"Have another drink, Terence. You told that well," said Reg.
"But it was your honours that did it, I know."
"Yes, we did it, Terence," answered Hal, "Dick had us and we returned the compliment, and here's a tenner for your trouble. Now you had better go back to Melbourne by to-day's express and keep your eye on Dick. Our address will be Brisbane."
"I have been looking through the "Herald," said Reg, when they were alone, "and I find there are two companies trading between here and Brisbane, the Howard Smith line and the A.U.S.N. Company; one has a boat leaving to-day at twelve, the other at two."
"That's good. We will have a look at the boats and see which we like best, and as there is no time to be lost, let us start at once."
The _Buninyong_, of the Howard Smith line, and the _Maranoa_, of the rival company, were both examined, and the preference given to the former.
"Sydney seems a delightful place. I am almost loth to leave it so soon," said Reg.
"We'll have plenty of time when we have caught our man," said Hal. "I'll now go to the Tasmanian Company's offices and hear all about the rescue."
There he learnt the captain's report, that he picked up Wyckliffe and four men off a raft, about six hours from Hobart. The rescued reported they had been capsized while trying to fetch Maria Island.
At twelve o'clock the _Buninyong_, with a full passenger list including the boys, sailed for Brisbane.
Had Reg and Hal not been in such a great hurry when they landed at Sydney, they might have noticed a young lady not unlike May standing on the wharf scanning the passengers very closely. When she caught sight of the Goodchilds, she jumped on board and embraced both May and her father.
"I have had your wires, May, and all arrangements are made," she said, with an air of decision.
"Yes, he went to Brisbane two days ago. We will follow him, May," she answered, quietly; then, turning to Goody, said, "you will, of course, stay at the 'Grosvenor', uncle."
"Well, I don't know, Hilda. What is May going to do?"
"I have my carriage here. You had better come with us and send your luggage on to the hotel," said she, in her decisive way, as if she were accustomed to help people make up their minds.
"As you please," said Goody, with a sigh, resigning himself to the inevitable.