‘It’s not far,’ Tilly replied, ‘but it’s full of crocs so you definitely can’t. Not unless you want to be eaten.’

‘Told ya,’ his brother crowed, and a moment later the vehicle moved off. The rangers, Tilly thought, would reinforce the warning, and there were signs posted about the dangers. Thankfully, Sophie said that they had never had a death at the camp, though a German tourist had been taken on the Adelaide River the previous year. She shuddered, shutting her mind to her thoughts, and went to locate the padlock for the bowser.

Another two vehicles turned up the following day and then, overnight it seemed, the camp was in full swing. If Sophie or the men chanced to be home they saw to the travellers, and once even Connor, pumping petrol down near the shed, had a four-wheel drive coast to a stop beside him. Tilly, about to step outside, saw him hook up the hose and go across to talk to the driver. It seemed quite a long conversation. Ten minutes later he was still there, leaning against the vehicle, his right hand moving to illustrate some point. Then he shook his head and pushed himself upright while jerking a thumb towards the house. The vehicle made a U-turn, but instead of stopping, it drove off back the way it had come while Connor stood, hands on hips, watching it leave.

Curiosity got the better of her, and when the engine note faded, she crossed the lawn to speak to him. ‘What was that all about? Were they lost, or was he after fuel?’

‘Ah, Tilly.’ Connor pushed the padlock closed and handed her the key. ‘I didn’t see you coming. No, they had a dog. I told ’em they couldn’t take it into the camp and they were arguing the toss. It was a house pet, the woman said – it’d stay inside the tent, nobody would even know it was there. I told ’em it wasn’t on and the rangers would throw them out. They saw reason in the end. Not before I got an earful though,’ he added ruefully.

Tilly shook her head. ‘Some people. Didn’t they read the sign? Thanks though. If they argued with you, they probably wouldn’t have listened to me.’

‘Probably not.’ He tipped his hat to scratch beneath it. ‘I reckon that woman’d get stroppy with a charging rhino. Right, I’ll be off then.’

‘Where are you headed today?’

‘Up river,’ he said. ‘I want to check the country around the escarpment. What can you tell me about the springs? I believe there’re several somewhere near by.’

‘Nothing,’ Tilly confessed ruefully. ‘Much as I’d love to see them, I’ve never been there. Luke says they’re very pretty, lots of moss and ferns. He said there’re fish in the springs – only small, but still fish. Probably lots of different plants too.’