"Did you see anything of Wyck after landing?"
"Once I saw him in the street, but I don't know where he is staying. Do you know him?"
"I met him in England," answered Reg, quietly.
"He's the funniest chap I ever saw," continued McKintosh. "He shared my cabin, and just before landing I went down to pack. I had tennis shoes on, and I came upon him unawares, and he seemed a bit flurried."
"I don't know, exactly, but he seemed to be whittling a stick--a black stick with a lot of notches in it."
"My God!" said Reg, startled out of his reserve.
"Nothing," answered Reg, as, excusing himself, he left the room.
"He's subject to sudden attacks like that. Don't mind them," said Hal to McKintosh, in a casual way; and, bidding him good-night, left the room.
When he joined Reg in the room they shared, he was taken aback at what he saw. Reg was polishing his die with a chamois leather, and his face wore an expression of sternness.
"Hal, old chap. We must get this in use at once."
"My dear boy, we cannot go faster than we are going. We have not lost an instant up till now."
"His place is ten miles from here, on the North-Western line. He has a private siding called Lewisham."
"One of us had better go and see him. How do the trains run? Where's the guide?"
"Here you are. The first train leaves at 8.10. I think I had better go, and leave you to get our things packed and square up, in case I send you a wire."
"Yes, all right. I should like to sympathize with him, but I may get another chance. This is the only thing that gives me relief," added Reg, holding up his die, "when I think that some day it will be used for the purpose that I had it made for."
"Let's hope so, old chap. But now to bed."
The North-Western express pulled up for a few moments at the Lewisham siding, and Hal alighted with a "Thank you, sir; that's the house, over there," from the guard; and the train proceeded on its way.
The house referred to was a mansion in size. It was surrounded by beautiful trees, and stood in well-kept grounds, in the midst of which a lake could be discerned glistening in the sun. The country round was the pick of the land, for Goodchild's father had taken it up in the early days, when every pound in cash that a man could show entitled him to an acre of land. No check being put on this rough-and-ready mode of procedure, the sovereign was frequently passed on to a friend to show, who would secure another portion and hand over the title to his principal, receiving something for his trouble. Most of the rich estates in Tasmania were originally obtained in this manner. Hal walked along the path leading to the house, lost in admiration of its beautiful, natural surroundings. His arrival was apparently noted, for an elderly man came out to meet him.