Here a large
tear rolled down Dick's nose and splashed upon the open page, and when
she pressed him to tell all he might know and not to suffer abuse and
shame to shield some wicked villain, he quite collapsed, and sat with his
head sunk upon his arms, sobbing hysterically. This was so unlike the boy
that Christina was quite amazed, and her eyes travelled anxiously to and
from Dick's bowed head and his mother's distressed face. Then the women,
to give him time to recover himself, sat together talking of other
matters--Harry Hardy mainly--and Dick, ashamed of his tears, crept away
to bury his effeminate sobs amongst the Cape broom in the garden.
Dick had not sat alone more than a minute when he heard a sharp whistle
from the back. It was Jacker Mack's whistle and at first Dick did not
respond, but sat mopping his tears with his sleeves. The whistle was
repeated three or four times, and at length he determined to meet Jacker,
thinking there might be some news about the reef in the Mount of Gold. He
passed out through the side gate, and along to the fowl-house at the
corner, behind which he expected to find his mate sitting. But when he
reached the corner a pair of strong arms snatched him from the ground,
and he was borne away at a rapid pace in the direction of Wilson's
paddock. His face was crushed against the breast of the man who held him,
in such a way that it was impossible for him to utter the slightest
sound.
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