"Do tell us about your adventures," said May.
"When we left Brisbane we went on to Toowoomba and got on Wyck's tracks and chased him out West as far as Dalby. From there we set off in a buggy for Chinchilla, and we caught up his buggy, but found it had broken down, and that there was no trace of Wyck. We suppose he lost his way and was drowned in the creek, where his body was found."
"How did you manage in the bush? Did you have to camp out?" asked Hil, with an appearance of great interest, and gently touching May's foot.
"Oh, of course, and it was great fun," and they both laughed.
"Do tell us about it. I am so fond of hearing tales of the bush," said May.
"Well, when we reached the creek, we found an old fellow, named Brown, in charge of the buggy, and from him we learnt that his boss, as he called Wyck, had gone on to Chinchilla on foot, so we started after him, but, losing our way, had to return to the creek. Now, it struck us that Wyck might possibly return to his buggy during the night, so we camped about half-a-mile away, and, leaving a man in charge of our trap, we dressed up as swagmen and joined the party at the crossing, which had now been increased by the arrival of two new chums and a hawker's van."
"Tell them about the ants, Hal," said Reg.
"Oh, yes. Joe and the hawker had a dispute as to who should have a seat on the log used for the fire, but Joe had possession and determined to stick to it, which he did until a swarm of green-heads climbed up his back, and then he jumped up with a yell and flung off his clothes. Joe frightened the new chums, for they cleared off to their tent."
"What kind of fellows were these new chums?" asked Hil.
"Oh, nothing out of the common. Very ladylike in appearance and namby-pamby looking. I felt really sorry for them, but they ought never to have left their ma's apron-strings."
"Yes, I fancy this flood will send them back," said Reg, laughing.
"How very interesting: but you have been spreading the story about well," remarked Hil.
"Why, what do you mean? I have never spoken to a soul about it. Have you, Reg?"
"Well, I heard the same tale, yesterday, about old Brown and the ants," said Hil.
"Yes, and I fancy I can recognise you two in the story I heard, since you say you came as tramps."