The Springfield herald., 1899-02-03
CHAPTER XVI

There was not the slightest difficulty
In Identifying the body. for the mans
clothes, even to the other half of the
broken belt, were buried with him.
When William Luke narrated his
dream. men looked at one another
aghast. Even the most skeptical could
not doubt that he had actually seen a
vision of the murder as it really hap
pened. The one thing that grieved
him was that he had been unable to
see the face of the woman in the hut;
and thus his suspicious as to the con-
nection between Edward Bartlett, Anne
Dodson, and the late occupants of the
hut remained as unconfirmed as be-
fore.
Mr.. Hall at once communicated with
the police at Mount Gipps. and early
the next morning four troopers and
some black trackers appeared on the
scene.
Nearly two months had elapsed since
the departure of Baynes and his wife.
and nothing at all had been heard of
them. That they had murdered Robert
Luke there could be no possible doubt
The excitement on the station was
intense, and people Hocked from all
parts OF the country to witness the
scene Of the awful crime and to behold
the man who had dreamed that fearful
dream.
It was suggested that an expedition
should be sent out to hunt all the
country round about.
"If they are anywhere in the colony"
said Mr.. Hall, after long consultation
with the sergeant of the police, at Is
my opinion that they have taken to the
back country somewhere in the -direc-
tion OF the Gray Ranges. There they
might exist for years. If they happened
to drop across good water-supply, un-
seen by any mortal eye."
But there is vast sandy tract of
country between this and the Gray, is
there not?" inquired the sergeant.
Yes" replied Mr.. Hall; but 1t is
Just possible that they succeeded in
crossing it. This has been an unusual
ly wet season; and, from what the
stock men have told me, all the creeks
and 'clay-pans' out in that direction
are full OF water. Jack knows the coun-
try well-better than anybody about
this neighborhood. He has often been
out for weeks together after stray
cattle that have gone that way"
VERY we'll, sir" said the sergeant;
"I am willing to do whatever you may
think best"
"It is decided then" replied Mr.. Hall.
I'VE will take two weeks provisions on
| pack horses, and see If we can't come
across their tracks"
This seemed most sensible plan to
pursue, and accordingly party was
organized, consisting OF the sergeant,
three troopers, young Jack, Mr.. Hall,
| William Luke, and-much to Mr.. Halls
disgust-Sullivan the innkeeper.
Mr. Hall did his utmost to prevent
sullivan's Joining the expedition. so
but, as he had provided himself with
pack-horse well-laden with food and
grog, Mr.. Hall could not well prevent
him from accompanying them.
AS matters turned out. 1t would have
been very much better for Mr.. Sullivan
II he had allowed himself to be dis
suaded; but the majority OF sensible
people, when talking the affair over
in after years, were decidedly of opin-
ion that 1t was very good job for
every one else that he had Joined the
expedition.
The commotion on the station on the
morning when the expedition started in
search Of the fugitives was tremendous.
Pack-saddles were being adjusted to
restive brutes whose sole aim and OBJ
ject was to kick themselves free from
their encumbrances. All sorts of things
were forgotten and remembered Just
at the last momeIt
At last the cavalcade got under way,
and Mrs. Hall and her daughter watch
ed 1t across the plain from the veran-
dab of the house until the gumtrees,
which lined the creek for some miles,
| hid 1t from view.
The expedition proceeded some thir-
ty miles or more without any difficulty
in fact, the country was familiar to
nearly all the riders. Several small
out-stations were passed, where boun-
dary riders and shepherds In Mr.. Halls