“The story goes that Red Mark and a fellow convict escaped and commenced a passage. Walla Balla was a large farm estate at that time, and was employing nearly sixty convicts. Escape was almost impossible, the place was so well guarded, and such brutal treatment was inflicted on those that attempted to escape that few tried. Red Mark and his companion were lucky, however, and they managed to elude the bloodhounds. Their friends helped them with food. Feverishly they worked at the tunnel. It was their plan to burrow to the sea. It took them several years to complete it, but they accomplished their stupendous task at last. The night it was finished fifty convicts vanished. They had ransacked the larders and had taken plenty of food with them. Those that were left talked vaguely about having heard of a subterranean passage, but it was never found—at least not until now. Those convicts were never seen again. But at Karragua Creek a small sailing craft disappeared, and on it doubtless went Red Mark and his friends. But of course you’ve heard the story before. How did you find the place—by accident? And then I suppose you wagered you’d find your way through to the other end.” Alan smiled. Mr. Travers was extremely helpful. He talked so much himself that he gave no one else the chance of speaking, and he considerately answered all the questions that he put to the boys—himself. “Yes,” said Desmond, who had taken his cue from his cousin. “We told a friend about it, who wagered us one thousand pounds we would find our way through. Unfortunately, our lanterns went out, we lost our way, we had no food and—” “And I suppose you were a week or more in that cave—hungry and worn out?” finished Mr. Travers helpfully. “Now I’ve brought you your property back,” and he handed them the packages they had brought from the Tomb of Korah. “Oh, you might give me an official receipt for them,” and he handed the boys a paper for them to sign. “By the way,” he continued, as he put the receipt away, “that woman.” His genial face grew solemn. “What was it—? Was it some—some joke you had prepared, or was it—” “I can’t explain yet,” said Alan shortly. “We are going home to England where we have a very strange story to tell. I cannot explain the phenomenon you saw, but I may have to call upon you to repeat the story of her death. I suppose I may use your name?” “By all means. I shall be only too pleased to assist you young gentlemen in every way I can, but I shall be glad to hear about that woman—it was damned strange. By the way, I sealed your parcels with our office seal. I should like you to examine them to see they are intact.” “We won’t bother now, Mr. Travers, thank you. We have absolute confidence in you. By the way,” he added, as if in afterthought, “could you put me in touch with any one who would buy one or two unset gems? I have some with me, and am anxious to convert them into cash for our immediate use.”