‘It seems the fellow who killed the horses is injured, but has not given up the chase,’ McTavish said.

‘Yes, but what will he do when he realises we’re up here? Will he allow us to keep after Anderson or will he try and stop us?’ Toby responded.

‘Surely he will see we are after the same thing,’ Gatwick said. ‘We all want to catch up with Anderson.’

‘He may not see it that way, laddie,’ McTavish responded. ‘To him, any stranger may be the enemy. We are in his tribal lands uninvited after all.’

‘But he’s hurt,’ Toby said, ‘and he’s making no effort to conceal his tracks. He’ll lead us straight to Anderson if he’s able to keep up. We can overtake him and keep well out of his way. Once we’re past him he won’t be able to get near us.’

They moved off once more with Barraworn in the lead. Toby’s words proved true; the native’s tracks were far easier to follow than Anderson’s. He began to wonder if the injured Aboriginal might lose interest in the chase and lead them away from their quarry, but each time he questioned Barraworn about Anderson’s spoor, the tracker was able to point out the bushranger’s trail beside that of the native.

Sunset found them on the edge of the escarpment. Paddy looked into the valley, a sea of shadow, a bottomless void sucking at the riders as they traversed the rim. A cool breeze came out of the north-east and he pulled his jacket from the bedroll behind him and shrugged it on, trying to ease a little of the stiffness from his back and legs at the same time. He could not remember having ever spent so much time on horseback. They had taken eight days just to reach the plateau and another five to cross it, riding from first to last light. No cattle drive or muster had ever taken that long, not without a break here and there. As he looked at the wild country to the north he supposed they would be another three to four weeks in the bush.

At the head of the party, Barraworn dismounted and led them to a patch of rocky ground. He paused every few seconds to study a seemingly inconspicuous piece of earth or rock. Finally, he stopped outside a narrow opening between two boulders and looked back at the others.

‘White fella, him sleep here last night.’

Toby nodded. ‘Be too dark to follow soon. I suggest we rest up here for the night. We’re not far behind the bastard now. No fire, no smoking in the open. If you feel the urge to light a pipe, make sure you’re screened by the boulders.’

Wearily, the men swung from their mounts and began to make camp. Paddy removed Patch’s bridle and examined the horse’s gums.

‘Bit-sore?’ Toby asked, as he led Moonlight to where they were positioning the horse line. Paddy nodded and Toby took hold of Patch’s head so he could see for himself.