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Updated: May 18, 2025
She was still in doubt, still standing with her hand in his, half bending over him, but yet half resisting as she bent, when, all suddenly, Harry Heathcote was on the veranda, followed by the two policemen, who had just returned from Boolabong.
The purport of his story was as follows: Harry had been to Boolabong House, but had found there no one but the old man. Returning home thence toward his own fence, he had smelled the smoke of fire, and had found within a furlong of his path a long ridge of burning grass. According to Mickey's account, it could not have been lighted above a few minutes before Heathcote's presence on the spot.
Their place was called Boolabong, and was a cattle-run, as distinguished from a sheep-run; but it was a poor place, was sometimes altogether unstocked, and was supposed to be not unfrequently used as a receptable for stolen cattle. The tricks which the Brownbies played with cattle were notorious throughout Queensland and New South Wales, and by a certain class of men were much admired.
But as he thought of all this he worked away with his bush and his matches, extinguishing the flames here and lighting them there, striving to make a cordon of black bare ground between Boolabong and Gangoil. Surely Abraham had never been called on to work like this!
Different allusions were made to the spirit jar, especially by the old man; but they were made in vain. The "Battle-Axe" was Jerry's own property, and he felt that he had already been almost foolishly liberal. But he had an object in view. He was quite sure that Boscobel and Nokes had not come to Boolabong on the same Sunday by any chance coincidence.
Here he found the other two men, and no doubt the proposition was made. "There's something up," said the old man, as soon as Jerry was gone. "Of course there's something up," said Joe. "Those fellows didn't come all the way to Boolabong for nothing." "It's something about young Heathcote," suggested the father. "If it is," said Jack, "what's that to you?"
But it's no business of mine. Heathcote's made the place too hot to hold him. That's all about it." There was no more said, and in an hour's time Jerry returned, to the family. Neither the father nor brother asked him any questions, nor did he volunteer any information. Boolabong was about fourteen miles from Medlicot's Mill.
No doubt Harry Heathcote, in his heart, liked the German all the better on this account; but it behooved him both as a master and a magistrate to regard reports against Boolabong coming from the German with something of suspicion.
Brownbie, junior, for redress to himself. "Well," said Joe, "Nokes isn't any where about Boolabong." "He's away with your brother George?" "I shouldn't wonder," said Joe. "It's a serious matter lighting a fire, you know," said the sergeant. "A man would have to swing for it." "Then why isn't young Heathcote to swing?" demanded Jack. "There is such a thing as intent, you know.
From that time Medlicot and his foreman had watched him. "Yes," said he, in answer to a question from Heathcote, "I can swear that I saw him with the lighted torch in his hand, and that he placed it among the grass. There were two others from Boolabong with him, and they must have seen him too."
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