Truscott then made a calculation as to the amount required for the wine and spirits, and drew a cheque on the bank. 'You are sure you think it safe, Murdoch?' he asked in low tones. 'Safe enough,' the other replied. 'They know well enough if they were to take it they would be hunted down; anyhow there is no other way of doing it unless one of us goes down, and neither of us can be spared. We did not reckon on the stuff going so fast, and it would never do to run out. They would go to the other places at once if they could not have liquor here. When do you expect to be back?' he asked, going across to the bar. 'In about four days, if they don't keep me.' 'They won't keep you,' the man said, 'longer than to go to the bank and get the money. To-day is Tuesday; you will get down to the road by to-night and you ought to be there by Thursday afternoon. If you get there in time to load up then and get out of the place you ought to be back by Saturday night.' 'I reckon I shall,' Jacob said; 'that is if all goes right and I don't smash a wheel or an axle.' 'I will give you twenty dollars more than I bargained for if you are back by sundown on Saturday. We shall want the stuff bad by that time.' Jacob nodded. 'I will do my best,' he said. 'The horses can do it if we don't get blocked with anything. Is there any shopping I can do for you, miss?' The girl shook her head. 'No, thank you; I have got everything I want.' 'You had better call at the post office when you get to the town,' Ned said. 'If you should think of anything more, miss, there would be time enough if you sent it off in the mail bag to-morrow morning. If you address it, "J. Langley," he will get it.' The girl glanced at him with some little interest. He had spoken in a rough tone, but she detected a different intonation of the voice to that in which she was generally addressed. 'You are English, are you not?' she asked. 'Yes, miss, I came across from the old country some time ago.' 'I am English too,' she said. 'I suppose the horses and cart belong to you?' 'They are a sort of joint property between us,' he said; 'I work at the diggings and he drives, and I take it he makes more money than I do.' 'What part do you come from?' she asked. 'Mostly London,' he said; 'but I have been working about in a good many places, and I don't look upon one as home more than the other.' 'You are going to work here for a bit?' she asked. 'Yes, it seems from all I hear as good a place as any, and if I can get regular work for the waggon I shall stop here for a while. I am just buying a share in a claim, and I shall anyhow stop to see how it works out.' 'I have not seen you here before,' she said. 'I took my supper here last night,' he said; 'but the place was full. I did not come in in the evening, for I am not given to drink and I have not taken to gambling.'