whispering voices calling to him, and stealthy steps creeping up to him, and now he ffijit flee. And the lorks and bars ; Stay ;he had the secret of fiem : they were old acquaintances of his ; he had slid through them many a time when he was a boy. Why, he was a boy now, and he must get out of the house noiselessly, to escape from his father. The bolt is slipped, the key i» turned, and Walter stands on the stony plateau, the huge rock frowniiig blackly before him, and the awful steel vault of the sky, a million miles, it soems to him, above him. To be sure, it is up there be wants to go : he knows all abont it now ; that Mas what was whispered of close to him ; and he rushes out with a shout, nud flings his arms up, as though they were wing?, tnd he were trjing them, but is tripped op, . and brought down, prone upon his bands and fsee, by something which lies in the deep shadow. Be utters' no sound, but dutches at this substance, and lies, partly beside, panly orer it, tjluiddering, until, in another minute, Lawrence is on tlio spot, and investigating that heap- by thelisjljt of tb# steel vault and the stars. Besides Walter, it consists of* dead dog and a dea^snan •, of Sambo, dextertunrivvehoktd by a loop ct the end 'of a long line; and of Spoiled Five, whose skull ie shattered, probably by the butt-rnd of a Derringer.