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Rh suppose that the whole district won't rise to search for me? Do you suppose that they will not find me?"

"Let them try," said he calmly. "I have no doubt that the district, headed by Mr. Frank Hallett, will come out in search of you; but I don't think they are at all likely to find their way here. No one knows the secret of this place but those whom I can trust not to betray it."

"You said that Captain Macpherson had been here."

"No, I did not say so. Captain Macpherson would as soon think of searching for you—or for Moonlight—on the topmost peak of Burrum."

"Then it is only Sam Shehan and the half-castes who know it?"

"Yes."

"And Mr. Blake?" she asked eagerly. "Tell me does Mr. Blake know it?"

"I cannot tell you." A change came over Trant's face.

"No," he added, deliberately lying. "Blake does not know it."

Elsie believed him; How should Blake know it? How should he lend himself to such a scheme of iniquity?

"Mr. Trant," she said, "you know that you cannot keep me here. The idea is nonsense. You are only trying to frighten me into making you some promise, or perhaps you are only playing some practical joke on me. Tell me, is that it?"

"Oh, no," he answered. "I assure you I am playing no practical joke. I'm in deadly earnest."

"You will never frighten me into making you any promise," she said firmly. "You may think I'm only a weak girl, but I've got plenty of pluck, I'm not going to give in."

"I know you have got plenty of pluck," he said, looking at her admiringly. "That's one reason why I love you."

"You think that I should be afraid of getting lost in the bush. But I tell you that I am not. I shall get out, and I shall find my way to Tunimba."

"Try," he said, "I give you full leave. I sha'n't handcuff.