She was walking rapidly towards the Humpey, Frank leading his horse by her side. As they walked he told her breathlessly all he knew.
It was Pompo who had given the information, and offered to lead the police to the cave. Mr. Torbolton would not believe that Blake was implicated, but Trant had been clever enough to furnish the half-caste with conclusive proof, which had made it clear to Captain Macpherson, at any rate, that the Outlaw and the Lawmaker were one. Trant had either left the colony, or was in secure hiding. No trace of him was discoverable.
Pompo had not betrayed him, but indeed strenuously asserted Trant's innocence. But no one believed him. Captain Macpherson, in a state of wild excitement, had arrived with his troopers at Tunimba on his way to the cave. There had been some little delay about the warrant, which he had counted on one of the Halletts signing. Jem was away, and Frank had refused to sign, and they had been obliged to seek another magistrate. In the meantime, Frank had mounted and ridden furiously to the Humpey to take counsel with Elsie.
The girl stopped him at a cross-cut. One path led round by the stock-yard, the other to the house. She pointed to him to take the first.
"Look here," she said, keen and collected, with all her woman's wits about her, in the face of danger to the man she loved, "you must go to the stock-yard, where I know Ina's horse and one for Lord Waveryng are saddled. He and Em were to go for a canter at sunset. Take the horses to the Crossing, and wait for me. I will slip into the house and leave a note, so that Ina may not be frightened at my being away, and I shall join you before many minutes."
He did as she bade him. It seemed providential that the horses should be in readiness. He had not waited long before he saw her light figure flying down the narrow path half hidden by gum-trees, which led from the house. No one had seen either of them, and Elsie had left a note on
