‘We’ll get them back all right—­after,’ he said.

‘They’ll work Butts to a shadder,’ Jacker remarked insinuatingly.

‘Then we’ll go down some night, an’ strip Amson’s garden.’  Amson was a prominent resident of Cow Flat, and had nothing whatever to do with the goat raid, but the boyish sense of justice does not stoop to find distinctions.

Jacker Mack had another string to his bow.  ‘They say Harry Hardy’s comin’ home this week,’ he said.

‘No!’ cried Dick, much moved.  ‘Who says?’

‘Gable says.’

‘Pooh!  Gable’s a kid.’

’No matter, it’s true.  Mrs. Hardy had a letter, ’n Harry’s coming down with cattle.’

‘Gosh! he’ll make it hot for Tinribs, I bet.’

Waddy had been waiting for Harry Hardy to come home, confident that he would do something of an exciting character to the disadvantage of those persons who had been instrumental in sending his brother Frank to gaol.  Harry was much the younger of the two brothers; for some years he had been away droving, and the news of his brother’s misfortune was bringing him home from a Queensland station.  The township thought, too, there would be a score to wipe out on his mother’s account, and the return was looked for as an important public event.

Dick pondered over the situation for a moment.  It would never do to miss any entertainment that might result from Harry’s return, and yet there was Joel Ham still to be reckoned with.

‘I think we’d better wait,’ he said.  ’You fellows can let on as soon’s he arrives.’

Ted’s face fell again, and Jacker moved uneasily.  He was anxious to be out of the mine and away from the uncanny possibilities of that dark chasm, and yet it was absolutely necessary that he should show no sign of funk, leave no opening for the tongue of derision.  Some day, perhaps, when the full strength of the company was available and candles were numerous, he would follow Dick’s lead in the work of exploration, but for the present his whole desire was to get to the surface.  Now recollection came, and with it hope.  Diving into his breast pocket, he drew and crumpled envelope, and handed it to Dick.

A letter,’ he said, ‘from your mother.’

Dick was surprised; as he took the note Jacker discovered an accusation in his eye.

‘The oath don’t say nothin’ agin’ letters,’ said McKnight sullenly.

‘No,’ answered his mate, ’but really miners ain’t supposed to have mothers runnin’ after ’em, like if they were kids.’

‘Well,’ said the other, on the defensive, ’your mother comes to me at dinner time, an’ she says:  ’I s’pose ’taint likely you’ll see my Dick, Jacker.’  I said,’ No, Missus Haddon, ‘taint, s’elp me.’  Then she says, ‘Well, if he should come to see you, will you give him this?’ So I took it, an’ there you are.’