Four Days of Anguish

           THErestofthedaypassedonwithoutanyfurtherincident.AllthepreparationsforMulrady’sjourneywerecompleted,andthebravesailorrejoicedinbeingabletogivehisLordshipthisproofofdevotion.

           Paganelhadrecoveredhisusualsang-froidandmanners.Hislook,indeed,betrayedhispreoccupation,butheseemedresolvedtokeepitsecret.Nodoubthehadstrongreasonsforthiscourseofaction,fortheMajorheardhimrepeating,likeamanstrugglingwithhimself:"No,no,theywouldnotbelieveit;and,besides,whatgoodwoulditbe?Itistoolate!"

           Havingtakenthisresolution,hebusiedhimselfwithgivingMulradythenecessarydirectionsforgettingtoMelbourne,andshowedhimhiswayonthemap.AlltheTRACKS,thatistosay,pathsthroughtheprairie,cameoutontheroadtoLucknow.Thisroad,afterrunningrightdowntothecoasttookasuddenbendinthedirectionofMelbourne.Thiswastheroutethatmustbefollowedsteadily,foritwouldnotdotoattemptashortcutacrossanalmostunknowncountry.Nothing,consequently,couldbemoresimple.Mulradycouldnotlosehisway.

           Astodangers,therewerenoneafterhehadgoneafewmilesbeyondtheencampment,outofthereachofBenJoyceandhisgang.Oncepasttheirhidingplace,Mulradywascertainofsoonbeingabletooutdistancetheconvicts,andexecutehisimportantmissionsuccessfully.

           Atsixo’clocktheyalldinedtogether.Therainwasfallingintorrents.Thetentwasnotprotectionenough,andthewholepartyhadtotakerefugeinthewagon.Thiswasasurerefuge.