Jim spread his hands in a gesture of despair.  ’I have been mistaken for Solo once; that risk must always follow you,’ he said.

’I am prepared; but the Government shall never pay their thousand pounds for a live man.  I appear as little as possible in the diggings in this guise, however.  You did not know me as the chief performer in that little comedy with Brigalow on Diamond Gully.  You did not recognise me in the dark man who talked with you and Burton while the madcap from Kyley’s was leading the troopers a merry dance along the lead.  By the way, I admire your taste in women, Jim.  She’s a fine, unshamed barbarian, this Aurora.’

The subject was distasteful to Jim.  He put it aside hastily.  ’If I worked with you in this scheme for disposing of the gold you would run the same risk,’ he said.

’No; I need not appear in the matter.  The field I speak of, which is probably very rich in itself, is so situated that we might work it for a year without being discovered.  Meanwhile, by making frequent trips to Ballarat and Bendigo, you could sell a great deal of my gold along with such as we may earn.  Then I should sail for England, taking with me as much gold as I could safely handle, leaving you to sell more, and eventually join me with the remainder.  In this way we can, if we choose, rid ourselves of three hundred thousand pounds’ worth without attracting any particular attention.’

‘You reckoned on finding me greedy for gold.’

’I reckoned more on finding you willing to seize an opportunity of exacting from society some return for death, torture, and infamy!’

‘There was a time when you might have prevailed.’

’That time may come again.  It needs only a new grievance—­the law to bruise you, the women to betray.’

Jim shook his head.  He felt the disc of Lucy’s locket pressing against his breast under his folded arms.  ‘I cannot believe it,’ he said.

The other was silent for some moments, and Jim watched him with troubled eyes.  None of the cruelty and the viciousness to which Ryder had given utterance found expression in his features, which were marked with sensitive lines and some refinement.  Done thought of Brummy the Nut, and it seemed to him little short of miraculous that this man had been able to come through similar experiences and yet show no evidence of it in his face.  Ryder arose and moved away a few paces.

‘If you go from here to another field,’ he said, ’leave word for me at one of the stores.’

‘Are you going?’

‘I may not leave Jim Crow for a few days.’

‘You have something in hand?’

’Meaning some robbery?  No; it is possible Solo has made a dramatic disappearance from contemporaneous history.’

You’ll drop the game?  Good!  Good!’

’It all depends.  I have the gold I need, but the sporting instinct may be too strong for me.  Just now there is other work in view.  Be assured, my intentions are not honourable, however.  We shall meet again.  My proposition may appeal to you later.  You will not forget it.’