The Argosy, Vol. XXIV No. 2 — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

260 THE TRACK OF MIDNIGHT. Johnson looked at it blankly, his thoughts reverting at once to his friend. ‘‘ We can’t tell him,’’ he said quickly. ‘“ Not yet,’’ Douglas answered; ‘ Luckily I didn’t breathe a word to him where you had gone,” Johnson went on. ‘“‘I had a look round for tracks,’’ Douglas interrupted. ‘ They followed their usual mode, attacking from all sides and riding off in different direc- tions, and then crossing and recrossing each other’s trails. We'll have to raise the country over this.’ ‘‘ But what has become of the girl? ’’ Johnson asked. Wilton, hearing the voices had come to the door of the house, aud Douglas caught sight of him. ‘‘ Don’t talk about it now: there he is,’’ he said, as he got out of his saddle and walked up to the house. ‘’ My word, you’re looking yourself again already,’’ he said as he went up to Wilton. ‘‘In a week from now you'll be all right.”’ ‘‘ Thanks to you and Johnson, and fs : ‘‘ Dick’s stew? Yes, that’s the joker,’’ Johnson called out, interrupting him. ‘You came along the Billah road, didn’t you?’’ Wilton said, turning to Douglas. ‘‘ Did you see ‘ By the way, Douglas, Wilton is very anxious to hear your yarn,”’ John- son interrupted quickly. ‘‘I didn’t care to tell it for you, seeing you would be back today.”’ ‘“There’s not much to tell,’’ Douglas began, while Johnson slipped behind Wilton and shook his head vigorously. ‘‘ But I can give it to you when—hullo, what’s this?’’ he broke off suddenly, as he caught sight of a black fellow passing the window. The next moment a stalwart aboriginal, streaked with ocher and holding a war spear in his hand, entered the room and stood just inside the door- way. ‘“‘ Hullo, my hearty, what name belonga you,’’ Johnson cried, springing to his feet. ‘‘ Meleelee man! Toombul man! Billah man no good !’’ the black said. ‘‘ Gib it tucker ; plenty black fellow want it tucker,’’ he went on, waving his hand towards the outside of the house. ‘‘ Me show it Billah girl; plenty flood ; my word.’’ Douglas and Johnson looked at each other while Wilton cried out as he stepped towards the black, ‘‘ Quick ! What is it?’”’ ‘* Billah big fire; Billah girl say, ‘Quick, tell Meleelee man; flood come down, me plenty dead soon.’ ”’ ‘Billah burnt ! Mary-~#losdsdead !?? Wilton gasped. ‘‘Oh, my God !’’ he cried as he staggered back. : ‘Hold up, man—hold up,’’ Johnson cried as he caught him. ‘‘ You talk their lingo, Douglas ; ask him what he means.” Douglas made free with what food was on the table, and, taking the black fellow outside, shouted to Dick to give him enough to feed himself and (E(0) aA) Ehboo < 3