LAND AND W A T E K 
February 24, 1916. 
false. He did not know the full extent of the division that 
existed between the precious pair ; all the same, he did not 
hke Hull's bantering tone and tried to change the subject, 
but Hull persisted. 
" We ve sailed the seas together and always shared equal, 
haven't we, Mac ? and now we're sailin' anci sharin' again, 
just as in old times." 
" Just so." said Macquart. 
" And we'll be rich together when we've hit the stroke ; 
why, Mac, we 11 be drivin' in kerridges, you and me." 
" That's so," said Macquart. " There's enough for all. 
I'm a plain man and want little in the way of worldly goods ; 
there's enough for the lot of us — when we get the stuff back 
safe and sound." 
Houghton, who did not catch the undercurrent in this 
conversation, struck in. 
" Lord ! " he said. " It will be splendid, if we pull it 
off. I never knew what money meant till I found myself 
without it, and I never believed, really, in this expedition, 
'till now we've started." 
" We've got to pull it through," said Tillman, " and 
it will take some pulling." He rose to his feet and went aft, 
Houghton following him. 
Hull and Macquart found themselves alone for the first 
time, and Hull, who had just finished filling a pipe, lit it and 
took a few pulls. He was silent for a moment, then he 
spoke : 
" Mac," said he, " who are them two guj'S you've let into 
this bizziness ? " 
" Well, you ought to know," replied Macquart, " seeing 
you've been up Screed's sleeve for the last fortnight." 
" That's true," said the Captain, " but it was precious 
black up that sleeve. He hid me away and fed me well, but 
not one word did he let out, only the promise to put me even 
with me dear friend Mac." 
" Do you mean to say, he didn't tell you all about this 
expedition ? " 
He did," said Hull ; " told me enough to make me know 
it's the same old lay you've been on for years. Why, Mac, it 
was the New Guinea gold you was singin' about in 'Frisco 
fower years ago, that time you laid me out with a dope-drop 
and left me stranded at San Lorenzo, and it's the New Guinea 
gold you're after still. I know that much. What I want to 
know now is two things : first of all, who are them two guys 
and wha are they worth on this job ? " 
" Oh, they're just Sydney chaps," said Macquart. 
" Nothing much ; f'ou ;hton hails from England, got stranded 
in Sydney and I me him in the Domain. Tillman, he's a 
first-rate hand at aili ig a boat like this. Did you expect me 
to go on this joy iide single-handed ? " 
" Not by no manner of means, else I wouldn't have come 
aboard to help you, Mac. Why, I hunted for you like a lost 
child after you give me the slip outside the 'bacca shop. 
I wouldn't have you go alone on this traverse, not on no 
account, you may be sure of that. Well, now, to come to the 
second point. What are you after ? " 
" What do you mean ? " 
" I means what I says. You've been always a-gettin' 
up expidishins or tryin' to get them up to go for this stuff ; 
is it flap-doodle or is it real ? Is the stuff there, or is it bun- 
kum ? " 
" I give you my word of honour " 
" I wouldn't take your word of honour on no account," 
said the Captain. " I wouldn't deprive you of it, Mac ; 
answer me up : is it real ? and if it ain't, answer me up what 
you are af er. If j'ou plays me crooked, I gives you my word 
of honour I 11 twist your neck. There's no police here, Mac, 
and no crowner s jury." 
" You may take it from me it's the solid truth," said 
Macquart. " The gold's there and only waiting to be lifted." 
.\s he spoke, he raised his head and expanded his nostrils, 
as though sniffing the treasure. 
A great gull passed in the blue sky above, its shadow 
swept the white deck and bellying mainsail of tne Barracuda, 
and its voice came on the wind as it glided away to leeward. 
Houghton had gone below, Tillman was at the after-rail, 
leaning o er smoking and contemplating the wash of the yawl. 
Jacky was at the wheel. 
" It's there as sure as I'm here," went on Macquart, 
■' unless an earthquake has swallowed 'he river bank." 
Once Maccjuart go: on the subject of the treasure, he 
became almost a different man. There could be no doubt at 
all of his genuineness on that subject. 
" Or someone has been and scooped it," put in Hull. 
" What d you mean ? " said Mac([uart. 
" I moan this way. I meets you fower j^'ears ago and you 
was talkin of this hive ; I meets you to-day and you're talkin' 
of it still. Ho.v many people have you given the office to 
over this here bu ness that's what I want to know ? 
" No one." said Macquart. " not a soul. It's God's 
truth that since I saw you in 'Frisco four years ago till the 
other day, I have not hit one man who would have been of use 
to me. How could I ? going about the world in rags. Once 
or twice I had a chance to make some money, and I did, but 
the luck turned against me. No, it s the cold truth, since I 
seen you last I haven't had a dog's chance. Then I met 
Tillman, there, in a bar in Sydney, and I was so gravelled I 
told him the whole yarn over a drink ; he took it up hot, then 
I met Houghton, tliat other chap, in the Domain and intro- 
duced him to Tillman, and the result is we're here." 
" That's so," said Hull. " We're here right enough," 
Macquart looked at the other out of the corner of his 
eye. 
" The thing I can't understand," said he, " is how you 
are here. We'll be better friends if we are straight with one 
another." Hull gave a short laugh at this. " And leaving 
friendship alone, you have set my curiosity working — how 
the deuce did you pick up Screed .' " 
" I'll tell VQU," said Hull. " When you played me that 
dog's trick and slipped your cable outside that 'baccy shop. 
I saw them two guys, Tillman and Houghton, in a bar. 1 
remembered sightin' them with you, and I listened to their 
talk. Then I put two and two together, and got my claws 
on Screed. Screed's got no great opinion of you, Mac, speci- 
ally after the yarn I spun him of how you choused me in 
'Frisco. Screed knows I know you and your dog tricks, and 
he's put me aboard to see fair play between you and them two 
pore unfortunits. I'm your natural guardian, Mac, till we 
get the boodle safe to Sydney, and then I'll be your pardner. 
You've got to give me half of your scoop. D'you understand 
that, Mac ? 
" When we get that stuff to Sydney, you can have half 
my share," said .Macquart. " There s no use in my pretending 
that I'm satisfied you have a right to it, but there it is ; you 
have got the bulge on me and there's no use kicking." 
" Not a bit," said Hull, " and I'm agreeable to be friendly 
through the voyage and home again, but don't you never 
imagine I'm asleep. Snorin' on my back, I'll still have one 
eye open on you, Mac, and both fists ready to scrag you if you 
play any of your monkey tricks." 
He rose up and went aft to take his turn at the wheel 
leaving Macquart still seated on the deck and revolving, no 
doubt, the situation in his mind. 
(To be continued.) 
Most people admire, and a good many are going to wear, 
the tiny turban hats of tulle with a huge tulle bow gathered 
and poised with great lightness on the top of the crown. 
Some of these tulle turbans are gathered into a close-fitting 
border of velvet, others into a circle of conventional and 
flatly placed leaves. 
Sleeveless coats are being worn, and are almost inevitable 
accompaniments of the tea frock. Taffetas and ninon are 
being much used together, and a charming little tea-time gown 
seen the other day had a skirt in alternate bands of black 
taffetas and ninon mounted on soft white silk. The short 
coat was of taffetas only, the deep cut armholes opening to 
show the ninon sleeves and body of the dress below. 
There is a future and big business before the enterprising 
tailor who will feature severely tailored coats and skirts cut 
with enough flair to mark them as up-to-date. Nothing 
looks better than a plain coat, fitting well in at the waist, 
and from there branching downwards in strongly marked 
pleats. All it then needs is a well cut full skirt of corres- 
ponding plainness. 
Fine net pretty blouses with deep net shoulder capes are 
amongst the latest arrivals. The capes are cut in very prim 
Early Victorian fashion, and in some cases button right up 
the front and up the throat. Attractive though these blouses 
are, they will, even with the most careful handling, be difficult 
to wear beneath the average coat without much creasing 
and tumbling. The idea is, however, that they will be worn 
outside like the usual turn-over white collar, and the effect 
will be a picturesque one. 
Attractive spring gowns of sprigged and quaintly pat- 
terned silk are being shown at all the big dressmakers, and 
these are ruched, puffed, and flounced to such an extent that 
even the most slender wearers will verge on the voluminous. 
There are no very strong colourings or startUng desigi.\s. The 
patterns are small and unobtrusive. 
OFFICERS' LE.W.E BRIGHTENED BY BILLIARDS.— A.s an 
indoor sport Riving endless opportunities for the exercise of skill, 
nothing can equal Billiards -played on a Burrouglies and Watts' 
Table. Its fascination is inexhaustible. 
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