The Shadow of a Man

l legacy in boyhood; had immediately taken himself away from the Church of England Grammar School, and booked his passage to London by an early boat. On the voyag

nd a legal instead of an athletic tradition. In due course he took as good a degree as he required, and proceeded to be called at the English bar before returning to practice in Melbourne. In connection with his university life he had two or th

criticism, while possessed of a capital gift of insolence and a face of triple brass. The man, however, was not so perfect; even the gentleman may exhibit certain flaws.

e than to combat the pet theories of persons whom he had no occasion to conciliate. He could take any side on any question, as became the profession he never ceased from practising. He destroyed illusions as other men destroy game, and seldom made a new acquaintance without securing a

critical for twenty-four hours. He had kept his word like a man and a martyr. The second night

d not have brought down with his Lee-Metford. But Theodore had discovered that there was no medium in the bush. Look at the heat! He had been through the Red

; he was a humorist hi

it in Greek up

etty badly at his public school, and was going to do worse in the bush, but he still knew L

said the jackeroo

comedian. "'Tis the voice of the scholard, I heard him explain! He comes from Rugby, Mr. Bethune; hasn't he told you yet? Cal

said no more, however, and a brief but disdainful silence on the part of Bethune made an awkward pause which Rigden broke heroically. Hitherto but little talking had been requir

both by never glancing their way. Nothing had been noticed yet; nor indeed was there anything remarkable in their silence after so long a day spent in each other's exclusive society. From time to time, howeve

r approached with d

the store, Mr. Rigden

m your room. No, don't bother about your books to-nig

oya when the y

s many," he m

was no

lamp was at the latter's elbow, and the rays fell full upon the long succesful nose and the unwavering mouth of an otherwise rather ordinary legal countenance. There was plenty of animation in the face, however, and enough of the devil to redeem a good deal o

y at your age. I've had them myself, and may have one or two about me still. You only know it when you lose them,

hether he should regret it the less in future for what this Cambridge man had to say upon the subject. On the whole it did not reconcile him to the

orekeeper. "Give the bac

that I'd mind the dust if there was anything to do in it. Of course this sort of thing's luxury," he had the grace to interject; "in fact, it's far too

et this," said the

served Theodore, "when there happened to

owered h

ce shot dead in thi

was

it was befo

years

wenty, I

ckfellows' camp in Collins Street, twenty years ago!

oined Spicer warmly. "Not twent

ause some poor devil painted it red before I was breeched? What shall it profit us that there were bushrangers once u

s peculiar brand of badinage. "He's coming it again, Ives; yo

e subtleties of your own humour, is a so-called turkey the size of a hays

nsulting him while he rummaged his big head for a retort w

place for you, and its within ten mile

f the Tower,"

es; only scrub, and scrub, and scrub of the very worst. Mallee and porcupine-porcupine and mallee. But you go and sample it; only don't get

sked Bethune

; "thirst and hunger,

nced c

t a drop of water, nor the trace of a trac

miles from a fence; surely you could hi

ack, and you'll see what it's like to strike a straight line through mallee and porcupi

om his chair. "I'm not keen on turning o

at?" inquired Moya, following him into th

, and returned as far as Bethune's chair. "Sure you want an adventure, Theodore? Because the Assyrians are coming d

with one accord the party rose, and gathered at the end of the verandah, whence the three black horsemen cou

want?" idly in

vict," said Ri

cried

Ives, turning instinct

plied Moya, with n

d Bethune, and he favoured the engaged couple with a scrutiny too keen

want it to get about. Th

much as all the rest. But meanwhile the riders were dismounting in the moonlight. R

cks me how he gave you such a wide berth and us the slip. We can't have been

plied Rigden, rather lamely. "I thought I'd leave it till you

ead, and yet I don't want anybody else to take him! Sounds well, doesn'

stood

elves? You needn't answer: of course you won't. Well-then-it's good old Bovill the bush

den, but only because he fel

yes-that's the gentleman. None other! Incredible, isn't it? Of course it wasn't Darlinghurst he esc

ven't always time to read them

here have lost their end of the thread, and it was my great luck to pick it up again by the merest c

the

more or less

t tell

ck, Mr. Rigden!" the policeman was obliged to add, with

ugh was genuine

. "But ask the other fellows if they've seen the kin

and still hold her peace. Thereupon Rigden breathed more freely, and offered supper with an improving grace

e've ridden our cattle off their legs since we were here in the afternoon. We must hark back on our own track

hought a

t's empty, but in here we're rather full. As for horse

e was not a conspicuously attractive young man, but he had on

of us run up th

like that. Give

yself, Mr. Rigden. The new

ocks as I know them, nor the mokes either. Nobody does, for that

t they don't,

twice as quick as anybody el

t on

nd take Mr. Bethune in with you for a drink. That's your billet for to-night, Spicer

itered there, though the jackeroo had the night-horse ready saddled, until Theod

e cried when about to mount. "Hold h

go for

you c

s gone; for he was an absent-minded youth, who did not even noti

rom the barracks over to the store, and remain there some minutes, with the door shut and