Frank coloured, and looked troubled, and turned the conversation to another subject.
At last the day of sailing came. The _Sabrina_, taken in tow by a steam-tug, soon made her way to Holdfast Bay, where she was to lie at anchor till Saturday morning. Hubert and his uncle accompanied Frank Oldfield thus far, and then returned in the steam-tug. Before they parted, Hubert had a long conversation with his friend in his cabin. His last words were of Mary, and Frank's one special temptation; and they separated with a fervent grasp, and eyes brimming with tears. Yet in neither of their hearts was there hope. Hubert felt that his friend had not satisfied him that he really meant utterly and for ever to renounce strong drink; and Frank felt that he had withheld any positive promise so to abstain, because he knew that the deep-rooted purpose of his heart was to resume the indulgence which would be his ruin, body and soul.
And where was Juniper? No one saw him on deck; and yet assuredly he was on board the vessel, for Jacob had seen him come up the side.
Saturday morning, and a fine favourable wind. Up comes the anchor--the _Sabrina_ bends to the breeze--away they go! Kangaroo Island is reached and passed. Then emerges Juniper Graves from his cabin between decks, and smiles as he looks around him. All is safe now.
The _Sabrina_ had been gone ten days, when a weary, downcast-looking man entered Mr Abraham Oliphant's office.
"Your name ain't Oliphant, is it?" he asked, doggedly.
"Yes, it is," said Hubert, whom he was addressing.
The man got up, and stared steadily at him for a minute.
Hubert was inclined at first to be amused; but there was something in the man's manner that checked his merriment.
Mr Abraham Oliphant came at his nephew's summons. The man, who had all the appearance of a returned digger, shook his head.
"_You've_ neither on you been to the diggings, I reckon?"
"No; we have neither of us been," said the merchant.
"Are there any of your name as has been?" asked the other.
"None; I can answer for it," was the reply. "My sons have none of them been; and we, with my nephew here, are all the Oliphants in this colony. No Oliphant has been to the diggings from South Australia."
"Can you make anything out o' that?" he asked, handing a piece of soiled paper to Mr Oliphant. "I can't read myself, but you can read it."
