which they started. And what beats me is how it was done in the time; and how, supposing it was Sam Shehan, he could have got the news to Moonlight, been at the corroboree—for I saw him with my own eyes."
"Yes," said Elsie.
"And have started with Trant and the half-castes before ten. Trant swears he never left his side, and that they were on the run the first thing this morning, getting in some fats ready for the butcher. Of course the theory of Trant's implication does away with that alibi. But it's too absurd. Neither of the theories will work. Time's against it for one thing, and all the facts. The butcher was there; the fats were there—in the paddock—Sam Shehan and the two half-castes were there, and as far as I could see, not another soul about the place."
"Did you tell Mr. Trant of your suspicions of Sam Shehan?" Elsie asked.
"No, but I hinted 'em to Blake; and, by Jove, it was the only time he flared up; said he'd answer for Shehan with his life, offered to have him put under arrest if we liked; wanted the mere shadow of a suspicion cleared off him. Well, as I said, facts are facts—and Macpherson was the first to declare that we must look elsewhere. The other theory is that Moonlight is in with the Blacks, and was at the corroboree himself and heard us talking about the diamonds—what fools we were!—and got all the information he wanted. It was extraordinary quick work. Anyhow I think the diamonds are pretty safe. They can't dispose of 'em, and they wouldn't be likely to break them up at once. And there'll be such a hue and cry and raising of the country that Moonlight's hiding-place isn't likely to remain undiscovered for long. One thing we may be fairly sure of, that the lair is somewhere hereabouts; and Trant declares that if it is anywhere in the Luya Jack Nutty and Pompo, who know every inch of these parts, are sure to find it. That's something comforting for Em, at any rate."
Lady Waveryng, however, was not a woman to fret vainly over the inevitable. Lord Waveryng was far more
