The Argosy, Vol. XXIV No. 2 — page 36: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

228 THE TRACK OF MIDNIGHT. that with which Wilton had been associated, and the news of the reverse had been communicated to Midnight by the black Warrigal. He explained, as well as he was able, that communication with Midnight was always made at a hidden cave in a deep, rocky gully which lay, so far as Wilton could gather, some miles behind his hut. Warrigal had arrived at the cave and had waited for Midnight. The chief of the outlaws, he said, had come in a great rage, and when he heard of the defeat he knocked the messenger down, and binding him hand and foot, flogged him with a green hide whip until he was exhausted and had then left the cave and the unfortunate native, bound and bleeding. After much difficulty, he had managed to get loose from his bonds, and burning for revenge, had hastened to Meleelee where he knew one of the se- cret members of the gang lived. He had crept up behind Wilton, thinking | that he was Doolan, when he sat smoking. He was just about to spear him when Wilton rose and faced him, and the surprise at seeing a different face from what the one he had expected, prevented his carrying out his intention. ‘Then, my word, all got dark and me no savee,’’ he said, by way of ex- plaining the sudden collapse he had experienced. ‘Where is Midnight now ?’’ Wilton asked. The black shook his head. ‘¢ Will you show me where the cave is?’’ Wilton asked. ‘‘My word, Midnight kill me, kill you,’’ Warrigal explained excitedly. ‘* No, he won't,’’? Wilton said. ‘‘I shoot him.”’ Warrigal laughed. ‘‘ No fear,’’ he said. ‘Why not?’’ Wilton inquired. ‘‘ Him plenty safe. You shoot him, my word, no good! Him shoot you, you dead.’’ ‘But why ?’’ Wilton persisted. ‘*Suppose you want kill him, you shoot him there,’’ Warrigal said, point- ing to hiseyes. ‘‘ No good,’’ he exclaimed, as he touched his head, chest and legs, and shaking his head vigorously all the time. ‘Where you learn English ?’’ Wilton asked, changing the subject with a view of suddenly returning to the Midnight question again and seeing whether the black would vary his story. ‘« Plenty long time, Sidney,’’ Warrigal answered. ‘¢ Who with?’’ Wilton inquired. Instead of replying, the black turned quickly towards the door and ap- peared to listen intently. Taking*Wilton by the arm, he held up a warning hand as if for silence, and bent his head on one side. Then he pointed to the doorway and slipping to the back of the hut, crouched down out of sight. behind a bag of flour and some other stores, which Wilton had placed there. At the same moment Wilton caught the sound of an approaching horse. CHAPTER X.—THE RESULT OF THE HXPERIMENT. As far back as Mary Giles could remember, she had never known her father to have such a prolonged fit or savage temper as he had after his un- books (€(0) ¢ iS