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278 of a "grizzle," as she termed it: and he did "grizzle" considerably over the diamonds, and worried the police and the Government of Leichardt's Land not a little in his anxiety for their recovery. The Government did their best, and Blake was as eager in his efforts to hunt down the robbers as Lord Waveryng could have wished, though he was heard to say that from such a Radical Government as that of Mr. Torbolton he could expect but little sympathy, and not much respect for locked up capital in the shape of diamond heirlooms.

Lord Waveryng went down to Leichardt's Town to interview himself the heads of the police department and to stir up the Government in his cause. He was the guest of Sir Michael Stukeley, who called together a special meeting of the Executive to confer on the question of capturing Moonlight. The aristocratic section of Leichardt's Town society was stirred to its core. The anti-ministerial newspapers were fierce in their denunciations of a supine administration which could allow not only meritorious colonists but illustrious visitors to be the prey of an outlaw, who with a band of not more than four men could hold at defiance the whole police force of the colony.

"When five ruffians can keep at bay battalions of police," wrote the Luya Sentinel, "what confidence can the inhabitants of Leichardt's Land feel in the present guardians of public order?" There were veiled allusions to Fenian proclivities on the part of the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, and a hint of possible sympathy with rebels, robbers, and insurgents against the law generally. "Why were not the robbers hunted to their den? Why was not the country scoured forthwith by police, by the military if necessary? Why were not black trackers put on the trail? Was it not fear, abject fear, on the part of the police officers, as well as the indifference of a Socialist Government, which stood in the way of such rigorous measures? So far it certainly appeared that as long as the bushrangers chose to keep in their hiding-place in the Ranges, there was small probability of the district being rid of its scourge.