and annoyed at being convicted of an imprudence. "You are right," he added with native honesty, "I ought to have held my tongue. By Jove! there are the troopers now."
Four men in blue uniform rode up towards the Humpey, and gave a military salute. Captain Macpherson and Lord Horace hurried out to meet them at the back entrance to the Humpey.
"Oh, listen!" cried Elsie; "and look!"
There was a sudden blaze of camp fires illuminating strange fantastic forms, on the crest of the ridge opposite the Humpey. A barbaric rhythmic chant broke on the still air. It was the night of the corroboree.
Lady Waveryng started up. She did not want to lose any of the sight. Frank Hallett told her that he had made all the arrangements. They were to take up their position at a certain distance—not too near, and he would tell them when they must depart. They must not be shocked. He warned them that the dance might offend the squeamish.
"I don't suppose it can be worse than the Assassouis at Algiers," said Lady Waveryng; "I went to see that."
The ladies went off, and came back presently wrapped in dark ulsters. As they were leaving the house, Captain Macpherson joined them, and went up to Lord and Lady Waveryng, who were together.
"I've been talking to the sergeant," he said, "and they want to push on to-night. They want a bit of a rest now, as they were riding last night. If you'll have the diamonds ready and give them to me after the corroboree, say, they'll go off quietly and be at Goondi before morning."
Lady Waveryng went back to give some orders to the inestimable Briggs, and Trant and Blake waited for her while the others strolled slowly in the direction of the camp fires, which had only been a signal blaze, and were now dwindled to a circle of red spots against the background of gum trees. Frank Hallett had chosen a place of view, and led them to a fallen log, near which an assemblage of gins had congregated, at some little distance from the scene of the revel. This was a clear space for the fringe of scrub,
