On enquiry it was
found that he had gone all the way to Sydney overland, on a visit to
an old friend living not far from that city. It was supposed that he
had some reason for his visit when he started, but if so, he lost it
by the way, for when he arrived he had nothing particular to say.
After a few days' rest he commenced his return journey to South
Gippsland, and travelled the whole distance without being observed by
the watchful police. When asked about his travels, his only remark
was, "Splendid horse; there he is between the shafts; walked twelve
hundred miles; never turned a hair; splendid horse; there he is."
But Mr. H. lacked the intellect or the courage to perform a similar
fool's errand successfully. He rode up to the police station at
Alberton, and finding from the officer in charge that he was wanted
on a warrant, he supplied that want. He stated that he had been on a
visit, for the benefit of his health, to a friend in the mountains, a
rail-splitter, who had given him accommodation in his hut on
reasonable terms. He had lived in strict retirement. For a time he
was in daily and nightly fear of the appearance of the police coming
to arrest him; every sound disturbed him. In about ten days he began
to feel lonely and disappointed because the police did not come;
neither they or anybody else seemed to be looking for him, or to care
anything about him.
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