There, before their eyes, set forth in the columns of the Mercury, were the details of Detective Downy’s ruse, and valuable remarks enlarging upon the almost superhuman astuteness of the officer in question; the story of Dick’s capture by Rogers, the flight to the Piper shaft and all that happened there, the fight between the gold-stealer and the troopers, the shooting of Casey, the overthrow of Rogers, and the hunt for Ephraim Shine; all these things had happened in a small township within the space of a few hours, and Waddy, that had always found its Sunday nights hang so heavily on its hands, had been cheated out of every item of the bewildering list.  It was a shame, an outrage.  Detective Downy was voted a public enemy, and his name was execrated from the chapel yard to McMahon’s bar.

The only satisfaction available to the people was in going over the ground, and they flocked to Joe’s hut and congregated there, discussing, arguing, and predicting; examining with owlish wisdom the bullet mark on the hut chimney, and counting the blood spots on the worn track near the door where the hero Casey bled in defence of his country’s laws.  Of course, ‘the boy Haddon’ was a favourite theme, and now Dick appeared as a public benefactor.  The matter of the stolen gold had yet to be settled, but the most generous view of this business was popular, and the confidence in Richard Haddon was complete.  The women declared emphatically and without a blush that they had always believed in the honesty and intelligence and brave good heart of the boy.  To be sure he was a bit wild and a little mischievous—­but, there, what boy worth his salt was not? and, in spite of everything they had all seen long ago that Widow Haddon’s young son was a good lad at bottom.  His conduct in deluding Joe Rogers in the face of so terrible a danger reflected credit upon Waddy, and Waddy gratefully responded by being heartily proud of him.  A crowd marched to Mrs. Haddon’s back fence expressly to cheer Dick; and cheer him they did, in a solemn, matter-of-fact way, like a people performing a high public duty.  Dick was not in the least moved by this display of feeling, but his mother was delighted and kissed him heartily, and responded on his behalf by shaking a towel out of the back window with great energy and much genuine emotion.

CHAPTER XIX.

The detective had asked Harry to keep careful watch upon Dick, but the boy betrayed no inclination to roam, and when he did venture out it was to call upon Harry himself.  Dick’s spirits had recovered marvellously, and if it were not for an occasional fit of sadness (induced by thoughts of Christina Shine) he would have been quite restored to his former healthy craving for devilment, and eager to call together the shareholders of the Mount of Gold with a view to arranging further adventures.  Harry, too, no longer felt the ill effects of his injuries, and intended returning to work in the course of a few days.  The recent discoveries had served to lighten his heart, and yet thoughts of Christina welled bitterness; but his mother was happy in the confidence that at last justice would be done and her son restored to her.