Pals - Saturday, October 15, 1921

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es <4 Registered ut General Post Ofhce Vol 2. No. 8 {selbourne, for transmission ty Saturday, October 15, 1921 post as a Newspaper.

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ii -O PALS October 15, 1921 “Pals” An nual Handsomely Bound --- Full of Fine Reading. Numerous Colored Plates and Special Pesta TO BE PUBLISHED MONDAY, OCTOBER 17. All Leading Newsagents and Bookstalls. Price 12/6 By Post (in any one State), 14/3.

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October 15, 1921. ow to Develop. a Personality . This little book will tell you how. we can ‘help any girl pr weman ‘to ALY “PASCINATING, COMP&LLING and SUCCESSFUL. It is ‘written by one who has -gpent. many years in foreign climes, and who has been privileged to.study the ways of successful women in all countries; YOU CAN WASILY ‘DEVELOP’ A WINNING PERSONALTY by studying the simple secrets laid ‘down - in our won- .derful course entitled.-‘How.to Obtain a Winning, Personality for ‘Women’? which is tally described in ‘The’ Wonder Book for Women,” which you are ‘today in- ‘yvited to send for. "FREE OF’ CHARGE. vt . ; ch Sn ee, wo “ab : ‘ ‘The wonderful secrets: of ‘Personality are such simple things, too, not as some. amight thiak of—beautiful. gowns brilliant education-or artificial beauty. -But-jast the thousand aid oné little things by which any woman - young..or old can make herself as charming as the best, finest, and most popular: woman she ‘knows. YOU MAY BE SHY,. 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When |. send the money ob- tained and we will at once for. ward gift chosea apcording te the Grand List we'send you. SOHN MURRAY, Seedsman, fhecaraes George and ree Streets. one I'am just’ writing to thank you forthe Fountain Pen. expected it..to be. I did not expect +6 regeive anything half as good for just selling a féw patkets of - seed. Wishing you every siccess; Yours sincerely, Miss 8. ‘0, VINCENT. READ THIS. ‘LETTER Moriarty road, Via, Latrobe, Tasmania, September 8, 1021, eo Lafayctte., ‘Dear Sir,—Received the dieycle, and wat very, pleased’ with it.. I could not ride a bicycle, but I got it at 8 o’¢lock and learned to ride it before dark: My pals _ say they can “hardly belieye-I got it Free for selling your sachets—I am, very thankfully yours, : : pal Brooches, more valuable the prize. (Miss) VERA Bor. BO this Book FREE — ‘out any ‘obligation on “It is far better than ‘I In order to introduceour exquisite Scent Sachets into every home we are giving away prizes, such as Cycles, Gramophones, Rifles, Watches, Cameras, Boxing Gloves, Footballs, Cricket Sets, ‘Tennis Rackets, Biscuit Barrels, Fountain Pens, Knives, Torches, Bangles, Necklaces, ete. 4 ond siaress ae we'll ioney a Sachets for you to sell at eac end, us our money and we’ll send you select from our Grand List. iba sold tae There is no di It; more valuable ~ ae aa ee ficulty in selling the . Mande TAP YETTE, 752 George St., Sydney, N.S.W. i Post. Coupon Now . THR INSTITUTE OF PERSONALITY, ’ 648 Druitt st., Sydney. i Please send me, Pree of Cost and with. my part, Wonder ‘Book ‘for -Women.” I e: ' stamp, for s- as ai Name ve ee a ee Wii ail Sie neo Sees od , Ke Lim ot, pe ge ae me et oe ee oe en oe ln De a i a Wie ee ae we Be ee ee we a od Pals, soz." J. B. Murray & Co. ' I thank you very much for the camera . 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iv PALS October 15, 1921 PUZZLES ? Sei ote , — e - This Week! 1! " Biggest selection of ok mat puzztés ‘arrives trod wap Amirtean buyer. Pcootiasly fascinating—sure to- ene 5/- Parcel containing 4 Mystic Puzzles, 2/6 Pest Free No. 10.—LINK THE LINK.” No. 15.-—“HEART AND Two No. 50.—The “TRICK. Box.” —A most fascinating new puzzle. RINGS.” The very name is magi- Sure to mystify, the audience as to No. 17.—“THE TRIPLE RINGS.” | fag, 72 the petalo ie Very exces which side the 6d will appear. SECOND BIG orrur— £ 7/6 Worth of Puzzles for 3/6 ¢ ‘hts. parcel contains the first four puzzles, also these others, “THE THREE HORSESHOES” “THREE HEARTS AND LINK” Novel and entertaining puzzie can be. shown en concert This ts a decidedly new and interesting puzzle—strongly made platform. Easy to learn, yet puzzling to the audience —guaranteed to cause unusual laughter and fun. EVERY BOY CAN LEARN Write for Our BOYS! PUT UP YOUR OWN “WIRELESS ! i OLS pal ay ELECTRICAD FITTINGS. This fascinating baby, can be turned AY CRM ENTERS. memo fag dante pres to a remunerative profession. ins a fu ist of every ng every Head Set Complete = — we on ow £5/7/6 | doy needs for every hobby. 180 Iilustra- Easily done, by the bey interested in Coils £Y5/0 tion, _ électricity — resulting .in. the installa-, Sata Sa Se eT. eae ee 5/6 Price, 74. Post Frea tion of many convenferit lights at a dig Detector .. 2 oa ewes me ae me oe . . ” saving. Smal! Lamp Holders (Screw Type)., 64 Small Screw Bulbs .. 22 o o oo “Sd " Small “Bayonet Holders., .. 2. a. eo 1/6 Brackets... .. .. . Fancy Glass Shades aC Detector Crystals’ on ‘me ma oe we 1/6 Fired Condensers 5 -me ue: we ae on 9/6 Honeycomb Coils w- om ae on a ae we 5/6 PT i Agrial Wire (80ft.) 2. a2 a= nese en ow 3/0 Tnsulators,. 1d, 3d,.$d_each. Postage Extra. . B.H. MSELROY. 2Il SWANSTON STREET a+ we oe we we Sd an se ce oe ee IG YOU MAY HAVE YOUR CHOICE FREE Al 'you have to do ts to send us your name and address, when we will at ence | yeu 12 ef ear SOLID GOLD- erie at AA oben mee rd eee When you have said the ptas, send in eur tf and ceelect, according to the. amount. one of the beautiful presents contained in the list of prizes we send you with the and it wi'l be sent you hy return mafL ‘You will not have any difficulty in selling pins as they are used by everyone, and are SOLID GOLD-FILLWDD. You may fre- acy ae ring and select a p-ize fer those sold. Send NOW, delay may bring Among the prizes we are giving away daily are such articles as:— WATCHES, CLOCKS, CAMERAS, POCKET KNIVES, FOUNTAIN PENS, FOOT- BALLS, CRICKET SETS, DRESSING GASES, LADIES’ and GENTS’ RINGS, CIGARETTE CASES, HAIR BRUSHES and COMBS, BANGLES, WATCH CHAINS, MOUTH-ORGANS, AIR GUNS, SAFETY RAZORS and other articles too numerous to mention, ; New Stocks of Prices just epened up make this proposition especially attractive et tire present time. The Atlas Jewellery Ce., 748 Rawson Ch., Sydney

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Saturday, October 15, 1921 Issued Weekly Price, 3d Lo Bi (tt tial was i i i) 1 an) Hula Cte Mahalty hae ale Ta ay . fi ye! (i), vk al HERE RTRSY (IRINA HIS FIRST CRICKET MATCH

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170 PALS October 15, 1921 FIVE FACES ISLAND \ ULLO!”" H “What's that?” ‘ “Do ye see it, Tom, boy? Over —port bow.” Tom Presdee stared intently through the fog. The skipper’s long, wrinkled forefinger directed his gaze. All about ‘the little ocean-going tug, as she nosed her way through the thick mist, was the tremendous and impas- sive silence of the night. It seemed to Tom Presdee, as he stood in the darkness of the tiny wheel-house, that the fog had muffled and choked everything. There was no sound of any moving thing behind the almost solid grey curtain. Even the lights on board were dowsed, and had been so for an hour or more; the engines ‘were running slower and more silently than Tom had ever before noticed. The inter- mittent sounds — creaking of timbers, the wash of parted waters at the bows, or the uneasy stirring of a boat in the davits — did not interfere with the intense hush of the night. Tom’s accustomed ears accepted these as part of the silence itself. Skipper Flannagan, too, leaning over the bridge-rail and intent on the drift- ing wall in front, was unusually silent. It seemed as if he were painfully on the alert for anything that might happen. Tom had been watching his bent back and the attentive poise of his head for at least fifteen minutes. He knew that the skipper had not moved once during that time. , What did it all mean? Why this in- explicable and stealthy approach on an unknown coast, in dead of night, under cover of mist? Why had the noises of the vessel been hushed—why not the usual singing and banjo-playing, the lights, and the shouted orders? The absence of these things, a cer- tain change of attitude on the part of the crew and officers, and something in the air itself combined to give Pres- dee an impression that there was some— thing afoot. And something excit- ing, at that. Had he not seen, that very morning, an unused revolver cartridge lying on,the open deck? And had net the skipper kicked it over- board with a muttered unsatisfactory explanation? Tom wished with all his heart that he was old enough to be taken into the confidence of the skipper. This furtive creeping to land. Tom couldn’t puzzle it all out clearly. There were lots of things he didn’t understand — yet. a He was thinking of all these things as he followed with his eye the direc- tion of Flannagan’s forefinger. “Yes, sir; a ship — steamer, . isn’t she? I see her now. What’s on, sir? What ship’s that?’ i “Its she,” said Flannagan softly. “The other crowd.” He slid the indicator of the engine- toom telegraph over to “stop! The engines beat a moment longer, and then their muffled thud - thud - thudding ceased altogether. The silenced be- came ‘more oppressive than ever. Tom watched the indefinite blur of the other boat as it moved slowly to port, and listened to the sound of the working of her engines. ; “Two points stabbud.” whispered A Story of Stirring Adventure in the South Seas By Andrew H. Walpole Flannagan. “If they know we’re here —it’s all up. What rotten luck, run- ning right into the brutes! Thank pro- vidence for this mist, though. Another two, Tommy, me boy.” The dimly-seen steamer seemed to be stafiding still. For what was seeming- ly an age, She remained in the same position. “If we can see her,” said Tom, ‘‘ten to ome they can see us too. If only this fog was a bit soupier, we'd dodge them, I believe.” A Painful Test Father: “How do you know when you have had enough?” Willie: “I always eat till I get a& pain and then I eat one more to make certain.” “Well dodge them yet.” Barely were the words out of his mouth when from below somewhere, very abruptly and with no warning, a @oor slammed. Flannagan jumped and muttered, beneath his breath. “Stabbud—hard down!” he rapped out, rushing over the indicator, so that the engines took up their work again at full speed. ‘‘Wasn’t that enough to rouse every man aboard Ah! Hear that?” A hail rang across the intervening water, and was repeated after a brief interval. Again it sounded, two voices in chorus. The steady heat of the tug-Sky- rocket’s engines was the only response. “Breakers to starboard, sir.’ ‘Piannagan listened hard. “By th’ powers, ye’re right, sonny. Here, gimme the wheel Duck down and rouse Mr Webster. him here,” Just as Tom hurried below a bright, exposing glare shot out from the loom of the steamer astern, swept round. and fell on the Skyrocket, left her for a moment. and returned briskly, to stay there, throwing everything on board into an unsteady light. It was a searchlight from ‘the other craft. Across the funnel of light there drifted the steamy vapor of the fog, eidying and swirling. . Flannagan shouted. There was some stir in the stern of the Skyrocket as the black figures of. two or three men grew busy about some erection there. Presently Presdee and Mr Webster appeared on the bridge. Webster, who had chartered the tug at Gavutu, was a quiet, reserved man of middle age, and@ Tom felt sure now that he was the leading gpirit in this mysterious adventure. He turned and shook his fist in the eye of the searchlight. “Well, they’ve found us,” he said- simply. Prestiee resumed his post at the wheel just as a subdued flop! was heard trom the direction of the other craft, and a. shell, Hying high, whistled over hig head and splashed into the sea anead of the tug. His heart beat furiously. Guns! Another explosion and a fountain of water leaped up to port, subsiding in a scatter of. spray. “Let them shoot,” said Plannagan hardily. He had scarcely spoken be- fore a third shot found a mark in the tug’s stern-rail. A shower of splin- tered debris glittered white in the glare. “Getting better,” ster drily. Quick! Bring { commented Web- “Why not put out their light?” “Dot their eye, Jackson,” shouted Flannagan. ‘The three on the bridge waited ‘breathlessly. Suddenly from the mysterious erection in the stern there sounded a violent explosion; a puff of sraoke rushed up into the glare; the searchlight went out like the closing of a giant eye. “First shot.” said the skipper. dee was amazed. Soa there was a gun aboard! There was something magical in that fact. He knew that there ‘had been no sign of a gun or mounting there that morning. And yet—a gun had certainly been fired! — “Breakers again, skipper,’ he said. “T hear them. And—bad luck!—I see ’em, -too. Round with her to port, Tommy, So!’ He moved the telegraph lever again, and the vessel’s pace slowed to a crawl, ; To starboard Tom could see a froth- ing line of snowy spray that indicated the rocks so narrowly missed. There was a brief scraping in shallow water, but Webster, who evidently knew to a hair where they were, was directing (Flannagan now, and presently the Sky- récket was gliding down a deep fiord- like gorge, with the land looming darkly, on either side. They swept unJer a tree; the. leaves rustled against their foremast. Nosing their way carefully, they went deeper and deeper into the gloom. Finally they came to a stop, and, by the light of a lantern, the tuz was made fast to the bank of a river. Tom observed that trees leant overhead in all direc- tions. Flannagan and Webster were talking earnestly at the other end of the bridge. Where were they? What was going to happen? Tom could not Pres-

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October 15, 1921 PALS 171

make anything of the events of the night. II, The upshot of the conversation be- tween Webster and Flannagan was that they both went ashore, and re- turned in a few minutes to fetch Tom himself. “You’re a trustworthy lad,’ ’ Flannagan, “and we'll let you into this secret. Mr Webster here is the rightful owner of this island, his father having bought. it from the Jap. Government some years ago. A couple of weeks back he comes to visit the place for the first time in his little pinnace, and while going over the joint he discovers’’—he lowered his voice and whispered in Tom's ear— “diamonds!” : “That’s so,” said Webster, taking up the tale. ‘You see, boy, there’s an -ex- tinct volcano on this island, and the pipes and tubes leading from under- ground to the crater are chock full of mud—blue mud, like that at Kim- berley. Now, I’ve been to South Africa myself, and as soon as I saw that mud I thought of diamonds. Just the same as the muck in the dia- mond-beds, it was.” He paused and looked up into the darkness in the direction of the vol- eang of which he spoke. ‘Well, I fogsicked around, and found a few small stones almost right away! It was good enough for me. I got the pinnace back to Gavutu as quickly as I.could. Why, I had a regular for- tune in my island, properly worked. I made arrangements to get some re- ilable men from Sydney, and wired my two nephews to come across. And then my min Gault betrayed me.

said” “Yes. He was missing one day, and on enquiry in Gavutu I found that he’a cleared out with some of the worst riff-raff in the place. Also, the steamer Sandboy, commanded by Captain Murrell, a notorious scoun- drel, had sailed early in the morning, heading east. I put two and two to- gether, and felt sure that Gault and Murrell were off to Five Faces Island -—that’s this place. You know the rest, That was the Sandboy we ran from just now.” . “We’re going up to reconnoitre, Tom,” said Flannagan. He thrust a pistol into Tom’s palm. “Here, take this, but be mighty careful with it. Don’t let off unless you've just got to. Compree?” Tom nodded, his heart thumping beneath his buttoned reefer jacket. He placed the pistol in his hip poc- ket and followed Flannagan and Web- ster up the steep, hilly path. It was not long before they arrived at the volcano-top. Crouched in the shelter of the massive chunks of rock and lava, they peered down into the crater. Webster spoke in a husky whisper. td “There! Lights!’ he said. It was true. <A couple of oil lamps glimmered at the bottom of the huge, cup-shaped hollow, and they could see the dim figure of a man in the mist winding at a windlass. “That’s all right, then,” said Flan- nagan, in the tone of one who has satisfied himself. ‘‘They’re excavating the mud as hard as they can lick— going at it night and day, IJ’ll bet.” “Well, what now?’ asked Webster, looking to the skipper for guidance. “No more now till daylight,’ an- swered Flannagan, ‘‘We’ll get a move on tomorrow.” . Back again they went to the Sky- rocket, lying concealed in the deep tidal creek, there to think out the best means of ousting the intruders. In the morning Tom was about bright and early, and by walking a little way inland he could see, over a shoulder-like peninsula, the steamer that had fired on them the night be- fore. She -was a rusty-sided tramp, anchored close inshore, and two bvats were constantly passing between her and the land. By turning at right angles he observed the peak of the extinct volcano. Its structure was rather peculiar. The rim was deeply indented at parts, and left five peaks remaining, so that the whole thing looked like a crown. “You see those five spikes?” asked Webster, coming up behind the lad as he stood gazing. “That inspired the name—Vive Faces Island—when you're close up those things leock like five faces, staring into the voleano. Curious, isn’t it? But now, what are those boats doing?” F He lifted a pair of marine glasses and studied the boats attentively. “By heck,” he exclaimed ‘they’re earrying boatload after boatload of the clay to the Sandboy. They must have made a dump of it on the beach, We must put a stop to that game. Where’s Flannagan?” “Here’s Flannagan,’ answered, that worthy, appearing from the bushes, his red beard shining in the morning sun. He studied the movements of the ene- my with pursed Hps. ‘How long have they been here al- ready, dye think? A week? Why, Lip iY Wh Jackson’s lips were compressed tightly, and his next shot got the steamer amidships.

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172 PALS : October 15, 1921 eee eee eee man, they’ll have shifted tons to the beach in that time! They’ve dug out the prize part of the deposit, ll guar- antee. We'll have to give them the Trifle and stop that ferrying.” A short excursion to the crater re- vealed the fact that Gault’s men had ceased their quarrying aperations. The difficulty about advancing some men to within rifle reach of the boats was that the beach was surmounted by a barren rim, and it was necessary to pass this in order to aim with any chance of hitting. Was this rim guard- ed? That was a thing Flannagan de- sired greatly to know. “I’m for going across,” he announced about midday. “Anyone coming with me?” He picked up a frifie and looked round at his men. They: had been promised big pay for their part in the business in hand, but they were in- clined to baulk at running risk of be- ing shot down. ; Tom Presdee, seeing their hesitation, stepped forward. “Count me in,” he said. “If we get across all right, you others follow,” said Flannagan, and the two of them emerged into the bare stony ridge. Five paces, six paces, seven paces, they went in safety—and then— whit-thump!—a bullet whistled past Tom’s ear. A thread of smoke curled upwards from the rim of the bay. Then bang-bang!—a double report rang out, and splinters of rock spattered about Fiannagan’s feet. “Bad luck,” said Flannagan coolly, and retreated. ‘We'd be potted before we got half-way over.” From the position near the creek the poats could still be observed at their porterage.” “What a pity,” said Flannagan, “we can’t get them from here. Too far, of course. Hold hard—what about the n?” : “Shell them, you mean?” “There’s no other way of getting at the brutes, unless we haul out the old Skyrocket, and in that case we'd bea blown out of the water. They’ve got heavy metal, and I can see at least two guns from here, through the glasses. Oh! Gault and Murrell made a cere tainty of the job, did..’t they just!” By dusk the gun from the stern of the tug had been mounted on a hastliy— constructed emplacement that c¢com- manded, from some distance, the whole of the beach. “Let them have it,” said Flannagan. Jackson, who had once been a Navy man’ squinted along the sights and fired. The-shot kicked up the water between the two boats, and through the glasses could be seen some little confusion on the part of the crews. Another shot. The boats made hastily for the parent steamer. “By glory, they’re getting under way,” said Webster, excitedly. “Quickly, there, can’t you wing them?” Jackson’s lips were compressed tight- ly, and his next shot got the steamer amidships. But the raiders were already on the move. The rusty-sided tramp had turned stern-on. to the gun, and was drawing rapidly away. Al- ready the distance was extreme, and the growing darkness rendered accur- ate aim most difficult. ‘ Spouts of water flashed dull white about the tramp, but she did not ap- pear to have been hit again. She was replying, too, with her heavier guns, and the shells were whistling into the jungle behind with great crashes. Further away now—she in- creased the gap and drew away per- ceptibly. Jackson muttered to him- self, and with his last shot found a mark. Sparks and a spout of flame followed the explosion of the shell, and for a moment they expected the steamer to slow down and stop. To their intense disappointment, however, she grew smaller and smaller, and the tropic darkness abruptly replaced the brief half-light of a moment before. ‘Done us!” cried Flannagan. On arrival at the beach they dis- covered that very little of the dump of mud now remained. The robbers had taken away a cargo of tons and tons of the precious clay, and it was only necessary for them ‘to reach some deserted land to examine it in privacy and at their leisure. Gault and Murrell had probably made their fortunes, | These were the bitter thoughts of Webster as he came to the Five Faces crater in a melancholy mood. The main pipe had been cleaned out for a considerable distance, and he could only hope that in the mud that remained there would be sufficient of the precious stones to repay him his efforts. On the following morning Tom Presdee, mounting the hill toward the crater, happened to glance seaward, and the sight that met his eyes took his breath away. Perfectly motionless, not half a mile on the further side of the penin- ee the Sandboy lay apparently at chor. \S . ee \ \N ISS AWS f x Tommy’s Temptation Old Gentleman: “Well, my boy, and when is your birthday?” Tommy (who has been warned against fishing for presents): “Oh! It’s a long way ofi—a year the day after tomorrow.” “They’re not much afraid of us, anyway,” thought Tom. “But why on earth haven’t they shoved off by now? What’s the use of waiting? Why, I believe fre He broke off, and stared keenly at the tramp steamer, He uttered a howl of joy. “She’s aground!’’ There was no mistaking it. To Tiom’s trained eye there was a slight list, an unnatural steadiness, that told their own tale. Furiously he ran down the slope, and communicated with his skipper. The Sandboy was examined through the glass again, and Webster expressed the opinion that there was no one aboard her. The vessel was certainly unusually silent. Look as they would, the party on shore could make out no move- ment on her decks. Further exami- nation showed something still more startHng. She was smoking—smok- ing from more places than one, “She’s on fire,” said Flannagan emphatically. “T can see it all clearly now. When they ran on the reef out there, and couldn’t get her off, they tock to the boats'and got away. But before they left they set her alight ye ‘Well, and she’s crammed full of diamond+muck!” cried Webster in * aliamond-bearing volcano, “in foreign coins, . . great excitement. ‘Her cargo’s pos- sibly worth thousands. We mustn’t let her burn out there—isn’t there 3 chance of putting the fire out?” Flannagan shook his head. ‘We've nothing to do it with, Web- ster,” said he. ‘‘But we'll have a shot at towing her off and bringing her .into the beach.” ,And presently the Skyrocket was steaming out towards the tramp stea-~ mer, over whose decks the smoke was now rolling in heavy clouds. She was obviously doomed, Young Tom scrambled aboard the fire-gripped Sandboy, and a ‘stout hawser was passed over to the gallant little tug. The Skyrocket set out sturdily towards the beach; the tow- rope tautened, twanged, and ‘$hlen, amid a cheer from those on the tug’s decks, the tramp scraped painfully off the reef and into deep water, . But now she was blazing furiously, and the distance to the beach seem- ed great. Could they run her aground before she broke up and sank? Progress was painfully slow, and Webster could hardly bear ‘to look as he saw the priceless cargo in peril. They all watched the tramp anxiously. Flames were leaping masthigh, and clouds of steam sur- rounded her as sha came majestically forward. The tug, when she had come as near to the beach as she dared, cast off, and the Sandboy was left to fol- low on her own momentum. At a decreasing pace she sailed for the beach. The mill breakers caught her and swung her forward. She went on, seemed to have reached the beach, and to be climbing’ the dry jJand, and then, with a crunch they could hear all over the bay, went aground. Wild cheers went up from the tug’s Gaecks as the furiously blazing steam- er halted, baulked, and toppled over in an immense cloud of steam. The diamond-clay was safe! = * * * All that remains to be told is that the owner of Five Faces Island rea- lised a handsome fortune out of his and sold out to a mining company at an emi- nently satisfactory figure. But the Strange part was that the larg- ext and most valuable stones were found in the clay ered from the wreck of Sandboy. Gault and Murrell missed being millionaires by a hair’s-breadth. And finally, you may be sure that the skipper of the Skyrocket, Tom Presdee, and the crew, did not go un- rewarded. Webster was a_ grateful man, and he knew how to show his gratitude in a highly practical fashion. Correspondence Invited The following desire to correspond with other readers of "‘Pals,”’ F. Eade, Cudgewa, Vic, with boys 13 or 14 years old interested in photography. .... M. Bardner, 10 Alexander st., Arncliffe, Sydney, with pals 14 years of age, interested . U. Traeger, Lancaster, Vic., with a pal about 13 years of age... . W. D. Cowan, Burua, via Gladstone, Q’land, with pals interested in photography who would like to form a club... i J. R. Thompson, 42 Orrong road, Elstern- wick, Vic., with readers about 13 or 14 years of age outside Australia. . .. May Thomp- son, 42 Orrong road, Elsternwick, Vic., with readars about 16 years ‘of age outside Aus- tralia, .... H. W. Willlamson, Box 39, Mansfield, P.O., Vic, with boys about 144% years of age..... J. B. Ander- son, “Arden,’’ Glenelg street, South Brisbane, with readers interested in stamps. Jack B Anderson, “Arden,” Glenelg — st., Sth. Brisbane, with any pal... Clifferd Har- Tis. ‘‘Offendene,’? Bsplanade, South Perth. with boy in America, . .V. Duggan, 48 Moubray st., Albert Park, Vic., with three American boys, whose addresses he would be glad to receive. .

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October 15, 1921 PALS 173

Boy Seouts Despatch Running In the early days of scouting in Aus- tralia, despatch running was a favorite pastime with all Troops. Sometimes two or more districts would combine and have a Patrol carrying a despatch through an area guarded by two or three hundred other Scouts. In one run, which I remember very clearly, four of us, all First Class Scouts, had to get a despatch conveyed three miles through more than four -hundred hostile Scouts. Three runners got through. The fourth Scout then deliberatcly showed himself and raised a row in order that the others might get out of a nasty spot where the cun- ningly placed “enemy” had arranged a treo for us. : Despatch running calls for the high- est Scout efficiency to carry it through successfully, and those who have not tried a run for some time will find the trial well worth while again. Run- ners must be in good condition, as the going is always hard. Observation powers must be well trained, so that no indication of enemy presence may be missed. y The greatest care is necessary in tak- ing cover. Select your background to suit your uniform. It is useless for a khaki-tinted Scout, for example, to think that he can escape observation against a patch of green grass. In running, a Scout is liable to lose his directiorm unless he is continually on the alert, as he must do a lot of dodg- ing from cover to cover. This diffi- culty can be overcome of you carry a watch that keeps fairly good time. Pecint the twelve at the sun, and half- way between twelve and the hour- hand will give you “direct north.” When carrying. a written despatch, which you will generally do in prac- tising, a Scout must carefully hide his despatch so that in case of capture the -enemy will not be able to find the mes- sage. ‘ I have used xeveral hiding places. These included a siit cut in the edge of my hat brim, a slit in the tongue of ashoe,ahollow cotton hoot luce, a@ very small but deep hole in my staff end (ground end), in which I used to hide the despatch, and plug the hole with a pill rolled out of breadcrumbs. That place was never discovered. A member of my Patrol had the heel of one shoe, fixed on with screws and a@ small hole in the centre of the heel was used to hold his despatch. Many a smile was caused wher tittis Scout un- screwed his heel to deliver the mes- sage after a successful run. To escape observation, travel fast over open ground, if you must cross it, and F=<6) very slowly in cover, because in eover the other fellow will be wait- ing for you. Keep down in the bottom of hollows, otherwise you show up against the sky to anyone who may he in the hollow. Avoid climbing trees. They sway and quiver so that they can he noticed a long way off. ‘Watch trees carefully for signs of the enemy. Bé careful not to disturb eattle or birds, as their alarmed mevements will show your presence to watchers. ‘Lastly, covered, if you think you are dis- and it seems that the game _er in is up, DO NOT MOVE, Iet the other Scouts come to you. I was jammed once in the centre of a prickly bush in the middle of a circle of unfriendly Scouts who were search- ing for me. One of them came up to my bush, which was in a dark shadow under tea-tree, poked hig staff in and actually brushed my arm with it, but did ndt discover the perspiring Scout hidden in that bush. One move and I should have had to acknowledge defeat. By keeping still I outwitted the searchers,

Shaded ortion Shows where Di patch nln s wrapped vo Se hice Scouts’ Corroboree Scouts and Cubs, don’t forget the Scouts’ Corroboree in January. Scouts from all over Australia will gather in Sydney, where the corroboree takes place. This corroboree of Australian Scouts marks the beginning of new and better times for the movement in this coun- try. Tt will offer a fine opportunity of making the Boys’ Brotherhood strong- Australia. Don't miss it. It is worth making a great effort to at- tend the gathering. Some day your State will hold the annual @orroboree. Just as you will then appreciate consideration from visiting Scouts in giving your State full particulars of the numbers attending, so you should oblige on this occasion by furnishing the desired particulars without delay. There are not many more weeks left before Corrohoree Day, so preparations must not be delayed or disappointment will be the result. Many Patrols and Troops have al- ready begun preparation. Be sure that you also begin in time. Get particulars from the leaders at your own ieadquarters. They will help you willingly. If you leave arrangements till the last days you make things “Pals” ts the-Offictal Organ of the Australian. Boy Scouts’ Associa- tion (Victorian Branch) By “Lone Wolf” dificult for yourselves, your head- quarters, and the organiser of the corroboree. Don’t forget that there is an inter state competition among Patrols of nine each fer the E. Trenchard Miller be entitled to call itself ster’s Own.” This competition will be held at the gorroboree each year. Particulars as obtained from your own State quarters. Get going as early as pos- sible. Each State is to bold pre- liminary trials to pick its representa- tives for the actual competition, so that there is noiw no time to spare. If you don’t begin soon you will be too late to do much“good. \~)} Wor ae} CUBS WW The Kangaroo Hunt Cubs, here is another good game for you. It is good scouting practice, too, because it is similar to the stalking done by our Australian natives, who are the best stalkers in the world. The natives always kept a sharp look-out till they discovered a ’roo feeding. Then Mr -Blackfellow would scout round it until he reached the side away from the wind, so that the ’roo could not scent him or hear him easily Kangaroos are too clever to feea among thick ,scrub, where their enemies could get up close to them without being seen. They eat in the open among long grass, with a few odd bushes, and keep popping their heads up every now and again to have a look round. The native has to do some good scout- ing to beat the ’roo, and this is how he goes about it. First, he ties bushes and branches all round him from the waist up, so that at a distance, when he Keeps still, he looks like a small tree. Yhen he gvabs his spears with his big toe, and when the ’roo puts its head down to feed he moves quietly forward standing still ‘each time the animal’s head is up. So the game goes on until he gets close enous’ to be sure that his spears will not miss. Cubs can practise this’ stalking by having Akela acting as the ‘rou. AN spread around in a circle sent bushes. The ’roo must act the part, looking round and spotting Cubs, anyone spotted having to stand still where’ they are until the game is finished. Most cubs get spotted because they move while the ’roo is looking in their direction. When he looks vour way you must stay still, not even breathing if you can hélp it. If everyone jis spotted, the Cub closest in wins, and his Six gets a mark. If some Cubs are not spotted when the time is up, the closest in Cub who has not been seen gets one mark, and if he is nearer than all the spotted ones, and still has not been discovered, his Six receives two more marks. method of or a Sixer the others and repre-

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L ANY years ago three of the hardest-working young men in Australia were running a gold mine in Queensland, right away in the middle of the steep, rocky Leycester country. One of these was Sandy Cleaver, a brilliant mining engineer, another “Clipper” Seaforth, just out from the ola country, but capable and alert. I was the third, and the youngest, and I remember that I wearied of the life after a few years in the solitude. It was only to be expected. The eternal clattering roar of the stamp- mill, the whirr of machinery, the tire- some jabbering stupidity of the kan- akas, and ali the sights and sounds of the gold mine had grown terribly monotonous to me. You see, I had peen chained down for more than three years to this remote spot, far from even the partial civilisation that a township might offer. You can easily understand that 1 began to tire of the life, to become 2 little homesick. So, too, I suppose, did Sandy and Clipper, my partners. I expect that they wanted to leave quite as badly as I did. But it seemed to me just then that they thought of nothing but the gold specks in the ore that came to our mill. The three of us toiled, labored and sweated at the vast masses of rock until we were almost worn out. We worked our kanakas as hard as we were allowed to. The little heap of ingets in the storeroom grew month by month. There was a reason for cur furious efforts. We had made arrangements to sell out in a few months, and the larger yield we could show, the larger price the mine would command, Mr Jamieson, our prospective purchaser, was to arrive from New Zealand in the following February. The thought of selling out and getting into a big city business, of course, buoyed us up tre- mendously. But, after all, the life was a hard, lonely one, especially for a boy like myself, for I was just eighteen, One day, I determined to take the whole day off. Sandy and Clipper were glad when I mentioned a holiday, and they said that it would do me good. So I saddled up before daybreak the next morning, and rode down into the wood- ed foothilis below the mine. -It was a very hot day, and, though I was some distance from the mine before the sun rose, the weather was far too warm by noon for further, ex- ertion. I tethered my horse, sat down in the shade, ate my frugal Junch, and lay idly there for a couple of hours, en- jceying a doze. Tater in the afternoon I set out in search of sorne game. tit had promised my partners a tasty supper that night, and I did not intend that they should pe disappointed. Leaving my horse tied where he was, in easy reach of some grass, I filed my pockets with cartridges and set out. For some time a tramped steadily through the bush, without seeing anything worth spend- ing a bullet on. I was beginning to think that there was nothing doing; I had, in fact, turned back towards the horse, when I caught sight of a couple of brush turkeys scratching on a sandy patch of soil some ninety yards away. At once I determined to have them. Dropping to the ground, I began to wriggle closer, under cover of the tall grass, advancing as rapidly’ as I could on hands and knees without disturbing the birds. As I had no shot-gun, only a pea-rifle, I had to Make tolerably sure of my _— shot. Slowly and anxiously I drew nearer, until, at length, I judged that I could blow the head off the nearer bird. I lifted my weapon, and gazed eager- ly down the sights. It was a beauti- ful shot. My finger began to squeeze the trigger. And then, just an instant before the cartridge was timed to explode, they lifted their heads, glanced sharply aside, and, greatly to my chagrin, scuttled with a lightning dart into the undergrowth. I gave a groan of disappointment. “Missed them! Clumsy idiot!” I lowered my rifie in disgust. But in that moment I saw that it - was not I, after all, who had scared the birds. They had not seen me. Instead, they had ‘seen or heard an- other fellow—a tall, slouching man in a felt hat and wrinkled, dusty rid- ing boots. He did not notice me, for I still lay there in the long grass; but I saw him, and didn’t like the look of him, either. He was heavily built and ugly—

Tennis at Public Schools Although lawn tennis is played at all our public schools, it is not regarded as being on the same high plane as are cricket, football, or rowing. .It is con- tended in many quarters, that. tennis does not encourage team, work, and #is, therefore, not of the same value for schools as are the pastimes named. This feeling has been handed down as a tra- dition from the public schools of Eng- land, where it was considered that ten- ‘nis had a tendency to make a boy sel- fish instead of encouraging him to lose all sense of self in playing for his side. Writing on this subject in.“All Sports Weekly,” Mr H. T. Parry, the well- known umpire and lawn tennis expert, says that a change of attitude on the part of the English public schools is taking place. “T am very glad to hear,” he writes, “that many public schools are now fos- tering lawn tennis, and consider there ought to be as much esprit de corps in a boy playing for his six in tennis as for hig cricket eleven. . Besides, many ‘poys have a natural aptitude for lawn tennis who would never become good cricketers. Further, there is. plenty of scope for both games.” We 46 Ce SNE ATEN Ig ape et 3 BY DICH. ROWLAND: October 15, 1921

Ss ugly because of a deep scar, the mark of an old wound, which drew down the corner of his mouthl in a perma- nent snarl. . As if he had seen me out of the tail of his eye, he suddenly turned, and came marching up the slope of the eminence where I lay hidden. “Jiminy!” thought I, “he’ll walk clean over me!” ; What could I do? Yo start up under his feet with rifle in hand, would give him the idea that I was up. to no good. On the other hand, what a pretty fool he would think me, seeing me lying face down in the grass! .Hither way, it was a bit of a dilemma. He solved it himself by halting half-way up the incline and sitting down on a rock. He took out an old gun-metal watch, shook it, and consulted it, his back = still turned. Then, with aggravating slowness, he produced a grimy handkerchief, re- rnoved his hat, and began to wipe his face. The slow ease of all this annoyed me, I was anxious for him to move off. You can have no ide: of the indignity of lying there in the grazs under the blazing sun. Presentiv I tried to wriggle back by the way I had come, rating myself for a fool fer not going when the fellow first arrived. He turned his head and looked around. I lay quite still. After ten minutes, I resigned’ my- self to my fate. I had to remain there until he left. The time passed, and soon I heard the hum of voices from below. Some- body else must have joined him with- out my knowledge. Cautiously lift- ing my head, I observed, tomy utter surprise, that he was talking with Black Jack Roberts. Black Jack, as thorough going a scoundrel as any in Australia, had been one of our own white over- seers; but, detected atstealing, he had been thrown off the premises. That had been months before, and I thought that he had, in the mean- time, returned to town. Under the circumstances. I felt a strong im- pulse to hear what was being said. I stole , quietly. within earshot. The stranger was too much taken up with the conversation .to hear the = slight sounds. of my approach. They were talking in low. tones, and most of their speech was lost by the (TLL distance, for I dared not creep closer. But quite distinctly I caught the separate words “gold” and “mine’— and that was enough to interest me in _what followed, . moved the bullion yet ... only three . . quite safe . too late,” came the words, floating up on the still air of the summer afternoon. <A shiver ran through me, and for a mo- ‘ment I lay there hot and sick at such infamy. Black Jack, dismissed and embittered, was betraying our little horde! L could hold tack no longer. Danger or no danger, it -was imperau- tive that I should hear the remainder. Instantly, as soon as I had drawn as elose as safety warranted, the next words proved. that my suppositions were well-founded. Minotto, the stran-

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October 15, 1921 PALS 175 ger, Was evidently the leader in a con- spiracy to rob us of our precious metal. Black Jack, partly out of re- véenge, partly out of greed, had insti- gated the raid. From their words, I surmised that they had a number of followers—how many, I did not know, Unfortunately, they made no mention of the time of the projected attack. That was as much as T managed to hear. The two arose and, through a pair of field-glasses,' examined our mine, visible on the mountain-side. Shortly afterwards they separated and left. or my part, I leaped up and ran furiously for my horse. Il. We stood together in the black shadow of the big doorway, Clipper and I, scanning the valley below the mine. It was the day following my lucky. discovery of the plot that was: being engineered against us; and we did not know when to expect the enemy. ; Clipper had declared that he had seen a man dodging about. in the bushes. I came to examine the clump of prickly-pear where the movement had been noticed, but I could see no sign. Clipper himself was convinced that we were being .watched. 2 “I suppose, if we look close enough, we could spot’ them all,” he said. “Black Jack has surely got someone overlooking our movements. Ready, Sandy?” Sandy, strapping up a lean but very weighty gold ingot in a blanket, turn- ed a smiling gaze upwards.. P “Not quite,’ he answered. “In a minute, though—there! That finishes it.’ He held up an innocent-looking swag for our inspection. ‘But, they’re very heavy blankets,’ the continued, grinning. Clipper laughed shortly. “Weighty, no doubt,” he agreed; “but not half as heavy as the thud Minotto will come when he arrives to find us and the bullion gone. When I had acquainted my partners with the facts of what I had over- heard, Sandy had evolved one of his usual bright schemes. He had sug- gested that we should cast all the gold we had into three ingots, wrap @ blanket or two about them, and an- nounce to the kanakas that we were leaving for a two-days’ hunting trip. In reality our intention was to risk a passage by boat down the treacher- The canoe shot ahead like a hound loosed from the leash. ni] ip

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176 PALS October 15, 1921 ous Leycester River, and to escape from the place. Accordingly we paid off our em- ployes, told them to take two days’ Jeave of absence, and locked the store- room, setting three armed men to guard it until we returned. Very solemnly we bolted and barred an em- pty room and enjoined strict vigilance on the part of the sentries. _“Nobody,” we told them, “is to come near the place. If anybody attempts to break in, shoot at once.” “Yes, yes.” “Don’t hesitate. No matter who it is. The gold must be looked after— savvy?” “We shall lay down our lives,” said the half-caste foreman nobly. “Lay down their arms, he means,” said Clipper afterwards. ‘As if we'd trust all that metal to them! Doesn’t it make you smile?’ We intended to leave the river about fifteen miles down, and set out for the township, from which the coach would carry one of us. Thus the gold would be taken to the train, The other two, we decided, would re- turn to the mine with the mounted police, We marched out in fine style, with blankets swinging (although mine seemed to weigh about a ton and a half, and nearly broke my back), and in apparent high spirits, with all the appearance of a party of boys out on their first trip. Long before we arrived at the river, however, all the jauntiness had gone from our walk; and our relief was great when, aching and perspiring, we deposited the precious bundles in the bottom of our big canoe. When we had laid the ballast to our satisfaction, we grasped an oar each and pushed out from the bank. The canoe was of rough design and workmanship, but very seaworthy and water-tight. Sandy, holding the long steering-pad- dle fixed in its appointed socket, sat upright in the stern, while Clipper and I had an oar each, and, for about a mile and a half all went well. The river flowed swiftly and quietly in a deep stream, After that distance, however, broad- ening out, it coursed between the two cliff-walls of a great gorge, bestrewn with fallen boulders; it grew shal- Jower and swifter, whirling and foam- ing along, a veritable death-trap to any vessel venturing on the rapids. Sandy made everything ready for the coming struggle. . “Dick,” he said, “you’re a trifle to the left. It’ make a difference, you know. And you, Clip, a bit deeper with your paddle. round.” We attended to these deficiencies, and, in a few seconds, we felt the drag of the current upon the canoe. The first rock loomed up, a fringe of foam about its foot. We slipped by it with the speed of a motor car. Swifter and swifter we went, with a great wave gushing from our bows, and the spin- drift whipping our faces. “Oars in!” Sandy’s voice camd to us above the roar of the water and the hissing fra- a-ar of the running tide against the rocks; and the blades, coated with ‘white froth, were drawn inboard. The speed increased. Sitting as trim and tight as we could, Clipper and I gazed intently ahead. So fast were we going that the black-fanged rocks seemed to leap at us from the water, seeking to rip our boat from stem to stern, like wet blotting-paper. In that seething turmoil she seemed pitifully frail. Time after time, in what appeared to us to be incredible’ numbers, rocks woud shoot past, with all the foam of the current creaming about their He’s puliing i you waterlines; at times it seemed that we were perfectly motionless, with the whole river, rocks, cliffs and all, rush- ing past us. Samdy’s steering was a thing past all praise. To Clipper and me, sitting huddled in our places, there was something uncanny in the accuracy with which he directed our course through the bewildering maze of rocks. ‘ A dozen times I cried out, to see us. ‘rushing to what seemed certain de- struction; and a dozen times Sandy turned the danger aside with some wonderfyl paddle-play. wé had trav- ersed, without mishap, perhaps half the length of the rapids, and were nearing the safer haif when Clipper, glancing up and along the grim, bordering cliffs, Jet out a startled yell that rang loud above the weiter of the waters. “Look!’’ he cried. He flung out a pointing finger; and Sandy and I, following it with our eyes, made out the cause of his dismay. At this part the river was bridged with one of those clumsy rope-and-planking affairs that are so common in moun- tainous districts. Although it seemed to us, at that distance, no larger than a piece of string stretched across the gap, we could see that it was dotted with the figures of men. Such a cluster, in a sparsely-inhabit- ed country, could mean only one thing. There was no need for words. We gazed at one another with horrified eyes. It was manifest that this was Minotto’s gang, and equally manifest that they did not mean to let us pass the bridge alive. There was no mistaking the hos- tile nature of their preparations. We could see them adjusting huge stones that might be hurled on us from above. They would smash us to atoms if they landed. And, although the whole party speedily vanished, we knew very well that, if they were armed, they were preparing to fire on us as we passed beneath the bridge. I cannot say even now how Minotto had got wind of our deception. It is possible that one of Black Jack’s spies, suspecting something of the trick that was being played, had mounted a fast horse and arranged for our destruction at the bridge. It may fave been that one of our own kanakas, observing our preparation of the ingots, had turned traitor. Or the encounter may have been sheer coincidence. At all events, Minotto knew. At this point the river narrowed con- siderably, which, of course, made it the most suitable spot for a bridge; and it was no difficult matter to throw down rocks so that no part of the river be- low should be safe. There seemed no escape from our awful position, Sandy himself, even cool old Sandy, went very white. His lips tightened in a wav that showed that he meant to struggle against the disaster. He snapped out quick orders. “Try beating up-stream!’ he shouted. With a marvetlously neat turn, the head of the canoe was swung round and directed full in the eye of the cur- rent. But from the very first the at- tempt was impossible. Even with our utmost efforts, we could barely hold our own with the current; to make headway against that powerful pull was out of the question. ' “Tt’s no good,” almost sobbed Clipper. “Can’t do it.” We strained and sweated, but to no purpose. Sandy’s voice rose to a yell: “Tren we'll run for it! Paddle with the stream! All out, boys! And may Providence be with us!” Once more we whirled round like a cork in a gutter, and began to paddle with all our strength. The canoe shot ahead like a hound loosed from the leash. We had been travelling quickly before: now we charged along in an impetuous rush. an f{mmense wave curling back from our cutwater. We shot down upon the bridge with the startling rapidity of a lightning- flash, Clipper and I, paddling like men de- mented, had no eyes for the men above. Sandy, too, was absorbed in swerving from side to side, partly to confuse the marksmen, partly to avoid the rocks of the river-bed. Before we knew it we were under the bridge. _ With a terrifying splash, and a posi- tive whoop, ‘the first boulder - sang downwards, and its wave surged: up at our bows. We felt the canoe tremble at the impulse of this body of swirling water: our bows canted sharply up- wards, so that we shipped a quantity of the broiling flood at our stern; and then, with a quick swing to port, we were once more upon the surface of the. river proper. Two additional rocks de- scribed great parabolas in the air, seemed to hang poised, and then dived furiously into the hissing water. The whole thing was as quick and unreal as a cinematograph picture. Sandy gave a short cry—he had been hit by one of their bullets—but he held tightly to the steering paddle, and sent us pitching and wobbling aside to avoid a fourth boulder. The whole thing was over in a flash. One moment, we were under the bridge; the next, we were a hundred yards below it. Somehow or other, due perhaps to the speed of the canoe or the depression né- cessary in aiming their firearms, the would-be robbers had succeeded in placing only ‘one bullet — the one that struck Sandy. We could scarcely cre- dit it, but we had passed almost un- harmed through the terrible ordeal. And then, by a trick of fickle fate, just as we had left all the real dan- gers behind, just as we were beginning mutual congratulations, Sandy turned suddenly white, gave a queer gasp, and fell backwards over the stern. For a moment or two he hung there, his legs crooked over the gunwale, his body dragging in the riven—and then, as I jumped up in alarm to seize him, the canoe gave a lurch, overbalanced, and threw us all in the river.. My first thought, as I came to the surface with my mouth full of muddy water, was to find Sandy. He had dis- appeared. Shortly, however, the top of his head, with its familiar red hair, showed up a few yards off. In a few swift strokes I swam to him and caught him by the collar. The water, at that part, was well up to our chests, and it was a matter of some difficulty _for the two of us to drag Sandy to the shelter of a rock. Finally, dripping and panting, we got ashore. We had seen the canoe, keel up- wards, floating merrily away down- stream. : : Of the ingots and blankets we saw nothing. They had unquestionably been thrown out when: the canoe first cap- sized, and their weight must have taken them straight to the bottom. It was practically certain, too, that they had peen rolled by the stream some distance from the scene of the accident. Their loss was a terrible disappoint- ment to us all. When we returned with the police we found that the pro-, jected raid had not taken place. Min- otto must, after all, have got the wind up at the last moment. After a fortnight of hard searching we recovered one ingot, badly battered and cut, some four miles from the bridge. There was no trace of the others, Still, as we were able to sell out a little later at a rather decent figure, enabling us to leave the inhospitable Leycester country for good and all, and as Sandy is as sound as_ ever today, Fortune has not served us too hardly, after all

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October 15, 1921 PALS The Ferrary Collection N a brief mention of some prices ] realised at the sale of the first part of the Ferrary collection (‘Pais,” September 19, 1921), I quoted £4935 as the price paid for the pair of 2 cent British Guiana, al- though the word “Guiana’’ was in- advertently omitted, making it ap- pear that there were “British cents” stamps. As a matter of fact, .the buyer had to pay the Government tax of 17% per cent. in addition, thus bringing the cost of this wonderful pair of stamps up to £5250 sterling, at the then current rate of exchange. The Hawaiian ‘Missionary’ 2 cents, blue, was bought by the same collector, the actual cost to him be- ing £3900. This is easily the record price paid for a single stamp, and is just thirteen times as much as_ the stamp is priced at in the 1920 edition of Whitfield King’s standard cata- logue, namely, £300. This is a most pronounced instance of the truth of my oft expressed axiom that the value of a stamp is what you can get for it. Catalogue values‘are all very well as @ guide to collectors who wish to buy stamps of the commoner kinds, or to exchange their “dupli- eates with other collectors, and re- quire a basis upon which to conduct their exchanges. When it comes to the rarer stamps, the value of which depends so much upon condition or the nearness to perfection of the specimen, the catalogue is not of much use. At the Ferrary sale, further, there were other factors to’be taken into consideration. The collection pos- sessed a world-wide reputation, the sale was well advertised, and it was attended by many of the keenest and wealthiest collectors of Europe and America. With all these favorable conditions it is no wonder that prices soared up to heights hitherto un- known. of two men, to whom money is no object, bidding under the excitement of a public auction, the British Gui- ana sale may be instanced. Mr Fred J. Melville, who attended the sale on behalf of the philatelic journal, “Stamp Collecting,” says:—‘The first big item was the very fine pair of 2 cents British Guiana circular stamps of 1850, used on entire. It came up within three-quarters of an hour of the start of the sale, and the first bid was a startler, 104,000 francs. It rose rapidly to 200,000 francs—a figure which stirred the room to ap- plause. The last two bids were wide apart. From 200,000 it rose to 200,100, and the next and final bid was 210,000. The buyer was M, Bur- rus, a wealthy tobacco manufacturer from Mulhouse, who bought heavily throughout the sale.” Effect on the Young Collector Publication of these high prices realised for great rarities may result in frightening the young collector to such an extent that he will drop his album, it being hopeless to go on in the. face of such odds against -ever getting a complete collection. But the discouraged ones are, fortunate- » way. As an instance of the effect Ay C6. ly, few, and the great majority of budding philatelists comfort them- selves with the reflection that there are thousands of stamps withim the reach of the poorest individual, and, perhaps—who knows?—-sume day a bit of luck may place them in pos- session of one of these great rarities, discovered in. an old trunk with gsrandfather’s letters. The effect on many others (as who should knew better than I?) is to cause them to rush to the conclusion that the 2 cent British Guiana stamp which they get in a 6d packet along with 24 other stamps, is the thing. The whirl of excitement following the conclusion blinds them to the facts that their stamp is rectangular and perforated, while the great rarity was an unper- forated stamp, circular in form, and more Tike a black postmark on col- ored paper than a postage stamp. Stamp Outings . That stamp collecting need not be confined to -the winter or to indoors is proved by the develop- ment of a highly successful scheme at Southend — on - Sea (England), where the local philatelic -society has started’ the idea of holding a summer school for philatelists, who enjoy motor coach drives and other delightful outings, discussing stamps in the intervals of viewing the scen- ery and swapping duplicates on the Other instances’ might be re- ealied by older collectors of junior meetings on ‘Hampsted Heath and other leafy resorts, where the colors of the stamps vied with the flowers for beauty and variety. Only it is as well to choose sheltered spots for examination of loose specimens, as a eovetous breeze might come along and “pinch” some of the choicest. A New Kingdom Iraq is the name of the new Kingdom to bo placed under the rule of the Arab = Enmir Fei- sul. It comprises that great re- gion known as Mesopotamia, and, no doubt, its stamp issues will be nu- merous and weird in design. At pre- Counting the Cosi “Tommy, I hope: touched those cakes?” “Not yet. -I was just wondering if they were nice enough to get a hid- fn¢ for!” : you haven’t i CLOG; sent Turkish stamps are used, with the overprint “IRAQ.” Re Old ‘Indian Stamps News is to hand that a fairly con- siderable number of old Indian stamps has been discovered. The first is- sues of 184 are in panes and large blocks of the three lower values, and later issues fnclude complete sheets of’ most varieties, all, of course, unused. The catalogue value is roughly esti- mated at £6000, and the whole lot is in the hands of a Burasian dealer. The effect on market prices should not be injurious, as there is always a keen demand for these attractive stamps, and many advanced philatelists will be glad of the opportunity of ocqiir- ing panes or blocks. The lucky deal- er is advertising 175 varieties of thesestamps,.having a catalogue value of £80, for.sale “at the best offer over 600 rupees.” At present rates of exchange 500. rupees equal £33, a big discount on the stated catalogue value, but then, this dealer wants “the best offer over” that amount! It is only a starter, and the price finally accept- ed may be quite close to catalegue. ©OQ Answers to Correspondents CG. Metzner (Daylesferd, Vic.).—-Your stamp is the “Charity Stamp” of 1897. There were two, Id and 24d. .The first was sold at 1/, and the second at 2/6, the difference between the postage value and the sale price being handed to certain ‘hospitals. The design is emblemutic of Charity succouring the help- less. Present catalogue value of the 244 is 5/ unused, or 6/ used. A. Phillips (Launceston, Tas.).—l, The 64 (Kookaburra was issued in 1914. It was printed from a steel plate, and, owing to the slow and expensive method of printing, it was withdrawn from issue. 2. Lyre Bird $d to 2/6, according to watermark. 3, N.Z. Kiwi, 6d to 3/, according to type and color, 4, Tasmania pictorials, 2%4., 9d; 6d, 1/; 64. 8d_to 1/, according to watermark. _C, Scott (N. Brighton, Vic.).—Your stampe delong to the 1992 issae of Nyassa, the over- Prints denoting that the original Stamps of 80, 150, and 300 reis have been converted into stamps of €5, 115, and 130 reis, F. Suell (Bendigo, Vic.).—The 44 plum is the current stamp. (This is not an interna- tional joke). i, Donnelly (Junee, N.S.W.). — Your stamp is catalogued at 6/, unused. It comes eer aa Heeaine, of New Britain, as the rshall Islang stamps wer Mate) aed Pp © surcharged and H. M‘Kechnie (Goodwood, N.S.W.).—Can~ not identify the stamp from your deserip- des Bas Pe oe name of a country on it? appears to be a revenue and no tae pin t a postage G. Hildebrandt (Hexham, N.S.W.).—N.S.W. 4d. Captain Cook is catalogued Me ta. Ms B. Burke (Singleton, S.A.).—(1) ‘Kostar- sasag’’ on the Hungarian stamps means “Re- public,” (2) Hungary. (3) Esthonia. (4) Bul- eae (5) Venezuela. (6) 1/6 unused, 2/ used. 5S. Rollandin (Morwell, Vic.).—Your Bel- gian stamp is pre-cancelled, i.e., it is post- marked before being placed on the letter or newspaper. The mark does not constitute a variety, and thousands of sets of these stamps, with different names of towns, are sold by dealers. P. Armstrong (S. Melb., Vic.).—The id. purple centennial N.S.W. is catalogued at ld., and the 8d. at 64. G. Melkin (W. Brunswick, Vic.) -— Land- ing of Columbus (U.5.A.) 1d.; Mauritius 2 cents, 1d.; New South Wales 2d. Emu, 1¢4.; dio. 6d. carmine, 2d.; do. id. purple, id: South Australia 2d. purple, Id.; Mexico 1%&., 1d.

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178 Row af. &. ‘ ; Big Winner “ "Waiter (speaking down tube): Wild ‘duck, one! Cook (from below): Corks! Just my ‘Yuck! I backed Sparrowshanks! ve Tin Openers Needed * Bobby: ‘Uncle, do big fish eat little fish like sardines?” Uncle: “Yes, certainly, my boy.” Bobbv: “How do they open the tins, unele?” Heard at College . Wirst: Student: ‘What shall we do to- day” . Second Student: “I'll spin a coin. If it’s heads, we’ll go to the pictures. If iv’s tails, we'll go to the palais; and if it stands on its edge we'll study.” . Fishy! Margie: The scales are fastened on fish just like the slates on a house, aren’t they, mamma? . ‘Mothet: Yes, dear. - Margie: I suppose they are put on that way to keep the fish from leak- ing! Mook ae She Knew. Abe , Feacher: “Do you know your alpha» bet?” (Little Girl: “Yes, miss!” Teacher: “Well, what comes after A, on Little Girl (raising her voice): “My boy!” The Decoy October 15, 1921 _ Nasty Knock for Daddy Father (to daughter about five years of age): Now, Nancy, don’t you think you are a lucky little girl when your father has a motor-cycle to take you rides? Most little girls’ fathers haven’t got them. Nancy: No, daddy; they have motor- cars! Not All Asleep Grandfather was taking a nap, and his little granddaughter was sent to call him to dinner. “Was he asleep?” asked her mother, when Flossie came back. All but his nose, mummie,” was the reply. : In Justification Mother: “Why, Willie! Striking your little sister?” Willie (doggedly): ‘Auntie made me.” Maiden Aunt: “Why, Wislie! I said if you did strike her I would never kiss you again.” : . Willie: “Well, I couldn’t let a chance like that slip.” 2 Not to be Caught Fussy Ol1 Gent. (to boy who keeps continually sniffling sitting next te him in tram): ‘““My boy, have you got a handkerchief?” : ‘Boy: “Yes: but me mother said I wasn’t to lend it to anybody!” — Yard of Milk, Please! Boy (wishing tao de- monstrate nis wit): “Would you sive me a yard of milk, please?” Milkman (not iv be taken in): ‘Will I wrap it up for-you, sonny?” Johnny was Wary -When Johnny was be- ing taken to the pho- tographers to have his photo ‘taken he cried and said he would not go. “Why, Johnny,” his mother, “you just sit still a minute and it is all over. Johnny: “But that’s what you to!d me at the dentist’s.” He was Struck All Right — Resident: “So you've been visiting our schools, eh? Splendid, aren’t they? Magnificent disci- -pline! Superb puild- ings! Beautiful furnish- ings. By the way, 7 want to ask what was the first thing that struck you on entering the boys’ department? Visitor (truthfully): “A pea. from a peashocter” said’ Does Politeness:Pay? . « First Tramp: “Yer’ll find: it pays to be polite, (pardner.” — : 7 Second Tramp: “Not always, I guessi The other day I was. actin’deaf anid dumb, when a man giv’ me,;a three- penny bit. I says, ‘Thank you, sir,’ and he had me arrested,” arn Kept In Suspense. Bobby: “Mother did you hear. the ladder fall?” © ’ Mother: “No, dear. hasn’t. hurt himself?” Bobby: “Not yet. jng to the gasolier.” I hope father He’s still cling- Fred’s “S.0.8.” _Fred was being sent to a. boarding school. , “Now,” said his father, “when you write do not send me pages and pages deseribing all -the pupits, where they come from, and what classes'they are in, because I really haven’t time -to rend it all.” A few weeks later his father received the following:—“Dear Wather,—S.0-S8., LS.D., L.S.V.P.—Fred.” Willie’s Dreadful Scerct ‘The. guests were seated at the table when Willie was heard elamering for Wine, & a “Oh, no,’ his mother replied, “you raustn’t have wine, my hoy.” “ “Thon PH tell ’em all’ he cried, and, standing on bis chair, he shouted: “My new trousers were made out of our old window blinds!” : Collapse of mother. : PRIZES FOR JOKES The fcllowing prizes are awarded for jokes:— P LL. Sawford, Victoria ra., Birkenhead, S. Aust.: Robert Glenn, “Clansfield,”’ Lower Ferntree Gully, Vic.; Frank Nott. Berriwillock, Vic.

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October 15, 192i Synopsis of Previous Chapters, Tom Henderson, “Froq’ Mayson, and “Skinny” South, three schoolboys, who are spending a holiday on the cattle station of Tom's father in the north-west of Tasmania, discover Jerry Slanter, an old prospector, in a dying condition. That he has met tvith joul play is undoubted. As the boys bend over him he mutters mysterious words con- cerning a gold mine. a Later on the boys determine to visit Jerry’s hut, in the hope of finding some clue. Tom and “Krog.? Icaving “Skinny? in the hut, set out to erplore the country, and make startling discoveries in a place celled Snake Gilly. Meanwhile, a Mexican named Lopez, and Bill Clasp, his mate, who are also aware of the existence of the gold mince, pay @ visit to Jerry's hut and discover Skinny, whom they carry awau fo their camp ae the bush, as they fcar that he knows too much. As soon as Tom and “Frog? learn of “Skinny's’ disappearance, they sct oul in search of hin. : Skinny is rescued by his two fricnds, and survives an attack by the Mexican’s dog, aw animal of remarkable strength and ferocity. Stirring adventures follow. The boys are hunted by the Mexican and Bill Clasp, but they pit their wits against those of the two men, and a succession of erciling incidents takes place. |The instalment in this issue deals with some sensational developments. CHAPTER XX. Bill Clasp Makes His Fixit N that first moment of dismay which witnessed the unlooked-for ap- pearance of their encmies, Tom.and Frog were taken completely by sur- prise. They were within an ace of dis- aster. Bill Clasp’s great, clutching hand was but a few inches from Tom when the hig man stumbled over a stone and fell on his knees. The moment’s respite was Tom’s salvation. Without regard to the niceties of en- counter he deliberately kicked his would-be captor hard on the shin and bolted down the gully forthwith. ¥rog had fared no less luckily. A hastily aimed handful of gravel lodged fairly in the Mexican’s face, blinding him for several seconds, and reducing him to a state of inarticulate fury. That Lopez and Bill Clasp should im- mediately afterwards come into ac- cidental but violent collision was only one more ina series of incidents which were littl: short of providential. In the rush to escape the boys be- came separated. Vrog ran oon sto- lidly, his whole desire being to gain the mouth of the gully and hide him- self in the friendly shelter of the seruh. He heard Bill Clasp lumber- ing in pursuit, but felt no added alarm. He believed himself to be quite safe, bar accidents. The big man might certainly be more familiar with the lo- eality, but Frog knew himself to be much the ficeter of the two. And so ft proved. In a few minutes all sounds of the chase had died away, and Frog, panting heavily, came to a A halt just outside the gully entrance, and mopped his face thankfully. of Tom there was no sign, but this did not worry him. Tom could safely be trusted to look after himself. For some minutes Frog was too win- ded to do more than sit on the butt of an uprooted sapling in the shadow of the bush. Presently the humor of the situation made its appeal, and he found himself grinning widely. “Stiff luck, all right,” he muttered, “though it could have been worse. Froggy, my son, you'll have to be more careful, or you’ll come a good thud. Fancy those greasy bushrangers hop- ping in on us like that!” In the midst of reviewing events his thoughts reverted to Skinny, and he became instantly grave again. What had happened tg him? Had he sensibly gone into hiding, or had he made shift to follow them from the gully, and so fallen once more into the hands of Bill Clasp and Lopez? The speculation made Frog a little uneasy. He rose to his feet and stood listening, but could hear nothing but the sough of the wind. The sky was heavily overcast. Only a faint glimmer of light now penetrated the recesses of the scrub. Presently, whilst he stood hesitating, it began to rain. Without more ado he crawled under the low branches of a honeysuckle, and there remained until the rain cleared. When he re- appeared the moon was once more shining brightly. But for the drip- ping leaves and the damp stench of the air, no trace remained of the squall Waste of Soap “Herbert, your uncle is coming for tea. Go up and wash your face.” “Yes, but what if he doesn’t come.” Be erard uthor of “dhe Jimber \Wolves ete. femmes acess Cro Di that had sent him under cover. The night sky had cleared rapidly, Frog’s first action was to purse his lips and emit the cuckoo’s whistle, For some time there was no response. Then, from a point some distance away on the right, came an answering call. He whistled again and began to move forward, all his caution now in evidence. Beyond a doubt it was Tom, yet he did not mean to be caught nap- ping a second time if he could help it. Whistling at intervals, and guiding himself by the ready replies, it was not long before he saw the figure of his pal emerging from the scrub. They Bave each other a sober greeting. “What about old Skinny?” Frog’s first words. : Tom looked carefully about him be- fore replying. “Skinny! Oh, I think he’s all right. They wouldn’t know he was with us. And, anyway, he’s bound to have heard the rumpus and dug himself in somewhere. All the same, if he doesn’t show up soon we'll go along and see what’s doing.” : “But look here; you know he can’t make tracks out of there until the coast is clear,” Frog reminded him. “Oh, no—we’Jl just have to float around until those two birds return to their camp.” “Whereabouts are we?’ demanded Tom. “I’m clean out of my reckon- ing. ‘That business scared the wits out of me for a minute or two. Tve been running around the place like a Dutch uncle. ook at me!” Tle exhibited “a rent in his trouser leg extending from the knee to the ankle. The loose end was tucked into his sock as the only way to preserve a semblance of comfort. “What @’you know about that? I caught it on a spike just after we got going. If the cloth hadn’t rip- ped I believe Lopez would have grab- bed me. I got away just in time That beggar can run like fun. He gave me all I knew to get away from him.” “My hat’s gone,” said Frog, rather unnecessarily, since the faci was self- evident. What’s more, I haven’t the faintest idea where I dropped it. Cheer up, we'll soon be in more trouble!” “Which way docs the mouth of the gully lie, Froggie?’”’ Frog pointed to the left. “Down there. I know because I was just outside it when you answered my whistle, and I came straight up here. How about returning and working in as close to the entrance as we can? We've got to be in a position to see those chaps come out? He started to lead the way through the wet bush. “Are you game to come hack. here tomorrow?” were

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180 PALS October 15, 1921 “Its to- the “Tomorrow,” echoed Tom. morrow tonight. Do you know time? It’s half-past 12.” “Crikey!” was all Frog conld find to say. “And what's more,” continued Tom, “there must be an end ta this hide- and-seek business right away. Things @re getting too hot. As soon as it comes daylight we'll make a dash to get out of Snake Gully, There is a way out, you know, if we can only fing it. It’s the only sensible thing to do now.” “How are we going to set about it?” asked Frog, as they sat down to give Bill Clasp and the Mexican time to re- turn to their camp. ‘We can’t climb the cliffs. And Skinny hasn’t the ghost of an idea how they brought him into the gully, except that he rode most of the way.” “Ask me ancther, But I bet I’M think something up before long. Now, we'd better sit tight and say nothing for awhite. We don’t want to give our- selvcs away. That Lopez has got ears like a cat.” It was fully an hour before their pati- ence was rewarded. The men passed them by at some little distance, yet close enough to enable them to see Lo- pez slinkine along in the lead. Bill Clasp was muttering to himself. Ina little while they had moved out of sight. Tom got to his feet. Froggy,” he remarked. They retraced their steps up the gully until they arrived once more. on the border of the amphitheatre. There was no sign of Skinny. ¥reg halted and put his fingers to his mouth. “There he is,” exclaimed Tom, as a wavering whistle came in reply. He went forward to meet the shadow that appeared suddenly from behind a big boulder. “By gum, he’s hurt himsclf, What's the matter, Skinny?” “Save us, have you been run through a chaff-cutter, or what?’ asked Frog. But his voice quickly lost its note of badinage us he caught Skinny by the arm in time to save him from falling. “What's wrong, old chap? Those was- ters didn’t catch you, did they?” ‘Its... it’s only my ankle,’ Skinny tried weakly to explain. lie brought the swollen member into view. ‘“Ii’s a beaut, isn’t it?’ “Not snake bite?” swift alarm. e “TY sprained it,” Skinny reassured them. “IT say, those two, have gone, haven’t they? Don'ts look aut me as if I was a circus.” : ‘oe was eyeing him with perplex- ity. f “Not a circus, old soul—a side show at a bazaar, Have you been speak- ing out of your turn, or what? You look as if you’d been trying to un- dress yourself with your teeth. What else has happened to you?” ‘Hobbling along slowly between his friends, Skinny related his share of the night’s adventures. He found it hard to speak of the yellow dog without a reminiscent shudder. The others listened excitedly. “Well, you’re a whale for trouble, “Come on, cried Tom, in you are,” Frog told him. “Can't you leave some for somebody else? Now, see what you’ve done. How are we going to get away from Snake Gully tomorrow—-L mean todiay— with your foot like that? Poor old Fat.” “Oh, yes; pluckily, but with pain in his voice. Juggins. But T know.” “Of course that’s me,’ said Skinny a little note of “T’'m the original can’t help it, vou vou ean't,” said ’Pom soothingly. “Well, well have to alter our plans, that’s all about it. Instead of all getting hence, only one of us will be able to go now. We can’t leave you by yourself, Skinny.’ “TH toss. you who goes,’’ suggested Frog. “You won last time we tossed, buts 4. 87" “Nothing doing,’ said Tom quick- ly.. “Hold on—we’ll settle all that later. How’s the hoof, Skinny? “I wont deceive you—it hurts) a bit,” said Skinny, in an effort to joke. “If it wasn’t that I’d probably lose myself I'd say go ahead and let me follow on my own. I hope we aren’t chased by any snails.” Tom scarcely heard him. His mind was busy with coming problems. He was not at ali sure that -he ought to ride for help. Ina way it might look ns y 7" ne? hr. (Begs a vs Ga he 44 like desertion at a critical time. There was no knowing what would happen during his absence, and he hesitated to appear to evade the responsibilities of his leadership. On the other hand, the attempt to find a way out of the gully was sure to be attended by considerable risk. As vet he had no idea how to go about the matter. He only knew that it was imperative that they should get out of the awk- ward position they were in, as it verged closely upon tragedy. ; Ile was still lacking a decision when Skinny began to speak of the Mexican’s attempt to knife his big companion. “I’m sure he really meant to do it. Lopez is as treacherous as @ snake, J wonder at Bill Clasp trusting him. He'll be sorry he did one day, as suré as eggs.” \ “That settles it,” jreetedly. “Settles what’ asked Frog. “Why, that I ride off at daybreak. Yes, { will With a inan like Lopez hanging round it’s high time we did something. The sooner the 9 potice take a hand in the game the hetter for us all. It’s*-no use arguing, I'rceg, because I wen't listen. Its my place said Tom unex- “It’s Bill Clasp! to go. You ond Skinny will be as right as rain in the cave until we come back,” “Oh, you’re picking the easy job for yourself—as per usual,’ grumbled Frog cunningly. But Tom refused the bait. “T can’t help it if you think that. But I know you’re only talking through your hat, You're just try- ing to bluff me out of doing my plain duty. Try again.” “How will you do it?” asked Frog, trying to conceal his disappoint- ment. “JT asked you that once Le- fore, and you didn’t know.” “But 1 know now,” said Tom quietly. “You remember that big roan horse that Bill Clasp rode when we ambushed him with the tucker? Well, my idea is to saddle the roan as soon as it’s ee Yi; 4 5h RY : Ni io \ Mm L 4 lp ha j ‘ bz AM ey Gb, ~~ Come away—he’s dead!” said Tom. light enough for you and me two find our way to the horse yards. WVlIl ride him to the point where we first got a sight of Bill Clasp, and then let him have his head. I'll bet a shilling to a goose- berry that the roan takes the right track on his own accord.” “Brains! . brains!” applauded Skinny. “That’s the dinkiest notion I’ve heard for ages.” Frog offered his hand gravely. “I second the motion. Tommy, you're a marvel. Good on you!” : Little more was said until they came to the cave, when Tom left the others in order to get the stump of candle which he hud secreted handily in readi- ness for just such an emergency. By its aid they were enabled to pass with- out accident along the gutter. Arrived at the grotto, Skinny was made to seat himself with his ankle under the trickle of cold spring water. “Keep it there us long as you can,” advised Prog. “T'll dish you up seme hot water in a moment or so. Wheu you've fumented it well bind it tightly With a lhndkerchief.” He set about muking a tire, but ex-) claimed, suddenly. ‘‘Golly, ve got noi matches.” Tom searched his pockets and pro-

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October 15, 1921 PALS 181 fre rn er] duced his own box. It held three matches, “Is that all you've got?” asked the fat youth, anxiously. “If you ask me, we’re lucky to have any at all,” said Tom. “We'll just have to hunt up a good back log and keep the fire going in that way. Any- how, it shouldn’t be for long. I ought to be back by three in the afternoon, at latest.” “What time is it now?” inquired Skinny, yawning. “Nearly four in the morning. It'll be daylight in an hour. We've just time for a drink of tea before we start.” “You’re still convinced you’re the man for the job, then?” ‘said Frog. “T am,’ replied Tom simply. He looked earnestly at his pals. ‘‘Now, mind and just stick here until I come back. No funny business. There’s tuc- ker enough to last you for some days. If I don’t show up by, say, tomorrow morning, you’ll know that something has gone wrong. In that case don’t bother about me. If Skinny is able to walk, just go ahead and find a way out for yourselves. At the worst you could follow the_river until you come to the sea coas%, and get out that way.” “Sounds easy,” said Frog. “But I think I’d prefer some other way, thank you. It’s 12 miles to the coast, if it’s a yard.” : A little later they left Skinny coiled comfortably in his blankets. He had strict instructions not to allow the fire to burn out. “A lucky beggar, he is,” Frog grum-. bled sleepily, as he followed Tom down the gutter. “Still, he’s had a fairly rough passage, and I suppose he’s about due for a loaf. It’s a minute to five o’clock, Tommy.” In the east the sky was already brigh- tening. All trace of the’ rough wea- ther.had gone. The air was warm and muggy, even at that early hour. By the time they arrived within sight of the river the first beams of sunshine touched the crests of the distant hills. A flock of black jays called monoto- nously as they went scavenging over the adjacent backwater flats. Tom paused on the bank of the river and looked longingly at the cool, in- viting water. “I wish we had time for a dip, but I’ suppose it wouldn’t do to risk it. It’s going to be a corker of a day, too. Whe. things settle down, Frog, and we come back.to open up that prospect of Jerry’s, we'll most certainly camp along the river here. We'll have the time of our young lives—too true, we will. Come on!” He turned reluctantly and Began to lead the way downstream, following the soft purl of the water as it rippled and creamed on its course seawards. The low banks were covered thickly with undergrowth, Here and there tiny gutters ran through the black, peaty soil to Grain themselves: of the over- ——— —_—________-______—-¢ | Australian “Willy Willy” oe Willy” is a severe cyclone, peculiar to the north-west coast of West Australia, and usually occurs from November to April, in- clusive. These storms rage With tre- mendous fury, and are sometimes re- sponsible for great havoc on sea and fand. When a “Willy Willy” travels southward. after leaving the north- west coust, its passage is often marked by torrential rains. On one occasion a fall of 29.41 inches was recorded in 24 hours at Whim Creck, in the north. The “Willy night rain. In the shallows ,the eddies spun glistening in the growing sunshine. Birds twittered in the bushes. ‘It’a like a bit of fairy land,” Frog commented. He added thoughtfully, “At least it would be if it wasn’t for the flies, This myrtle country is the limit. A regular breeding ground for them. They come out of the punky myrtle logs.” The drone of insects was plainly noticeable. Flies clung to the stems of the reeds, rising to sluggish flight at the warming touch of the sun, The air seemed full of them. Tom. topped ai sand-ridge and dropped into the hollow beyond. The river bank was only a few feet away. He could hear the lap lap of the water quite plainly. He turned to go on, but suddenly restrained himself. He was con- scious of a curious depression. | “What is it . . what's the matter with me?” he asked himself, “Hurry up, Juggins,” came Frog's impatient voice from behind. “I can’t get down till you move. What's wrong? Gone to sleep?” Tom squeezed himself against the A Bit Mixed “Will you give me a sixpence, sir? I’m deaf and dumb.” “What! Deaf and dumb?” ‘JT mean I’m blind, sir. It’s my twin brother who’s deaf and dumb. We look so much alike that some- times I get mixed up myself.” sand wall to make room for his pal. “Lf don’t know,” he said queerly. “I’ve got a rum sort of a feeling... poeta in the air... T cun’t place itn we? He stood hesitating, -wondering at the strange disquiet that was on him. The warm, soggy sme}!l of the under- growth secmed suddenly intensified. The hum of flies filled his ears. On an impulse he walked to the edge of the river bank and looked down. Next second he started back with a shocked cry. “What is it... what’s the mat- ter?’ asked Frog, sharply. He shook off Tom’s restr:ining hand and leant to see for himself, Tom found a difficulty in speaking. “It's Bill Clasp. He’s dead. Come away.” The big man was lying fuce down in the rushes directly beneath them, The motion of the quiet water imparted a slight movement to his outstretched limbs. They seemed to tremble and shake, as if in pitiful protest against the eruel treachery that had robbed them of warm, full-blooded life. From between the broad shoulders pro- truded the haft of a knife. Frog continued to stare with a kind of fearful fascination. “He did get him then... he killed him after Hl,” he mumbled stupidly. “He must have had another knife.” | i Tom caught his arm in a grip that urt. “Come on out of this," he e¢om- manded huskily. Without another word they turned and ran. —— CHAPTER XXI. The Fight on the Shore ‘ The roan horse was fortunately easy to catch. He stood quietly enough while Tom saddled up and ade justed the stirrups to his own len The lid mounted and turned a white face to Frog. “I just hate to leave you after this, but it’s more urgent than ever that we should get help. Don’t around after I’ve gone. Go straight back to Skinny. More than likely that that beast Lopez is up in the gold gully, but you never can tell. I'll be back as soon as ever ¥ can,”’ Frog reached round to his belt and pulled out the old tomahawk. “Here, take this with you. It’s not much to defend yourself with, but it’s better than nothing at all. If you meet Lopez ride right over him.” They exchanged a quick hend clasp. “Good luck,’ Frog called huskily, He waited until Tom was out of sight, and then set out on the return’ trip. The journey passed without ine cident of any kind. He neither heard nor saw anything of the Mexican, Skinny was out of bed and anzi- ously awaiting his arrival. “T’ve made some fresh tea,” the boy announced. ‘Tom get away all right?” How's “T hope so. the foot?” “Tt’s easier,” said Skinny thamke fully. His sharp eyes noted the ex- treme gravity of his friend’s face, and he put @ question quickly. ‘“What’s wrong? What are you looking down your nose like that for? ' Did you have another go-in with those birds. . ..?* “It’s bird now-—-not birds,’ Frog . . I think so, answered. ‘‘There’s only Lopez left now.” i Skinny still stared uncomprehend- ingly. , “Where's Bill Clasp then?” “Dead. Stabbed in the back the same way as Jerry Slanter.” Frog entered on a sober account of the morning’s discovery. “Tt tell you, Skinny, it’s pretty rotten.” “And you know he wasn’t such @ had chap after all—Bill Clasp, I mean. If it hadn’t been for him I don’t. think T should be here now, What shall we do?” “Nothing,” replied Frog, “Just wait until Tom comes back. Look here, old chap, all the gold in the world isn’t worth a man’s life. First Jerry .. . and now Bill Clasp. I begin to hate the thought of the stuff. Of course Lopez is stark, staring mad.” “Tf you’d looked right into his eyes like I have, you’d say so,” agreed Skinny. P Frog roused himself with an effort. “Come on, Let's turn in again, lve been up all night. I'm dog tired, I do hope Tom’s ali right.” He lay down on his blankets and tried to sleep, but with small success. He was over tired to begin with, And strive as he would, he cowld not dis« miss from his mind that picture of the dead man stretched in the quiet shale

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18 PALS. lows of the backwater. He could only toss and turn, and start nervously at every sound from without. It was a nightmare experience. At length he felt that he could stand it no longer. He sat up and leoked at the time. It was nearly two o’clock, “Asleep, Skinny?” he called softly. _Whe fat youth grunted. i “E should say not. I can’t sleep at ail. Yet the funny thing is that I’m nearly dead for want of it. I keep getting horrible dreams.” “Same here,” said Frog. He kicked the fire together and swung the billy. “Tom ought to be back any time now,” he said, hopefully. “He can’t come too soon to suit me, either. Tm about fed up with this place. I tell you what, Skinny, if it wasn't for your sore hoof, and if we had a fun, or something, we wouldn’t wait for anyone. We'd just march out and take what was coming. But this do- ing nothing gets on a fellow’s nerves.” “T wonder what Lopez is doing?” gueried Skinny. “Up where the gold is, scratching away for dear life, Pll bet.” “If he’s got any brains at all he’ll be well out of the valley by now,” said Frog grimly. “It’s a length of rope for his kind.” Skinny began to fuss over his ankle, and, for a time, Frog sat watching him in moody silence. Somehow his natural optimism had deserted him. He began to fidget, glancing every little while at his watch. Never in his life had the time passed so slowly. Fach minute seemed to drag itself into an hour of fretful suspense. By three o’clock he was in a fever of impati- ence: “I’m going down the gutter to see if there’s any sign of Tom,” he told Skinny abrupily. “Don’t do it.’ begged the latter, in alarm. “Don’t be an-ass. Sit tight and wait.” be ey “Tf I do, J shall go dippy,” said Frog, with conviction. “Tom said three o’diock at the latest, and it’s three now. For all we know he may not have got out of the valley at all. I wish we could be sure.” : ‘Don’t be a mug,” persisted Skinny. He was plainly eppused to being left alone any longer. ‘“Juock here, I'm go- ing to make some flap-jacks. It’s time we had a bite to cat, anyway. Just wait a little lunger.” “*“y tell you Um geing down the gut- ter,” said Frog, obstinately. “Ef shanit he long.” ‘ “S-s-shall 1) go asked with you?” Skinny. He balanced himself against the wall. “AL right, then, I won't. Don't go too far. will you? And be sure to watch out or vou'll land us in the soup properiy.” Frog, without teplying, walked slow- ly along the gutter into the open. No sound broke the quiet of the valley. In front of him the corner of deserted heath-iand seemed to wilt beneath the heat of the afternoon sun. The hills were wrapped in a purple haze. There was no wind. | Mor a long time Free stood hesitat~ ing on the edge of the bushes. In the end he began to move cautiously toward ai bank of high ground on his right. Here, if any- where, he might expect to find an un- interrupted view. He knew the move to be unwise, but his anxiety seemed to drive him on. Surely anything was petter than the interminable torment of waiting. . The bank proved disappointing. It commanded an outlook of not more than a few. chains on either hand. The intervening timber precluded him from ebiaining the clear view down the fength of the valley whieh he had screen, of. October 15, 1921 hopéd to find. de went on once more, cautiously, watching every step of the way. He passed from point to point, telling himself that each should be the Jast, yet persisting in spite of every- thing. So it was that he finally came to a spot whence the grotesque out- line of Skull Knoil flashed suddenly into view. Frog sat down and considered. The knowledge that he had travelled s0 far from the cave had a disquieting ef- feet. He scanned the summit of the rock, but could detect no evi- dence of present occupation. The place was evidently deserted; if not wholly, at least for such time as Lopez re- mained at the gold gully reaping the harvest his crime had made possible. In that case there remained no obstacle to rog’s continuing right up to the knoll itself, or even ascending, if he had a mind to do so. A finer lonk-out could not be found. For Bill Clasp was dead . and the big yellow dog was dead. Frog wondered if the Mexi- All at once the Mexican’s hand was about his throat, digging into the ficsh. can had discovered its body amung ihe rocks. There remained oniy Lopez... He decided suddenly that, since he had already come so far, ‘he might as well continue on to the spot where they had lain in wait for Bill Clasp, and watch for Tom’s coming there. skinny would fret, but that couid not he helped. Frog felt that to return might be more dangerous than to proceed. Su, with a last careful took ‘about him, he started down the bank that dipped, then rose ugain sharply to meet the half circle of open grass land fronting the knoll, Having compassed three-fourths of the distance, Frog halted to get his breath. That part of the bank where he now stood curved inwards io meet the river, ending in a shelf that over- hung the river beach by some few feet only. It appeared that the bottom of the ravine was actually lower than the bed of the river itself, being separaled from it by the strata of solid rock forming the pedestal of Skull Knoll. It now occurred to Frog that he might proceed more easily by avoiding the rough ground altogether. It would be a comparatively easy matter, he told himsel, to drop from the ledge to the river beach, and thence by a kind of half circle to the spot where Tom and he had first sighted their imprisoned pal. : ss Accordingly he clambered over the loose rocks at the base of the knoll, balanced himself lightly on the shoul- der of the ledge, then dropped to the sands below. The river was within a few yards, flowing smoothtly to meet the gap that showed in the dis- tant timber. Immediately before him the shore curved sharply ‘about a projection of the knoll wall. Frog stepped towards it, his whole object being to escape as soon as possible from such an undesirable neighbor- hood. He was half-way over the sands when some intuition made him glance ahead sharply, rom around the side of the curve Lopez had stepped suddenly into view. At the moment of recognition, the advantage lay with neither. Both were dumbfounded by the unexpect- edness of the meeting. Frog’s face expressed nothing but consternation; that of the Mexican, a kind of sur- prised and angry triumph. Lopez was the first to speak. “Aha, eet ees de other boys, eh? An’ weel you say what eet ees you do here?”

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October 15, 1921 PALS | 183 Frog wus not long debating what he should do. With the first shock of understanding past, he told him- self that only coolness could avail to help him. For the first time he was squarely face to face with the man who had. slain both Jerry Slanter and Bill Clasp. It needed only the restless movement of the man’s hands —the nervous glitter of his black eyes, to convince Frog that he had to do with a man on the verge of insanity. Lopez was ragged and un- kempt. _ His head was bare, exposing the hideous purple scar which marked the place where his ear was missing. His long, greasy black hair hung about his face like a horse’s mane. His gums were drawn back in @ hate- ful grin. “What are you doing here, if it comes to that?” retorted. Frog, af- fecting a coolness he was far from possessing. “You are fonny boy, eh?” Lopez eyed him watchfully. “De fat peeg—where ees he? Or ees eet that you are alone, si?” “No, 'm not. alone,’ said Frog, continuing to stand his ground. He wished his heart wouldn’t beat so painfully,’ It seemed to take his breath away. “If you want to know, the others are just round the bend there.” He expected that the statement would, at least; make Lopez careful ot his actions. Instead, the Mexican shook his head and gave a short, throaty laugh. “Ket weel not do. Eet is a lie. De fat peeg ... non sabe. But de ether boy, he rjde de roan prad. T shoot heem.. . me—Lopez. He lie and keek—so!” For a second Frog went weak with horror. Had Lopez attacked him then the Mexican would have had an easy victory. If this thing were true’... But he would not believe it~—hn dare not believe it! “Yet it was plain that Lopez and Tom had met, orielse how should the Mexican know of the roan horse? The thought turned Frog sick. With Bill Clasp out of the way ...and Tom...and himself now in danger of a like fate, who would remain to bring this in- human creature to book? ‘The world without would know nothing of the tragedy until too late. And Skinny would be left to die like a rat in a trap, unless, by a miracle, he was res- cued. Frog bit his lips to keep hack the gasp of dismay that rose to them. “You're only saying that. You know it’s not true. You're just trying to trighten me,” he cried, his own at- tempt to mislead now quite forgotten. “IT know all about you... I know how Jerry Slanter came by his death... and Bilt Clasp...and...” “Instantly he regretted having said it. The Mexican's face was distorted with fury. With no more than a grunt of warning he sprang at Frog. At the sudden revelation of what Lopez meant to do, the lad made a swift dash to escape. Disaster met the aticmpt. His foot twisted in the loose sand, and he half stumbled, half fell. 3efore he could recover his balance, Lopez gripped him cruelly by the wrist. With his free hand Frog hattercd desperately at the sallow face pressed so close to his own that the breath from it stirred the hair of his head. He might have spared himself.the effort. Strive as he would, he could not break free. And all at once the Mexican’s hand was at his throat, digging into the flesh about his windpipe with talon-like fingers, de- liberately choking him to death. For Frog it seemed the end of all things. The open sky, the peor gleam of the river, the calling of the birds—these things. became blurred and unrecognisabie, beyond hearing or understanding, in the swirling’ rea mist that settled about his senses. He thought of Skinny, the blood sang in his ears, and he felt himself grow limp, ad ‘And then—just as it seemed as if his life must snuff out like a candle flame—an amazing thing happened. He was conscious of a smash- ing blow in the chest, the cruel elutching fingers relaxed, and he fell headlong oan the sand. ‘To his faney voices were shouting at him—— the high-pitched, horrible voice of his enemy, and one other, strangely familiar and seemingly thousands of miles away. For just a second his sight cleared. He saw Lopez ‘clinging to the walls of the knoll above him like some monstrous fungus. The dis- tant crack of a gun came to his ears. Once more the mists, closed about ¥Frog as he lay. The voices were louder now, and more persistent. They troubled his flickering conscious- ness painfully. Why didn’t they go ‘away and leave him in peace? An enormous tiredness pervaded his body. The pain in his chest was agonising. “Fire again, Stevens. . . “Prog, old chap.” ... “There he is.” .. eg . pe Stop or I fire!” ... Followed a fury of sound roaring at Frog’s ears, and the red mist turned to black oblivion. CHAPTER XXII. Fate Plays Its Hand When Frog returned to conscious- ness he was still lying on the sands of the river shore. Something soft was bundled under his head, and his face and head were wet. He opened his eyes'to see Tom bending anxiously ever him. Close by stood Mr Hen- _derson and another man. “How ure you fecling now, Froggy?” came Tom’s voice. Frog sat up unsteadily and looked about him. “Are we all dead together, or did ‘you come in time? Where’s Lopez?” WWenderson knelt and patted him softly on the back. “We're all very much alive, Jack, J am giad to.say. Yes, we came in time: but only just in time. Now don’t, bother to ‘try and tell us all about it now. It will do. later on. Your throat looks sore. Does it hurt you?" Frog felt his neck gingerly. Not a Fair Thing Father: “Did you tell your teacher that I helped you with your French lesson, Jack?” Jack: “Yes, but he wouldn’t keep me in. He said it would not be a fair thing to make me suffer on that account!” : “tt ‘does a little, Mr Henderson. Have you caught Lopez?” : :“Vm sorry to say we haven’t, old chap. Stevens—the trooper ‘from. Rewa, you know—and vour uncle have gane after him, but I’m afraid they won't get him so casily. It’s growing. dark,-you sce, and they don’t know the ins and outs of this outlandish gully of yours. What have you done with Jim South?” “Skinny? Oh, he’s all right,” said Frog, grinning in quite his old style. “I left him in the cave making flap- jacks, I expect he’s caten them all by now. He wouldn’t have anything else'to do. Halloa, Tommy; so you got out-after all. That beastly Mexi-- can told me he’d shot you. He gave me the’ fright of my life.” “He tried to shoot me,” said Tom. “Fortunately, it didn’t come off. I threw the tomahawk at him just as he was taking aim, and then set the roan going hard. That’s a horse.to be proud of. If the police will sell him, I’m going to buy him, Too true, Iam. He’s a corker.” ’ “We'd better make a start, Tom. Ym thinking we'll all have to ‘camp here for the night. Any tucker left at the cave, Jack?” “There’H be plenty unless" old Skinny has given himself a birthday while we're away,” said TI'rog. He rose to his feet, and was relieved to find tat he was pretty well himself once more. ‘‘Where are your horses?”’ “Just around the bend,’ Henderson told him, as they moved off. ‘‘Come on and see if you can ride one of them. Well, you three boys seem to. have -a wonderful knack of getting yourselves into extraordinary corners. I can tell you that I was quite worried when I arrived at the hut yesterday and found no sign of any of you. I could tell that the pluce hadn’t been lived in for some days. I was just telling Mr Sanders here all about it when Tom came tearing along on the roan horse and nearly knocked us over. We hunted up Stevens and your uncle—and here we are. Glad to’ see us?” * “Too true,” suid Frog, fervently. Sanders, a neighbor’ of the Hen- dersons, laughed at the expression of the lad’s face. “In my young days I never had the luck to meet adventure really face to face as you three have,” he said, a trifle enviously. “Tom has been *curdling the blood in our veins by telling us all that has happened to you’ during the past’ week. What’s this I hear about finding gold?” “ft's perfectly true,’? announced Vrog. “We'll take you along and you can see for yourselves.”’ “Gold has never been found in pay- “able quantities at this corner of the island,’! said Henderson critically. He winked at Sanders. “I don’t want to disappoint you, but have you ever heard of pyrites, or...” . “There — I knew all along you didn’t really believe me,” said Tom, indignantly. ‘Mr Sanders is gn old miner. Show him a specimen or two, Froggy.” Sanders examined the specimens carefully. He turned to Henderson witha gleam of excitement in his eyes, “You'll have to apologise, Peter. This is gokl without «a deubt—and good gold, at that.” “Is it so?” excluimed WHenderson. He examined the tiny nuggets with respect plainly showing in his face. “Now, who'd have thought it? You boys are evidently more wide awake than some of us imagined.”’ “You'll come along to the gully?” asked Tom eagerly. His father smiled gravely. “Later on, Tom; not now. Sorry, old chap, but there are more serious matters in hand. Don't worry, though. When things settle down you

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184 PALS October 15, 1921 A A ean | can come back and peg claims to your heart’s content. And I shouldn’t be at all surprised if Mr Sanders and I came with you. That is, if you will allow us. to have a peep. into ‘the: golden casket.” “The idea!” exploded Frog. “Haven't we just asked you to come? There’s . there’s tons of it.” “We'll be satisfied with hundred- weights,”” Mr Henderson assured him, with an amused smile. He turned to Tom. “By the way, do Stevens and Grey know where your cave is? Did you tell them? They will have a job otherwise. This place is a regu- lar maze.” “IT gave them a general idea,” said Tom. “It isn’t an easy place to de- scribe, you know. | We may sight them as we go along. I wonder if they’ve caught Lopez.” “They will in the end,” said San- ders grimly. ‘“He’s rather too lively @ person to be allowed at large.” As it happened, they found Grey and Stevens further along the valley. They were empty-handed, much to the boys’ disappointment. Aided by the growing dusk and his own inti- mate knowledge of the locality, Lopez had given them the slip for the time being. “But he can’t get very far before he’s pulled up, that’s one comfort,” said Stevens. “I think myself, though, that he won’t venture into the open at all, He'll probably go into. hiding somewhere and try to tire us Out.” “Are either of them known to the police, by the way?” asked Mr. Hen- derson, as they once more rode on. “Bill Clasp was not,” returned the trooper. “At least, not in the way you mean. He seems to have been fairly decent until he met with the other fellow. Lopez had a pretty bad reputation down the coast. Mexi- can Pete was the name he generally went by. He was a rough-rider in @n overseas circus troupe, and, thet say, joined up at Capetown.” “How are things now, asked Grey with concern, of his nephew. “You boys want a thun- dering hiding, scaring us all like this. Didn't I tell you to let those calves of mine rip?” Tom came to his pal’s rescue. “Halloa, there’s where the cave is. See, Mr Grey—just back of that wind- break.” Grey looked, and nodded. “Is it? Well, I suppose I’ have to cry quits. I think you’ve been punished enough. What are we go- ing to do with the horses, Stevens?” The trooper was already taking stock of the narrow strip of open ground between the scrub and the cliff wall. ‘Why, we'll tie them here, I think, and cut them a bundle or two of silver grass. They were well watered at the river, and ought to manage till Jack?” for tea. The trooper had veined in, and now appeared to be staring intently at something. the morning. It’s a fine night. You and I can camp down here and look after them, eh?” “I’m: with you,” said Grey prompt- ly. He: turned hurriedly. “Great snakes, who’s this?” It was Skinny. hobbling down the gutter. He threw himself at his pals with a howl of welcome. ~ . “M-m-mum....... I thought......1 mean I’ve had an awful time,” he gabbled ridiculously. ‘“You’re just in time Flap-jacks, you know. At least, you would have been only I ate them all while I was waiting. Have you caught that Lopez yet?” Frog spun him round and started him gently back up the gutter. “You're raving, old soul. No, we haven’t got Lopez. But we’ll get him —don’t fret. Tell you all about it later. How’s the hoof now? I see you can walk a bit.” , “Like a bird...... like a bird,” said Skinny. “T say, the fire’s out. I forgot it, don’t you know. By golly, I’m giad to see you chaps again.” It was late before the party settled for the night. Promptly at the first streak of dawn Stevens roused them for breakfast. “We'll move along together for a while,” the trooper told them. “Mr Henderson, if you'll take the boys along _ home, Grey and San- ders and I will double back after Lopez. But we'll see you safely out of the valley first.” “You want me to telephone to the sergeant, I suppose, as soon as I get in?” suggested Mr Henderson. “Tf you don’t mind,” said Stevens. He looked to the loading of his re- volver. “Pll need help to bring Bill Clasp’s body in, whether I catch Lopez or not. You boys can point out the spot where he is, as we go along. All ready?” Out in the open the air was full of the fragrance of dew-wet bush. Al- ready the plains were brightening, and the black shadows dissolving from the nooks and crannies of the far off mountains, The song of the river came echoing to meet them as they rode. ‘It’s a beautiful spot all right,” said Sanders. ‘Just an ideal camping place. ‘Well, we'll see later on, eh?” Stephens and Grey rode some distance* in ad- vance, frog and Tom followed, rid- ing side by side. Skinny was dou-. pble--banked behind Mr Henderson, Tom was about to draw his. father’s attention to the snake bank which they were then, approaching, when Stevens was geen to turn in his saddle and bec- kon. The trooper had réined in at the crest of a mound, and now appear- ed to be Staring intently at something beyond. i “What’s the matter?” called Mr Henderson softly. “That’s what I’d like to know. Would you say that was a man lying out there on the bank?” “It’s Lopez,” affirmed Skinny exctt- edly. The trooper’s eyes snapped. “Asleep,” suggested Sanders, They sat watching tensely as Ste- vens advanced on the recumbent fig- ure, saw him bend over it, then straighten himself rather. hurriedly. When he returned his face was a little pale. “Dead as a door mat. I never saw such a curious thing in-my life. The man’s snake-bitten alt over. He must have been crossing at night and got bitten; sat down to doctor himself, and got bitten again. Lost his head then and gave up. Just sat there and died. He’s not a pretty Sight. They must have crawled all over him.” Stevens smiley grimly. ‘‘Mr Henderson, you’d better get the lads out of this. There’ll be no need of us to go any further with you.” — For some time after they moved off no one cared to speak: Frog sighed deeply. “It looks as if the whole valley was on fire... the walls all shining like that. What does it make you think of, Skinny?” “T dunno, Nothing.” “T thought of gully gold,” said Frog soberly. Skinny wriggled in his seat. Their old-time jest escaped his lips unconsci- ously. “Of course. I never thought of that.” “Poor old Jerry,” said Tom. He took the hat from his head and sat for a moment looking down at the sun-lit vista at their feet. Then he rode on after the others. THE END.

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October 15, 1921 PALS 185

Making a Biplane Box Kite OW that the spring, with its N strong breezes, has arrived, many boys will be’turning their attention to fiying. I propose to tell Pals how to make a box kite that is certain to fiy well. All that has to be purchased is a ball of fine but strong twine. The wood for the frames can be made from an old packing case, and should not be thicker than 3-16 of an inch. You will want 24 small pieces of tin, about 1% in. long by ¥% in. wide, for binding, as at A in Fig. 2, cut from kerosene tins. A quantity of starch paste will be required, or it can be made from flour and hot water. Two sheets of brown paper or newspaper will do at a pinch. These things, with scissors, a chisel or sharp knife, and a foot rule, are all that are required. For the top plane get two pieces of thin wood 34 in. long, and for the rear top plane two pieces 22 in. long. These must not be more than 3-16 of an inch in section. There will also be required 12 pieces for the upright struts 6 in. long, and eight pieces 8 in. long. These must not be more than 3-16 in. in thickness. In the perspective view of the kite, Fig. 1, which has been ex- aggerated ta show the form, the sections shaded are those that have ‘to be covered with paper. The ver- tical lines are the uprights, and the horizontal lines the planes. The three box sections of the front plane are all 6 in. x 6 in. x 8 in. in dength from the front to the rear,. while the single box in the tail plane is of the same dimensions. The portiens of the top plane, both in the main plane and the tail plane, as at AA and BB, are 8 in. x 8 in., and a centre-piece of the fuselage on the top, which is 8 in. long by 6 in. wide is also covered. In building up the framework you ‘By Aviator should use for the fuselage or back bone of the kite four strips of wood, two feet in length. Mark these off into thirds—that is, of course, 8in. sections, Then take the 6in. sticks and bind as in Fig. 2, so as to} form two sides with their supports. Do not attempt to complete this box at this stage, but turn now and make the top and bottom planes by the same method. Join the two sides of the main frame or fuselage in place, afterwards putting into place the out- side sections C.C. You can then treat the rear plane in the same manner. The framework is now complete, except for the bracing. This should be in the form of an X. In the main frame four of these are required. A start may now be made to cover the frame with the paper in the usual way, leaving about an inch to lap over at all edges. 1 The whole kite can then be set to dry. The belly-band must be fastened in place, and this is the most import- ant thing in. the whole kite. If the instruction be departed from the kite will not fly. I attempted to fly my kite with a single belly-band from the centre, but it was a hopeless failure, and caused great amusement to the onlookers by its antics. It did” everything but fly, but when I fastened the band to all four corners D it floated in the air as steadily as a bird. This kite can be made smaller or Karger than the measurements indi- cated, but if it is made larger it should be covered with calico, instead of with paper. The totel span of the front plane is 34in., and the tail plane 22in., while the length of the kite is 24in. A small and very light propeller may be fastened to the centre ot tha cross bracing.

sD : iL

Section of fant plane showing cross bracing

Conjuring for Boys Most books on conjuring begin by saying: ‘“‘The conjurer must first palm an egg or a half-crown,” or do some other equally impossible feat. The ambitious boy reads so far, attempts to hide some such article in the palm. . of his hand, fails, then disgustedly. throws the book aside and drops the, subject. ‘ The following, however, little trick in which no special deft- ness is required. Any boy can do it, but—and here comes the most im- portant point of all—he must prac- tise it over and over again ‘until he has it perfect. The performer takes a rough card- board imitation of a sailor or soldier or some such personage. He holds it up to the audience to show that it is what it is represented to be. “It is as free from trickery,’ he explains, “as Iam myself.’’ He then takes his seat in a chair and places the figure on the floor before. him. It lies flat and inert. “Ah!” he says. “T know. My little friend wants some music.”’ He starts to hum or whistle, or requests the pianist to is a neat’ (By “Magic Wand”) play some catchy tune and places the figure on its feet when, suddenly, it seems to be galvanised into life, and dances before the spectators. The music ceases, the figure hesitates, gives a final ‘kick, and then drops to the floor. The performer picks it *up and passes it around for inspection. Marvellous! Yes, until you. know how it is done. Before starting the performance, the conjurer fixes about one-half to three-quarters of a yard of black silk thread between his trouser legs. This can easily be done with the aid of a couple of small bent pins. Being black, the thread cannot be seen, and it is slack enough to let the conjurer walk about freely. The figure, which is cut from stiff eardboard, has its arms and legs fastened loosely with small. paper- fasteners so that they can swing freely. The projecting ears of the figure are bent slightly back so as to form two hooks. : The Dancing Sailor Everything being ready, the figure is held up before the company. Then the performer takes his seat and places the figure in front of him on the floor; as he does so he hooks it on to the thread by the ears. He keeps his legs together and, as the thread is slack, the figure lies on the floor. Then, when the music starts, he opens his legs slightly, which draws the figure upright, its feet just touching the floor, With one foot he beats time to the music, the figure dancing up and down and throwing out its legs and arms in. grotesque though life-like acticns. If properly worked, this little trick never fuils to be greatly appreciated by both young and old. A word of caution to the young be- ginner. To succeed, even in the simplest of tricks. you must prac- tise. <A cohtinusus flow of ‘patter’ abways help: the -uccess of a trick. Above all, ne'er pertorm the same trick twire before the same audience. You may deceive them cence, but it is highly improbable that you will do it @ second time by the same means.

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October 15, 1921 Hern nS HE school holidays had started at last. Peter Macalister and Jim Staley had been looking, fdrward for months to their long promised trip to the north. They were going over to stay with Peter’s Aunt, who had asked him in a letter to come over next holidays and bring a friend with him. She had guar- anteed them a good time, an@® now .both boys were glad to be on their way. They were on board the fine coastal steamer Argo, and although only a few hours out of port, both boys had already made a firm friend- ship with. the captain. Consequent- ly they were allowed the run of the ship, and it was on the bridge that they were standing when the excitement began. When they left their home neither Peter nor Jim idea that they were in for the greatest adventure of their lives. The sea was. perfectly calm, and it was just ‘getting dark when Jim saw ahead of them a large black shape rising slowly from. the sea. He pointed it out to Peter, who immediately drew the attention of the captain. By this time they were nearly abreast of the object, and Cap- tain Jackson, who had his binoculars focussed upon it, saw with surprise that it was a submarine. “Well, I'll be jiggered!” he said, thoughtfully. “What on earth are bits of our precious navy doing scouting round like this? Wonder if there’s likely to be another war?’ he ruminated. ; The two boys had been watching the submarine as they listened to the captain, and now they saw several men emerge from the ‘conning tower and move towards the bow of the sneaking craft. “Look at them!” exclaimed Peter, excitedly, “They’re all darkies ex- cept the one with clothes on.” “So they are, I do believe,” replied sim, with surprise. could see ‘the black men wore; only loin cloths, ‘making them look wholly out of place on the deck of ‘a sub- marine. | port had any Curiously they watched as the men. worked deftly, until suddenly Peter exclaimed, “Great Scot! Jim, they’re getting the gun ready. What the dickens for?’ Saying this, he turned to the. cap- tain, only to see a look of bewilder- ment on the man’s face. He had no more idea than the boys of what was in the wind. They were soon to find out. Sud- denly a voice hailed them through a megaphone, and at .the same time they saw the muzzle of the gun gawing round until it covered them menacingly. The voice came to As far as they. 7 Yar = i i ly Wi them across the bullying. “Stop your flamin’ engines and wait till we get alongside of you. If you don’t—well—good-byee!” and the spea- ker, a strange looking man dressed in water, sharp and dirty white flannels, indicated with a careless wave of his hand the threa- tening muzzle of the gun. The captain hesitated, astonished. He did not know what to do. Loil-, ing with rage, his first impulse wag to defy the submarine and dare the crew to do their worst, but then: he heard the frightened whimpering of the women and children near the bridge. They had gathered together at the first alarm. Powerless, he realis- ed that there was nothing for it but to obey the impertinent and threatening order. Muttering angrily, the captain strode over to the engine room tele- graph, and rang the signal “Stop!” down to the engineer. The throbbing of the engines ceas- ed, and the ship slowly lost way until the signal “Full speed astern” was given. The propellers thrashed the water, and the steamer stopped dead. Now the submarine closer, and suspicion became a cer- tainty. Every man on the deck of the craft (there were about twenty), was black, the one exception being the evil looking skipper. With a ywas drawing A Large Order “Please grocer, give me six- penn’orth of hundreds and thousands, and, please, will you count them, be- cause mother said Johnnie was to have half!” Boy: » ODMARINE By Maren V.DARcy. the sibinarine came alongside. With the agility @f cats half a dozen of her crew sprang on board, and it could now be seen by their light brown color and straight features that they were natives of one of the groups of islands in the Pacific. Following them came the white man, swaggering on to the deck with all the pomp of an admiral of the fleet. “He doesn’t half whispered Jim. “No,” agreed Peter. “But what I want to know is what the silly coot is up to.’ The natives formed a bodyguard round the strange looking ruffan as he approached the bridge, evidently bent on an interview with Captain Jackson, who awaited him, almost un- able to control his fury. With two automatics stuck in the red scarf which did service as a belt, the leader looked every inch what he was — a modern pirate. Approaching Captain Jackson, the man stood about three feet from him, and with folded arms stared in- solently, with a villainous smile on his mouth. This was more than-the captain could stand. Always quick tempered, he stepped forward as though he would strike the insolent face, but suddenly he found himself powerless in the grip of iwo of the sinewy natives. “Well,” he demanded sarcastically, “What do you want? If I didn’t know that pirates had gone out before sail- ing ships, I should say you were one, but “T am one!" broke in the stranger. love himself,” “A real, live pirate, entirely at your service,” and he bowed low as he spoke. Then, stepping forward, he drew one of the automatics, and wav- ed it in the face of the infuriated cap- tain as he spoke. ; “If you don’t do what I tell you,” he continued, “I'll blow your tin pot ship to little pieces. Then I and my merry men can watch you and all your passengers struggling for breath as you drown like rats — a pleasant thought!” The «man laughed a loud, harsh eackle, and in his eyes there was a wild light, as though he were pos- sessed. It was then that the boys were first doubtful of his sanity. “The blighter’s as mad'as a hatter!” muttered Jim, “Yes,” agreed F&ter, in the same low tone, afraid of being overheard. “And yet he seems to be an educated sort of chap. You know, he speaks good English and all that.’ _ At that moment the pirate sudden- ly turned, and leaving the captain in the grip of his savage guards, paced to the edge of-the bridge. “Hi! you idiots!” he roared. “Don’t stand there gaping. Bring every blooming valuable thing you’ve got, and pile ‘em in a heap on the deck. And don’t forget,’ he threatened, “if there’s any funny business you'll get this.” Chuckling again, he fired a shot at random into the crowd of passengers, it struck the fleshy part of the leg of an old man, and he sank on the deck with a cry of agony. The women shrieked, and the men were enraged almost beyond control. Three or four of them started simultaneously to.

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October 15, 1921 PALS 187 wards the pirate, but he drew the other revolver, and they scurried back, In the meantime, the two natives had left the captain, and were once more gathered with. the remaining four about the person of their chief. Jim and Peter, who had been whis- pering together, took the opportunity to speak to Captain Jackson in low, excited voices. He listened intently. Then he said doubtfully, “But you couldn’t do anything even then. These confounded natives would polish you off in no time.” Jim, who had been ona long trip north. of Australia, answered eagerly: “Oh, ¥ could manage them all right. I’ve had some experience with the beggars.” With wrinkled brows the captain thought for a moment. Could he al- low the thing they were asking? They were only youngsters, after all, But then, for boys of seventeen years, they were, very well developed-—any- way, perhaps it was worth risking. He couldn’t leave the ship. Turning to the boys he said kindly, ™~ “Right-oh, boys, you can try it.” Then he added admiringly. “By Jove! You’re jolly plucky kids if you man- age it.” “We'll do our best, anyhow,” said Peter. At this the captain started'to move towards the intruder, saying with a dry smile. as he turned away, ‘‘And meanwhile I'll do my best to entertain our pleasant little visitor.” The two boys, determined to carry out their purpose, left the bridge un- observed, and joining the frightened crowd below, moved towards the stern of the ship. ‘They reached the spot, which they had‘in mind without being noticed. Here ‘4 rope had been left hanging over ‘whe shin’s side, for.what purpose they neither knew nor ‘cared. Quickly removing their coats, collars and boots, they prepared for the plunge before them — it was July, and need- less to say, they did not relish the ordeal. “You can go first,” said Jim, grinning, In spite of the dangerous undertaking in hand, both were apparently in the best of spirits, though perhaps the hu- mor was a trifie forced, neither being willing to show his nervousness to the other, “Right-oh!”’ replied Peter, “I’m not frightened of a bath,’”’ saying which he swung himself over the railing, and, sripping the rope, slid, faster. than he had intended, into the séa. The re- sult was that his hand ached with the friction, and the splash was dangerous- ly loud. Listening for a moment or two to make sure that they were not noticed or heard, Jim followed his friend over- board, and soon they were swimming quickly side by side. Rounding the stern of the ship, they came in sight ‘of the submarine. Both were good swimmers, and soon they were to need all the skill they possessed. The natives on board the submarine were still gazing up at the deck of the steamer, but at any mo- nent they might glance round and see the swimmers. Next, keeping close to the ship’s side, and swimming as_ in- conspicuously as possible, they slowly approached the sub- marine. They now noticed with misgiving that some of the pirate’s crew carried, stuck in their scanty cloth- ing, knives and dag- gers of various’ for- midable varieties. Then Peter, sign- ing to Jim to wait, buried his head and duck-dived silently, while the latter trod water. For several seconds his friend was in suspense, but at last he saw his head appear right under one of the stern torpedo tubes of the vessel. Hang- “F am one,” broke in the stranger—“‘a real live pirate, entirely at-your service!”

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188 PALS October 15, 1921 ing on to the rim of the tube, and keeping under it, he nodded to Jim to. follow his example. Diving as neatly as his companion had done, Jim swam.through the water with his hings bursting for air. His eyes straining for ‘a sight of his goal, he at last touched Péeter’s foot and rose to the surface, gasping for breath. “Shut up!” hissed Peter, fearful lest his friend’s gasps should be heard. The cola eating into their very bones, they hung to the torpedo tube for what seemed hours. Above they could hear the wild bragging of the pirates, the clink of metal as the money and jew- ellery fell on to the heap, and the frightened murmurs of the passengers. At last the work was finished. The heap was rapidly passed down to the submarine, and followed by the now fiendishly grinning pirate and his bodyguard of uncivilised islanders. As the leader left the ship, he called back to the captain: “Don't forget, my beauty. Any wireless or funny little tricks like that and you’ have a salt-watery taste in your mouth.” With this parting warning, he went below to start the dynamos, and the huge steel fish began to pulse with life as she swung round and left the side of the steamer. As the submarine gathered speed the boys had their failing strength taxed to the full in maintaining their hold against the rush of water. Luckily a low speed only had been attained as the chief again appeared, and, com- ing towards them, stood chuckling to himself almost above their heads as the steamer was being slowly left astern. Suddenly the blood of the two boys went icy cold, and.they stared at each other in horror, as the wretch spoke mumblingly ‘to himself in a loW tone, but loud enough for them to hear. “Just one little torpedo would fix things up nicely,” he was ‘saying. “This ought to be just the right distance away. Then won’t they squirm—won’t they. drown like cattle in a flood!” With a low gurgle of horrible enjoy- ment at his own wicked thoughts, he turned as though to carry out his pur- pose. This was the chance for which the boys had been waiting. The natives were gathered in a group forward, in the other end of the submarine. Stealthily and with difficulty, for they were cramped with cold, the boys pulled themselves on to the greasy deck of the submarine. As they stood up, Peter’s foot slipped, and he re- covered his balance only after a scramble, the nois@. of which caused the pirate chief to swing round with the snarl of a caged tiger. Quick as thought the lads acted. Pe- ter dived straight for the man’s ankles, whilst Jim dealt him a tetrible blow on the temple. Backwards he fell, and with wonderful presence of mind, Jim snatched the two revolvers from his belt. There sounded in the ears of the boys a wild, gurgling scream as the sea clos- ed over a face hideously contorted with fury. But the danger was not yet over. Seeing the attack on their leader, the islanders made a rush towards the two brave ° boys. Turning towards the approaching mob, the lads covered them with their newly procured weap- ons, while Jim held up his left hand with a commanding gesture. The natives wavered, then stopped. The upraised blades gleaming in the first rays of the rising moon were drop- ped again to their sides. Taking im- mediate advantage of this indecision on the part of the natives, Jim lowered his revolver, and, motioning Peter to do the same, moved carelessiy towards them. His heart beating furiously with the nervous strain, Jim mustered his best dialect, and, speaking to one whom he surmised to be the chief man among thern, said:— “Put away your knives. We will not harm you. The man we killed was a bad white man—he had in him an evil spirit—but we are good whites, and will treat you well.” " The tension was over. The bold ac- tion had had its effect, and the brown- skinned men began to replace their curious knives, Their head man step- ped forward to meet Jim, raising hig arm.in a sign of peace. “We know not the magic of this devil fish,” he said, “and it is our wish to again reach our beloved island. The good white young men will perhaps take us there?” Jim nodded assent, and, signing to Peter to follow him, they entered the conning tower of the vessel. isi “Ah! I suppose you want me to play Indians with you, Bennie?” “I'm afraid you wouldn’t do, uncle. You’ve been scalped already.” ‘During their recent ordeal the boat had been slowly moving, but in what direction they knew not. “Where is your island?” asked Jim of the head man, who had followed them. He walked to a map of the Pa- cific which was hanging a short way from them, and, pointing to it, said:— “From this the white pirate read his knowledge.” - ; Looking at the map carefully, they noticed ‘a small black cross indicating @ spot to the north of Australia. From it towards the mainland was drawn a thin line, in a south-westerly direction. “That must be the island,’ said Peter, indicating the cross, ‘and I suppose that line is the course that has been taken.” Neither Peter nor Jim knew much about navigation, but they set the course as near as they could judge, and, opening the full power of the dynamos, trusted to luck. Suddenly Peter grabbed Jim’s arm, and, pointing to the steel sheeting be- fore them, burst out excitedly, “Jim— Jim, look at that!” Following the direction of the other’s pointing finger, Jim saw an oval sheet of black steel, with certain figures in white relief upon it. He gasped with astonishment. His excitement growing, Peter continued, “Why, we've found the lost subma- rine. Shake on it, Jim old man. You remember, she was missed, and never heard of again. Well—here sne is, What do you know about that? Let’s ask old funny-face about it.’ They turned to the head man, and upon Jim’s questioning him, he related, the following story: Se “Many moons ago the people of my island were frightened because this strange fish floated into our lagoon and on to our beach, and always we were afraid to go near it, for we, knew not its magic. But the white man came to our beach in a little sailing cange, and frightened us with his fire sticks. When he Jearned of the fish monster ‘he went to it and climbed inside. Soon he came out again and made our warriors push it back off the beach. (Then he told some of us to come with him, promising us reward, and we came inside the evil fish, and the rest you know.” His hearers looked at each other in amazement after the recital had ended, for Jim had ‘slowly translated the story to Peter. As Juck would have it, they struck the island after a brief run, and the relieved islanders swarmed grate- fully back to their native shore. How they managed the submarine the boys never could remember, but to young and energetic peo- ple all things are possible In an em ~ ergency. However, they soon found themselves throbbing their way back towards Australia. ‘ “Best thing we can do now,” said Jim dubiously, “is to get her back to where we last saw the steamer.” Peter grunted an assent, and the submarine continued to throb her way across the moonlit ocean. “Hurrah!” cried Peter suddenly. He had been peering out across the bows. “Here comes a destroyer!” ” He was right. Throwing up a how wave which sparkled like diamonds in. the moonlight, a destroyer was dashing towards them at full steam, and soon they had delivered the submarine into the ,hands of a trim looking young naval officer, to whom they recited the whole story. When they had finished, he clapped them across the shoulders in a congratulatory manner. “Well,” he remarked admiringly, ‘‘all I can say is, you’re jolly plucky lads. The country will be proud of you— very proud.’ The boys felt embarrassed under this genuine tribute, and looked it. “By the way,’ went on the lieute- nant commander, “the man you finish- ed off is the man we were after. Es- caped lunatic, used to be a very clever engineer. Suddenly went balmy and was locked up in an asylum. He got out and was last seen leaving for the islands in a fishing smack. We had orders to look out for him.” Two days later the boys landed only to find themselves the heroes of the hour, The newspapers were full ef the story of their adventure and it was on the lips of all. But the thing that pleased Peter and Jim most was the £200 cheque which they received from a grateful govern- ment. : o¢ 6 The Logic of It Suppose that there are two boys—A and B. A declares that he (A) is un- truthful. B says that A is not. Now, if B is right A-is not untruth- ful. Therefore, A is wrong and is tell- ing a lie. Therefore, B is wrong. Le., if B is right he is wrong. —Sent by W. H. Bowe, Frankston, Vic.

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October 15, 1921 PALS 189 ‘ AH > Bovs who are thinking of camping in the bush or mountains this sum- mer ‘will realise the advantage of ac- quiring a few tips about equipment. Those who, not content with sta- tionary camp life, wish to make small exploration trips to other hills and gullies, off the beaten track, need to equip themselves in such a way that they can do a good deal of walking without being overburdened with sup- plies. To enjoy such a holiday you must “travel light.” Therefore you must pay attention to the proper distribu- tion of the equipment. First, consider the best way to carry the food, which should be in a canvas bag, easily made, as shown in illus- iration No 1. Into this can be packed the eatables, so that flies and ants eannot get access to them. Several By Geo. Colville of these bags will be useful. Keep a bag in your pocket, in case you get a@ chance to acquire food along the road. At night one of them, filled with bracken or leaves, will serve as a com- fortable pillow. The pack is really one of the most important items in the cumpers’ out- fit. Care should, therefore, be taken in designing it, so that the weight is properly distributed. Less energy will then be required to carry it with ease during the long walks in heavy country. A good pack can be made after the style of that used by our infantrymen. This will stand a good deal of Knock- ing about, and can be-made by fol- lowing diagram No. 2. This will last a long time. It should be made of unbleached calico or light canvas, and be machine-sewn, or, better still, hand- sewn with strong linen thread and turned inside out when compieted. Care must be bestowed on arrang- ing the articles in the pack to ensure complete comfort, as a badly arranged pack will most certainly make the hills seem higher and the roads longer. In No. 1—KEasily-made Canvas Bag. Hints on Summer Camping stowing the pack be careful to keep the side nearest the back flat and free from any protruding object such as @& knife or fork. Place all the loose articles in the bottom, finishing up with the bags containing the food. It is advisable to wear the blanket ban- dolier, as this tends towards a more even distribution of the weight. Pee? eee —— ee No. 2—-Finished Pack and Mate- rial Cut to Shape to Make It. As there is nothing like being pre-e pared, it is as well to begin collectinS and preparing your equipment as the timie is soon coming for a tramp through the tree-ferns and scrub, where you can camp at the top of a hill, watch the sun rising over the plains beyond in the morning, and listen to the bellbirds during your breakfast. ———OOoOoOooe=al_l_0_VGe—eee—eEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEe——EEeee—eEe———————EeESESEE——————eee Schoolboy Golfers According to recent cable messages from Great Britain, fine performances have been achieved on the English golf links by boys. What they have accom- plished serves to prove that golf is a game in which boys may easily excel. Australia has the makings of a fu- ture golf champion in L. Nettlefold, a Hobart schoolboy of 1% years, who made a name for himself in the recent Open Golf Championship Meeting at Sandringham, Victoria. He shaped so well in one of the competitions that he was only beaten by a very narrow mar- gin by Hector Morrison, a former Open Champion of Australia, In several other events he played remarkably good golf. In conversation with a representative of ‘“Pals,’’ the Hobart schoolboy said that he had begun to play the game less than two years ago. His fatSar was an enthusiast, he said, and the boy used to amuse himself swinging his pater’s clubs. That was how he became a golfer. Naturally he considers that golf is a capital pastime for boys, and one in which they are certain to ie Piha after consistent practice on the nks. An Open Aquarium A reader of “Pals,” who resides in Warburton (Vic.), writes that he is starting an open aquarium in a creek there, and asks for advice. Several other Pals have written for informa- tion on the same subject. If the creek were enlarged, the chances are that the first flood would fill the hole with sand and mud, while such fish as carp, trench and English perch would escape. The best fish for the pool would be our native minnow (Galaxas), and the blackfish (Gadop- sis), Most of these would remain in the pond despite floods, if they had plenty of cover among rocks or snags. It would not be advisable to place newts in an open pool, as suggested by one writer. If this were done, it is likely that they would wander away, either up or down stream. The minnow is an ideal aquarium fish, as it is both hardy and active. Moreover, it rises readily to the sur- face for feed. If a boy wishes to start an open aquarium he cannot do better than begin with the minnow. Unfor- tunately, like most of our native fresh- water fishes, it is rapidly diminishing, before the introduced fish, which makés its protection all the more de- sirable. © oo Public School Records Andrew H, Young, St. Peter’s, Adee laide, writes: In “Pals” of September 17, under the heading of “Fine Public School Re- cord,” appears a reference to Sydney Grammar School. I wish that you would publish some of the records of our old college, St. Peter’s, Adelaide. Like Sydney Grammer, it has reached a high standard scholastically. It holds the challenge shields for cricket, ten- nis and athletics. Of our old scholars, 1,116 served in the Great War, and 91 in the South African war. No fewer than 172 made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War. The military dis- tinctions gained numbered 137, includ- ing one Victoria Cross, 11 D.S.O’s, while 64 Military Crosses, with five bars were gained. Military Medals were won by 22 of our old boys, one carrying a bar. More than 600 scholars are now at- tending St. Peter’s, which was founded in 1847.

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190 PALS October 15, 1921 I Attacked in th :: By Duke Ferguson :: “All right at the back? Wel, so long, everybody.” gack Maguire’s whip curled in the air, and the two scemewhat jaded look- ing horses straightened up and moved off. In ‘a few minutes the hooded buckboard was almost out of sight in the long grass and undeveloped busn that fringed the river. Long after her husband had passed out of sight, Mrs Maguire stood at the door and watched the spot whence they had disappeared. She had a queer lit- tle misgiving for which she could not account. Jack Maguire, aged fourteén, stand- ing by his mother’s side with his little sister Mary, noticed the passing sha- dow of anxiety on his mother’s face. “What’s wrong, mother?” he asked quickly. “Wrong!’’ exclaimed Mrs Maguire with a start. ‘Nothing is wrong, Jack. What makes you ask?” “Just your face, mother,” replied the boy, looking hard and earnestly at his mother. Mrs Maguire laughed. “Oh, it’s my face, is it, Jack? Then I will have to get rid of it.” She spoke with forced cheerfulness. The Northern Territory winter, with its warm days and clear, cold nights, was well begun. It was, therefore, not an unpleasant journey that Mr Maguire had undertaken. But, why, Mrs Maguire asked herself, had ‘he chosen to start almost at nightfall?’ He had only to journey to the Kath- rine river, 25 miles away- True, he. had expressed a desire to return home tomorrow night. But why the hurry? Suddenly there flashed across Mrs Maguire’s mind a possible explanation. {Her husband had remarked at lunch time that he had met Old Jake, the stockman, when out rounding up some missing cattle that morning. Jake had lost a hand, which had been replaced by a metal hook, but despite his loss, he. was famous for his dexterity in saddling and harnessing horses, and as a rider, What had Jake told Mr Maguire? Mrs Maguire dropped her sewing, and paced the floor nervously. Then chiding herself for giving way to.“such fancies,’’ she resolved to go to bed, and rose to carry out her determination, when her ear caught a faint sound, @ sound that made her halt sharply in the middle of the floor. For a frac- tion of a second her heart ceased to beat. There was no mistaking that sound of the distant galloping of hoofs. It was coming nearer. The horseman was making straight for the little home- stead, and galloping as if for his life. Mrs Maguire felt that she wanted to scream. But she was a brave woman. So, summoning ail her courage, she went to the door, and flinging it wide open, looked out into the darkness, the candle in her hand. , Guided by the candle-light, the horse- * ynan straightened his course, and rode cdirect for the house. felt that she Could almost have fainted Mrs Maguire hen, with the single word “Go!” he flung open the stable -door, eN ight | A Story of the Far North with relief when the cheerful voice of Old Jake himself rang out through the night. “It’s only me, Mrs Maguire!’ She ran out with the candle, and, peering into Old Jake’s face, asked: “Jake? Is he all right?” “AN right when I last saw him,’ re- marked Old Jake with a cheerful grin. “T guess he’s at the settlement by now, or pretty near to it.” “Stable your horse, Jake, and come in. I am so anxious tonight.” Jake led his horse to the stable, where, with the assistance of Kum Wun, one of the Chinese hands on the station, he quickly made it com- fortable for the night. Then he joined Mrs Maguire in the house. There was not much to tell. A small party, of blacks, headed by Boola, an aborigine with an evil re- putation, and including Loo Fang, a vicious half-bred Chinaman, was in the district, Jake said. The fact that the nomads had left their gins and families behind somewhere was sin- ister. They appeared two days earlier, to be making for The Settle- ment, but suddenly they had taken an easterly course, in the Qirection of Powell's, a station about 15 miles away. Up to the present they ap- peared to have done no appreciable harm, but settlers could not be ex- pected to feel easy with such a tribe in the district. He had mentioned the matter to Mr Maguire, who had said that he would shorten his intended business visit to The Settlement, and that while there he would hire a couple of able-bodied men for a week or two until the dan- -ger was past. “So that, Mrs Maguire,” concluded Jake, “is the position.” “What have you adiscovered today, Jake?” inquired Mrs Maguire. The old stockman grimaced. “Oh, well, if you must have it, you must,” he said. “The fact is, Mrs Maguire, I've been to Powell’s today.” “Was anybody — was” anybody killed?” ventured Mrs Maguire a little nervously. “Well, now you come to mention it, Mrs Maguire, there was a China- man there that met with an accident —a station hand.”’ “And you think, Jake, the blacks are making this way?’’ Mrs Maguire’s tone was composed. “Yes, they are coming this way, Mrs Maguire, and unless I’m mistaken they’re close handy now; not more’n a mile away at the most at this moment.”’ , “You are risking your life, Jake, to save me and my little ones.” “Well,” stammered Jake, “if you’d eall it a risk. But, come now, Mrs Maguire,” he added, ‘‘we’d better be shutting up.” In a few minutes the windows were barricaded with mattresses and any other material that would help to make resistance to bullets. Jake said he was not sure that the blacks were armed, but he had a notion that Loo Fang would have a stolen gun in his possession. Anyway, it was wise not to take risks. i When everything was in readiness, Jake silently let himself out of the house, Mrs Maguire bolting the door behind him. Jake expluined that he would be able to make a better de-

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October. 15, 1921 PALS 191

fence from the stable, as from there he could cover, with his Winchester, the line of epererel to the house from at least three angles. In reality the stockman had determined to draw upon himself in the stable the fire from any guns that the blacks mignt have in their possession. * * * * The hours of the night passed slowly, and in deathly stiliness. Mrs Maguire, with beating heart, listened for every sound that would indicate the approach of the blacks or the opening of the expected attack. At last it came—a Sharp report from the direction of the stable. Simul- taneously there was ua yell—so close to the rear window that both Mrs Maguire and her son Jack sprang to their feet. ‘ The startling interruption was fol- lowed by a stillness almost as start- ling. Whoever was injured, gave no further indication of the result of the old stockman’s aim, Half un hour passed. Then through the night air came another report, out upon the fields, and the sound of a thud_as the bullet struck and buried itself in' the timber of the stables. Mrs Maguire shivered. The blacks, then, had at least one gun. Evidently they possessed two guns for almost immediately there came from another direction the sound of a second shot. The bullet, appwrently, went wide of its mark. : During the hours that remained to the coming of the dawn the little party: in the house lived through _ si- lent agonies of fear and hope. Shot after shot rang out in the night. Little Mary, awakened by the sounds of the firing, cried, but was soothed to sleep again. At length, when it wanted just an hour to the dawn, there cime a faint tapping at the rear door, and a whispered instruction from Jake was heard to open quick- ly, but without noise. Mrs Maguire opened the door softly and Jake crawled in. As quickly the door was closed again ana secured. The stockman said that he had been shot in the arm—the “gammy arm,” he adaed with u chuckle. He was “weakening a bit from loss of blood.” Mrs Maguire gave a subdued cry. “Now, now, don’t worry!’ urged the stockman, soothingly. “It’s nothing much. A chance shot—one of Lon Fang’s, I expect. Vli even things with him vet. But we’ll have to change our plans a bit, Mrs Ma- quire.” “Tell me what you wish me to do, Jake.” Jake unfolded his plan. He couldn’t trust the Chinese hands. Young Jack would have to ride to The Settlerfient, and summon imme- diate relief. The boy’s heart gave a great bound. Without a word, he kissed his mother and sister, aad dropping to his knees, crawled after Jake through the open door and along the ground to. the stables. It was long, arduous work, and they were working against tinte —the dawn. They reached the stables. Jake silently lifted Jack on to the 2lready saddled back of his horse, Speak- ing softly to the animal, the stock- man Jed it, very gently, to the stable door. Then, with the single word, “Gol” he flung open the stable door, and gave the horse a _ resounding smack with his hand. : The horse needed no further educa- tion as to his mission. With a rush and w. hound he cleared the low, rough fencing around the little homestead, and -swept along the track to the nearest hill spur that lay in the line of route to the settlement. The blacks were, taken completely by surprise. With wild yells they rose in all directions, and swept vainly to- wards the fleeing horse and its crouch- ing rider. Only one of the party did not run—Loo Fang. The brain of a China- man—even of a halt-bred Chinaman— is a better working instrument that the brain of an aborigine. Loo Fang grasped his gun, and levelled it. The dawn was just break- ing, and the outline of his lank figure and extended arm was_ silhouetted against the skyline. In another mo- ment, if Loo Fang only aimed straight, the horse or its rider. or both, would be levelled to the earth. But Loo Fang did not fire, straight or crooked. Even as his figure rose in the dawn, the Winchester of the stock- man, crouching in the shadow of the stable, was shoved along the mutilated arm, which coiled around the stock. Simultaneously the stockman’s un- marred hand found its way to the trigger, and Loo Fang was just sight- ing his quarry along the barrel of his gun when the stockman’s Winchester spat—once. A * * * * The story of young Jack’s twenty-five mile ride to The Settlement js one of the famous stories of the Far North. Hardly less famous is the story of how every nag that happened to be in The Settlement when Young Jack arrived with his summons for nelp was rusned into service, and made to run the race frail sion pastor’s gig and pair were com- mandeered by visiting miners fresh trom the adjacent tin fleids, and was driven with reckless haste until its framework collapsed. When the vanguard of the rescue party arrived, it found old Jake quiet- ly sitting on the Maguire’s doorstep, smoking his pipe, his arm well and carefully bandaged. “The blacks heard the noise you made leaving The Settlement,” re- marked Jake, with ironical playful- ness, ‘as the first of the rescue party alighted. The rescue party, however, was. in no mood for joking, and, led by Mr Maguire, it searched the countryside for the blacks. But the native cunning and ground craft, which had detected the coming of the horsemen half an hour before they actually arrived, was equal to the task of eluding pursuit, ‘Lhe rescuers returned empty handea. After having disposed of the body of Loo Fang, the party returned to the little homestead, where they enjoyed the hospitality of Mrs Maguire, and learned the particulars of the over- night happenings. Between Old Jake and Mr Maguire little was said. But there was a wealth ‘of meaning in their handshake, and a wealth of admiration in their glances at young Jack, the hero of the thrill- ing night ride.

of its life to the Maguire’s. The mis- i ——_ f— 4 —— a y C2 = || - 5 ——= =o, SS SS < EX um Reed ®

Oe, i= Pee SSO = Seen -———F = 5 LOWER fe I KORXN === Ae See SS Eee _— BECO SE ——- ———— + ———" 9

Ege a Cepia e e Sag ee a Reassurance babs Mr Ucavyweight: “You're a very little chap aren't you?” Litt Boy: “Yeh. so often wiv the ’eavier blokes,”

-— to be running a Hft, They had to gimme the job ’cause the rope broke

Page 28

192 PALS October 15, 1921

= if i NOB fa? THE CUBS TAKE TO SCOUT RULES LIKE A DUCK TAKES TO WATER aay J. es yy: LOT maa M He iy (hts ‘ i Vg ra = ad ay ¢ a ie X Ns, mE . SS * es . A " a Nor YEN g an at TERA RASTER, T/A R/, tf af J "See wk ey # Lf is Gy ey ft BASS, Oy Z As By /y ZZ < ¥ yf a , Ny ies G " i C4 a & * V/ yh he §. /, Oh! TBs, al Hf. ; Wd jf " A F ’ ‘1 indie, ‘ Re ae ne)! j =/ = ee / ty Uf! D A = Bows /

BUT FIND THAT MEN ARE APT TO BE UNGRATEFUL_

Page 29

PALS Vv October 15, 1921 VN The bditor Lo his , Yel Frequently, through letters receive ed from Pals in the remoter ‘parts of this great continent, “far from the madding crowd’s ignobie strife,” I catch interesting glimpses of their lives. A reader who lives in the Tambo Valley, East Gippsland, Vic- toria, has sent me an account of the work which he does on a large stock station, and I gather from it that he has many thrills which the city boy misses. Perhaps it is a trip from the homestead to the Snowy River, where portion of the station lies, there to ‘‘wheel the wild scrub cattle from their lair,” or something akin ‘to it. Or, maybe, he is engaged in lamb-marking among flocks “that do not see their masters for four months at a time,” or marking and branding young cattle. “I and a Pal. reached home this morning,’ he writes, ‘with a mob of horses under four years, and shortly there will be plenty of fun and excitement in the horse yards!” One can easily imagine the healthy variety which the life of this Australian boy offers; and I think that we can all catch the spirit of Adam Lindsay Gordon, who wrote, in refer- ring to his experience on-a stock sta- tion, that ‘‘the hardest day was. never then too hard.” I hope, at any rate, that, my Pal in East Gippsland thor- oughly enjoyed ‘‘a week's holiday on full pay,” which a kindly “boss” al- lowed ‘him after a period of strenu- ous toil. * Sf * cd * * Another Ietter, quite as interesting in its way, ‘has come from a Pal who lives in Hobart. He is @ young Cana- dian, and a new arrival in Australia. The feature of his letter is an account ‘of his life in Saskaatchewan, Canada, where he came into contract with many Cres Indians. “When the.sum- mer fair is on,’’ he writes, ‘‘they arrive with their squaws and _ papooscs, dressed in all their gala clothes, to at- tend it,,and the spectacle is highly pic- turesque.” Ong hopes that this new Pal of mine, who has seen many sights. unfamiliar to Australian eyes, will fina much to enjoy in Tasmania. * * = * = * T am always delighted to receive let-.. ters from Pals who have things of in- terest-to tell me. especially when they’ live in some corner of Australia which we seldom hear about. While they are thinking about the lives of the city boys, the latter are often envying them their care free existence in wide spaces, and wishing that they: could.share it— “ington, NiZ.; fora time, at least. Perhaps, later on, I may be able to arrange for the publi- cation of articles about some of the -most interesting phases of boy life in Australia. I feel sure that such would be welcomed. * a * s * * One of my readers in Victoria writes appreciatively of the articles on model-: making which appear, from time to...’ time, in “Pals.” He is among those who were successful in’ making + the model aeroplane designed by Mr H. P. Wood, and suggests that another, and, perhaps, improved design should bé furnished. This will be considered. ft have received numerous letters from -boys who have made models and other’ things from designs published in “Pals,” and the latest testimony comes from a large public department in Melbourne, where the officers made the -hectograph according to the instructions given in “Pals” of September 24, and find it most useful.in their work. eo © Competitions Mary and the Movies PRIZES AWARDED In this competition girl readers were invited to supply the two lines needed to complete a verse of “Mary and the Movies,” which was published in “Pals” of August 27. There were two sections in the competition: one for girls over 12 and under 17 yebrs, of age; the other for girls 12 years of age or under. Five prizes, each con- sisting of a handsomely bound book, have been awarded in each section-to those who. sent in the priate lines. The prize-winners are:— Senior Section.—Doris Tomlinson, 99 Evans strect, Brunswick, Vic.; M. Holmes, 49 Finsbury street, Newmar-. ket, Vie.; Violet Munro, 627 orn street, North Carlton, Vic.; Vinifred Russe, 11, ‘‘Chesterlea,’’ Burke road, Upper Hawthorn, Vic.; Zoe Nicholson, “ “The Shell,”’ Chadwell grove, Chelsea, Vic. : Junior Section:—-Nell Simmons, 16 Belmont avenue, East Malvern, Vie.; Madge Dean, ‘‘Merino,” Embling road, Malvern, Vic.; Elsie Moster, “Sephus,” Hopetoun street, West Brunswick, Vie.; S. Breen, 102 Clyde Quay, Wei- Myra Swain, 68 Reid street, North Fitzroy, Vic. The prize-winners each sent in ex- cellent lines, representing a great diversity and originality of fdeas. most appro-. Drawing Competitions PRIZE WINNERS ANNOUNCED. The drawing competition was open to all readers under 18 years of age. Three partially completed sketches of heads were published, and the competitors invited to complete them. Six prizés, consisting of good books, have been awarded. to the most successful com- petitors and six additional prizes, con- sisting of originals of drawings by leading ‘“‘Pals” artists, to the six next in order of merit. In making the awards regard was paid to those who completed the sketches in a man- ner nearest to the origimat design. A number of the competitors showed excellent: judgment and skill. The prize winners are as follow:— Frank Wood, Wongarra P.O., Apolo Bay, Vic.; N. T. Buzacott, 245 Carlisle street, Balaclava, Vie.; Richard Ed- monds, 380 Coventry street, South Mel- bourne, Vic.; Geo. Rogers, 4 Cardigan street, Ballarat, Vic.; H. R. Straus, New College, Box Hill, Vic.; George Sutton, 685 Rathdown street, North Carlton, Vie. ; : =,G. Munyard, “Allenwood,” Park ‘street, Oakleigh, Vic.; Wilbur Freder- ick, Sussex street, West End, South Brisbane; J. G. M‘Dougall, Powlett street, Heidelberg, Vic.; B. Fitzgerald, “Oroya Links Gold Mine,. Kalgoorlie, WiA.; Jack E. C. Appleton, 310 Ewart street, Marrickville, N.S.W.; Eris Thomas King, Sisley street, Toowong, Brisbane. eo © Hidden Places Readers are reminded, that the “Hid- den Places” competition closes on Oc- tober 30. Particulars of this competition appear on page 76, “Pals,’’ September 17. .Envelopes should be marked “Places.” Bird. Picture Puzzles. Details of this competition were pub- lished in ‘“Wals’’ of September 24. En- tries close on November 12. Envelopes should be marked “Birds.” Drawing Competition Copy the humorous drawing of a postman on page 101 of ‘‘Pals,’’ Octo- ber 1, and send it in. The envelope should be marked “Drawing.” Entries close on November 20. The competi- tion is open to readers under 18 years ef age. : Word Making Readers 12 years of age or. under are invited to ‘make’ as many smaller words as possible from the letters in “Commonwealth.” ‘Foreign words will not -be counted, and a particular létter may not. be used twice in one ward un- Jess it appears twice in ‘“‘Common- wealth.” Entries close on November 20. Envelopes should be marked : “Words. ” “Pictures Wanting Words: Ay tit short ‘and “telling,” is re- quirea for the illustration “by Howat Hannaford, appearing on Page 76, “Pals,” September 17. Each reader who decides to enter the competition should submit one title only. Entries (write “Title” on the envelope) will he received up till October 25. Six prizes of 5/ each will be awarded. To Competitors Letters should be addressed to the -‘iiditor ‘Pals,’ ‘The Herald” Office, Melbourne, > “Pals” Clubs Readers of Brighton Beach, Vie., who wish to join a “Pats” club, aré reques- ted to communicate with V. Gibson or Lb. Crozier, 2 Hoyt street,” Brighton > “Beach.

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PALS October 15, 1921

B. M‘farlane (69 Lee st., Nth, Carlton, Vic.)—Fifty boys’ papers for useful. article. C. Richardson (‘‘Sydenham,’’ Houston st., Stawell, Vic.)—Bundle boys’ papers, three carbon plates, ten 1d, four 4d kangaroo and four 1d Queen Victoria stamps for 4-6 volt accumulator, wireless book or instrument. B. J. O'Loughlin (21 Waltham st., Rich- mond, Vic.)—Four Leclanche cells and three poe pots for pair wicketkeeper’s gloves or pads. . J, Edwards (48 Cobden st., Sth, Melbourne). —Univereal stamp album with 270 different stamps for cig. card album with cards. D. Leggett (234 Liverpool st., Hobart.j— Equivalent for cinematograph filme. — Reader (Yaapeet, via Rainbow, Vic.)—Two pair pigeons for six ferreting nets. Also bicycle pump and ‘Marvel Toy” for six nets. - D, Anderson (‘‘Midarro,” Corowa, N.S.W.)— Unused kookaburra 6d ‘stamp for electric torch care. L. Dickson (22 (lizabeth e6t., Elsternwick, Vic.)—No. 3 Meccano for Prosser tennis racquet. J. Lawler (Curyo, via Birchip, Vic.)—200 cig. cards for No, 4 football. : BH. Taylor (Carrum, Vic.)—35 boys’ for torch with battery or equivalent, E. Risstrom (23 Holden st., Nth. Fitzroy, Vie.J—Nelson’s ‘‘History of the War’’ (8 vols.) and 200 silkworms for equivalents. A Pal (3 Cross rd., Surrey Hills, Vie)—- Electric motor (6 volts) for cinematograph. Also model yacht, ‘‘Chinese Bagatelle,’ and donkey engine for 1000ft. film. C. Richards (10 Jackson st., St. Kilda, Vic.) —li cricketer cig. cardg and 10 Magpie cards for 40 ‘‘Merrie Hngiand Studies’’ or 24 Mag- pie cig. cards. E. Newton (Spring Vale rd., Tunstall. Vie. 460 stamps or three good books for two badges of 17th British Lancers. E, Bunting (At Main ord.. N.B. Valley, Dunedin, N.Z.}—Stamp album with 320 elamps, fountain pen, S$ books for ‘Lyman’ papers

end 3 -22 cal. rifle sigbr. J. Rickie {291 Richardson st., Middle Park, Vie..—Game. 2 ellk cards. 45 cig. cards, At marbles ard three pkt J. Glennon (20 William ‘st., Abbotsford, golf balls, and good’ boys’ papers for V.P. Kodak or No, 2a enlarging camera. A. Drysdale (2 Saunders. street. , West Coburg, Vic.i.—Variable shocking coil, dupli- cate album, and 26 frct-saw blades for pair duuble wireless receivers (10U0 ohms resist- ance, with headband, or equivaicnt. J. Lioyd (Warde street, Bairnsdale, Vic.) —-Marble toy game and nine magic lantern slides for good electric shocking coil. B. W. Jackson (Cotterill st... Werribee, Vied.--Teicpbone tranemitcer, small crank with cecentric drive, electric globe holder (5 velt), two 14 plate: developing dishes, prini- ing frame, bottle Jeveloper and heating wire for cinemategraph and film, I, Peterson (Ikuwarra, via Stawell, Vie.J).— Cig. cards tor butterflies; also equivalents for scout’s outat. “J. Smith (C'Nestor,’’ Somerville, Vic.).-50 “World's News’’ for foreign stamps; also 13 Loys’ papers for covery 50 stamps. S. Smith (Nestor, Somerville, Vie.).— Seven boys’ papers for every 10 Pacific or other island stamps. Wm, Lockyer (“Bay we

View,’’? Barrabool, - Next Week’s Number Many Fine Features

To Develop Roll Films “The Fire Fighters” By WYN FRASER

“The Noise In The Air” By ARTHUR RUSSELL “Pals” Playtime Page Vic.).—Monthly ‘‘Chums,’’ 25 cig. cards and four Nos. ‘Pals’? for ‘“I*rom the Earth to the Moon” (Jules Verae). : ¥.T. (184 Queen st,, Bendigo, Vic.)—Kquiva- lent for Whitfield King and Co.’s stamp cata- logue. Julton printing set and large stamp pad for “Woodstock’’ (Scott). ~D. Johns (“Surrey House,’’ ai7 Dryburgh st., North Melbourne}--Good cricket bat (larry Sims, maker), for complete set bobs. A Pal (‘‘Wilga,’? Cusack st., Wangaratta, Vie.).—ovels, supplementary readers jand school Boks for coins, natural history speci- mens, native weapons or equivalents. H. Prown (Braeside, Bundamba, QId.). - 460 Australian and foreign stampes (including Indian, German and Italian) for’ dry cell bat- tery and electric bell or small dynamo. R. Chalkley (c/o J. I’. Macrae, Devon Park, Lower Ferntree Gully, Viec.).—Fuil size cric- ket bat, Daisy air gun, bicycle game, 100 cig. ecards and 4) stamps for bicycle (free wheel) or cinematograph. W. Guildford (4 Ripling st., E. St. Kilda, Vie,)~Pair roiler skates and 12 Nos. “Pals’’ for Meccano spring or electric motor (with batteries). J. Pearson (23 Bruce st., Stanmore, S¥dney),; —Daisy air gun for equivalent. D. Harwood (Gordon rd., Black Terest Ey-

atte — NOTICES ——_——__________.._-» tate. Adeluide).—Daisy air rifle, pair puttees, torch, case, carbide bicycle Jamp and vol, 1 of ‘Pals’ for V.P.K. or No. 2 folding Brownie. . : A. A. Cosgrove (Waverley rd., Glen Waver- ley, via Oakleigh, Vic.),—-Electric torch case, 26 mixed marbles, *fountrin pena, pook and three comics for No. 1 Brownie. W. Westell (Tramway rd., Oakleigh, Vic.).-- 10 cig. cards for model donkey engine or No. 0 Brownie. A. We Davis (Yarragon, Vie..—Two chip- carving knives and 9 sig. cards for four- flanged Meecano wheels or bolts and nuts. * S. Haines (Tavtantanoola, $. Aust.)—Hlec- tric torch case, several aerial insulators, two Leclanche cells, box paints (in tubes), and 15 yards bell wire for two bayonet cap globes (Z-1i voits), or telephone receiver. L.G. (0 Wentworth Av. Canterbury, Vie.)— Your ovunres ef No, 26 gauge covered copper wire for 4-6 volt accumulator, ). Miller (12 William st.. Essendon, Vie.) —-Veeder mile gange (28in. bicycle wheel), fittings and ‘‘Pals’’ Nos. 1-25 for dynamo or electric metor, A. Walker (Caring, Brisbane)—Magic lan- fern and 24 slides for good aecordeon. W. Pope iTemple st.. Warparoo, Brisbane) ~ Album with over 1090 stamps for steam en- gine and boiler (lin. bore) or equivalent. Also stamp album for 2-volt globe and socket. J. Blackwood (1 Mathoura rd., Toorak. Vie.—Small set Robs’ for truck wheels and axles. D. Jaycee (22 Satvudo Row, KE. Perth, W.A.) 2 Musign camera for equivatent in siamps. Aiso 500 Current Australian 24 stamps for 36 Australian stamps apeve 1/ fare value, W. AL fs Tnkerman rd.. Malvern, Vie. Electric motor or No. 4 and No. t Meceano for Silver King ofl or gas bicycle lamp. R. Dewar (31 Collier Crescent. W. Brunt. wick, Vie 28 “Nelson Lees” for “Pals’’ Nos. '4-26 (Vol. th, Ex R.. Gaul (Goverpinent Savings Rank, Perth, W.A)—No, 2 Mececno for Gibbon’s or other stamp catalogue. R. Tarrant (Athelstan road, South Cam- herwell, Vie.))—Cylinder, ni-tan and rod, suit- for enzine ceseribed in ‘Pals’ No. 3, far “Pals Nos... 2, 3 amd 4 (Vol. 2). Also Universal stamp album for Meccano paris. A Pat (lhuenville, Tas.d--tireenheart fish- ing rod, four good hooks. electric torch and spinner for “Young America’ revolver. P. Muhan (65 Noble st., Chilwell, Geelong. Vie.—Bov’s pavers for about 20 or 30 2nd set 1921 footballer cig. cards. G, Mayhea (14 River st., Newnort, Vice}.— Match brands, two reels, 500 assorted martles, 50 imitation marbles, and three “Nelson Legs’ for small box camera, No, 2 Meccano or

eanivaleut. a K. Potter (376 Station st’, Nth. Carlton, Vie.).-—“Chatterbox’’ 1914, ‘Japhet in Search of a lather’? and two supp. readers for “Holiday Annual.” J. Kerr (68 Newry 6t., Nth. Fitzroy, Vie.).— to, 2 Brownie camera and leather wallet for good wristiet watch, W. Redpath (94 Ivanhoe pde., Ivanhoe, Vic.). ~—Two books on bookkeeping, two adventure books, torchcase, golf ball, 20 boys’ papers and ludo-board for mid-iron golf club. M. Johnson (Dumosa, Vic.).—Printing set, iO boys’ papers, 200 foreign stamps for 1/ and. 6d kookaburra stamps, triangular Cape of Good Hope stamp or 35 ‘Nelson Lees." C.P.W.R. C'Glenleven,’? South road.) West. VUlverstone, Tas.)--Two adventure. novels and three rie aie magazines for ‘Pals’? Nos, 2,8. 4, 9, V. White (5 Peake st., Ballarat E., View. it different stamps for every 20 butterfly’ ‘cig. cards. Also 700 stamps for set of but- ferfly cards, J. Stabbs (Penguin. Tas..— ‘The Giant Raft’? (Jules Verne) for “The PD Crusoe" (R. M. Ballantyne). W. Booth (117 Collins st. Melbourne).— Transmitter or receiver for darkroom Jamp R. B. O’Neale (87 Ballantyne et., Thorn- bury, Vic.).—Harrington’s camera catalogue, blank- cartridge revolver, No, 00 Premo cam- era and developing outfit for boy’s watch, C. ¥. Freestone! (Francis st., Clayton, Vic.). —i00 mixed foreign stamps for cig. card al- bum and cards. Also 350 foreign stamps fer “Historic Events’ set.

Page 31

October 15, 1921 PALS vit Vie.)—Box of paints and 35 ‘Boys Cinemas” for stamp album and few stamps. J. Woolard (Alice st., Silkstone, Ipswich, Qsid.).—Mixed Australian and old Queensland stamps for foreign stamps. J, Donoghue “(198 Bellair st,, Kensington, Vic.).—Three boys’ papers, two comics, three back numbers ‘‘Pals” for ‘‘Pals’? Nos. 1 and 2 Vol. 2 N. Thompson (92 Clarke st., Northcote, Vic.).—Side drum, belt and sticks for No, 2a Brownie folding camera, developing and printing outfit. J. M‘Carthy (Beatrice st., Yarraville, Vic.). —Pea rifle, Brownie camera, 24% x 2%, elec- tric torch case, pair puttees and game for mandoline or similar instrument. J. W. Blier (19g Albert st., W. Brunswick, Vic.—Good “Triumph motor jack, military paca leggings and money for machine rill. : R. Ross (110 Langtree Av., Mildura, Vic.) —High school books (value £2) for saie or equivalents. A Reader (56 Mimosa rd., Caulfield, Vic.) —four good foreign stamps for every Fijian, FPrazilian, Newfoundjand or Turkish stamp. A. F. S. (18 Glanstone st., Moonee Ponds, Vie.)—Rabbit trap, dry cell, book on model steam engines and set of draughts for No. 2 Brownie camera. C. Haines (Box 34, Millicent P.O., S. Aust.) —S, B.C. electric bulb holder, adapter and porous pot for electric bell. Also 100 mixed foreign stamps fcr 6d kockaburra stamp. kK. W. Manwhirter (57 Deroy st., Kensing- ton, Vic.)—Sot of 1921 Australian cricket team and 56 match brands for Magpie cig. cards. W. L. Howe (‘‘Memsie,”’ Bridgewater, Vic.) —Electric torch with pattery for good bicycle pump. R, Balger (‘‘Derisville,”’ Rishall street, Al- phirgton, Vic.)—200 foreign stamps and 200 mixed Australian stamps for spring cricket bat. G. Dawsen (27 Nicholson st., Balmain, Syd- ney)—Melican induction coil for 1000 obm wireless headgear. N. Kirkham (63 Spit rd., Mosman, N.S.W.) —‘Boys’ Own Aunual,’”’ 1990, stamp album, stamps, and clsth-bound novel for cinemato- graph and film. Trapper (13 Woolacot st., Coburg, “Pals’’ Nos. 1-26 for pair leggings in condition, E. Mason (32 Rankin rd., Kensingtoa, Vie.) —Set youths’ boxing gloves for rifle or folding film camera. J. Cullen (95 Napier st., South Melbourne)— 24 boys’ papers for 5 “B.O.P’s.”’ L. Fisher (Wattle Bank, Yaapeet, Vic.)— Four white, common pigeons for a good hen Carneaux (yellow). Also six common pigeons, 70 cig, cards, four boys’ papers and leather watch pouca for a silver Runt cock or offer. : E.H.D. G10 Malvern rd., Prahran, Vic.}— Glass funnel, 15 test tubes, glass flask, (wo boy’s books on model engines; and 3%4in. iron propeller for wireless head phenes and cell. Also cloth-bound books for good rounder anc wireless key or key and aerial switch. S. Forguson (Toongabbie, Gippsland, Vic.) --146 cig. cards (admirals, war ships, butter- tiies, etc.) and ‘‘Peler and Wendy’’ for elec- trie torch and fountain pen, A Pal (27 Eliott av., Murrumbeena, Vic.J— Periscope, 20 boys’ papers, 107 stamps, 124 silk cards and 47 cig. cards for young bantam puillet. G. Rumbold (99 Olinda st., Quarry Hill, Bendigo, Viec.)—Fountfain pen, 100 cig. cards and 50 stamps for 6d kookaburra stamp. Also 64 stamps and 30 cig. cards for 5/ or 10/ Australian etamp. N. M‘Arthur (‘‘Redcourt,”’ Manning rd., E. Malvern, Vic.)—Small cricket bat suitable for young boy for 100 cig. cards or equivalent. J. La Gerche (Niel st.. Maryborough, Vic.) —Five recent Nos. of ‘‘Chums’’ for equivalent in Magpie cig. cards (including Carlton players). G. Martin (Tresco, Vic.)—‘‘Pals’’ Nos, 1 and 6 for “Birds of Australasia’’ cig. cards Nos. 6, 10, 17, 18, 2, 34, 42. 65, 69, 71, 81 and 89. C, J. Macdermid (Wool Wool, Vic.)—Stamp album and 449 stamps for two young doe fer- rets. F. Haydon (17 Hopetoun pde., Box Hil, Vic.)—Wireless head phones (1000 ohms) for violin, suitable for beginner or equivalent. R. Carseldine (Railway Terrace, Chelmer, Brisbane)—Equivalent for printing frame suit- able V.P.K. negative. Tl. MWass (Tooradin, Vie.)--Two adventure books for ‘‘Magpie’’ cards. .Also. five rabhit traps for ferret. M. Gerrard (Wodonga, Vice.)—20 old fout- baller cig. cards for 1) ‘“Magple’’ cards.. C. Morphett (‘Carinya,” Tooronga rd., Up- per Hawthorn, Vic.)—Air rifle (out of order) for 6d kookaburra stamp. w_ H. Holmes (12 Asling st., Brighton, Vic.J— Match If. football, 400 cig. cards and album. Vie.)— good bobs board, ‘‘Swan’”’ fountain pen and 60 “Magpie” cards for equivalent. C. N. Wessing (9 Summerhill rd., Hobart, Tas.)—Three novels of ‘Tarzan’ series by Edgar Rice Burrows for boiler and engine, dynamo (4 volts) or electric motor. Also boobs. for boiler fittings or parts of shocking coll, “Rugby” (Preston rd., Oakleigh, Vic.)— Adventure book, 154 cig. cards and 163 match box brands for No. 0 Brownlie or No. 2 Meccano. T. Burchell (‘‘Eimeera,’’ 43 Beaver st., E. Caulfield, Vic.)—‘‘Chumg,’’ 1919, and ‘Boys’ Own Annual,’’ 1920, for wicket-keeping gloves and pads. F, Cull (16 George st., off Wright st., Ade- alide).—Priating set, papers, torch case and 69 marbles for 150ft. Im. Also pair putties, five tops and 10 ‘‘Pals” for 100ft. film. Also 6500 stamps (including old Australian) for magic Jantern and slides. R. Harding (Weerona, Horsham, Vic.)— “Australian House Builder’ and 20 cig. cards for jack knife, tack hammer or silk worms, J. Hutchinson (Police Station, Werribee, Vic.)—Scout whistle, five cloth bound books, five ‘‘Aussies,’? and 20 mixed papers for jo0 different foreign stamps. R. Hayes (Kennedy pde., Brighton, Sand- gate, Brisbane)—Two Nos. ‘‘Kodakery’’ for number of foreign stamps. J. A, Wylie (Longwarry, Gippsland, Vic.) —Three Nos. “Popular Mechanics’? for goift and tennis balls. K. Boggon (113 Drummond street, Carlton, Vic.)—21 boys’ papers for 12 ‘‘Magpie’”’ cigar- ette cards, 1921, : B. Banks (54 South street, Ascot Vale, Vic.)—Match I]. football and papers or bugle aad model aeroplane for cinematograph and 100ft. film, or No. 1 Brownie. J. Cohen (The Grange, Mona road, Darling Point, Sydney)—41 ‘War Incidents’ and 10 “v.C.” cigarette cards for set of “Postmen” or ‘‘Flowers.’’ Also 35 mixed cards for Nos. 13, 15, 18, 33, 33 and 58 of “Birds” cards. G. A. Schofield (“Glenore,”” The Gap, Werris Creek, N.S.W.)—‘‘Elestricity” (W. H. M'‘Core mack), ‘‘Every Boy His Own Mechanic,’”’ and 30 Nos. “The Scout’ for best offer. M. Curtin (Dunn street, Semaphore, South Australia).—Mouth organ, cricket ball, ten- nis bail, 22 boys’ papers, 100 cigarette cards, “New Century” rifle and 50 Australian stamps for equivalents. J. J. Jess (Sheep Hills, via Murtoa, Vic.). _No. 1 Erector, cigarette album and scouts pouch for model engine. “PALS” POST BAG W.G. (iawthorn, Vic.).—Very pleased to hear from you again. My thanks for your congratulations on the success of *‘Pals.”” Letters, etc., are acknowledged as soon as possible—generally on the first number of ‘Pals’? issued after they are received F. Dennelly (Brunswick, Vic.).—Your 6ug- gestion will be coaoridered. I am glad that “Fails” is so popular in your home, C. Wickers (Sydney, N.S.W,).—Later on, pethaps, I will write an article on the sub- ject. ‘As a rule, amateur magazines are type written. Printing a comparatively small number of copics, say, 100, would be too ex- pensive, unless cach issue consisted of only a few leaves. A. Norman (Wooilahra, N.S.W.).—Sketches are not required. Thauvks for your good wiskes. Walter J. Petter (Longwarry, Vic.) — Send the stamps and the information will be sup- plied to yor 5 F, Hamilton (Buffalo, Vic.).—Readers in the country district in each State have the some chance as city readers. Ali entries reccived for any competition are examined on the came date. If your entry reaches us on the last day for teceiving entries your chanec is the rame as if it had arrived 4& mouth previousiv. L. A. Dart (Eisternwick, Vic.).—My thanks tor ecngratulation« and your words in praise of “Pals.” If the stories are for an amateur journal, it is wanecessary to have typewritten enes. 5 Ursula Neale (M. Brighton, Vic,).—The verse is very good for a first attempt. J. Whittaker (Hamilton, N.Z.).-Thaok you for the message of good luck. Jeffrey Mott (Edithburg, S.A.).—Sketches are uct required. My thanks for your kind wishes, Roy Smith (N. Perth, W.A.)—Thank you for ycur letter and good wishes. Dick Lamprell (Prospect, S.A.)—Success to the bicycle club. You should enjoy ‘runs’ to Mt. Lofty. I spent six weeks in the ranges some years ago, and hope to see “Lefty”? again soon. My thanks for your good wishes . Bruce Smith (Port Pirie, S.A.\— Send a notice for ‘Correspondence Invited’’ column. Thanks for the sketch. N. Wyndham (Oxford road, Strathfield, Syd- ney) — Jokés need not be original, but they must be bright. iI am glad that you are all interested in ‘‘Pals.”” Thanks for your friendly letter. B, Fitzgerald (Goomalling, W.A.)—Many city boys would envy you your opportunities of seeing the great, grey kangaroos and the emvs, Your experience stalking the emu must have been interesting. Thanks — for your letter, ““pogsum’’ (Albert street, Creswick, Vie.)— Photograph received. Glad to hear from you. J, A, Lincoln, (8 Queens st., Enfleld, N.S.W.) — Sketch promising, but not quite suitable for use. Glad you like the Ex- change Notices. Many hundreds of exchanges have been made throurh tt Jack B, Andersom (Arden, Glenelg st., South Brisbane).—An air majl stamp will be forwarded to you if you send a stamped en- velope, M. Ryall (‘‘Hygeia,’’ Dandenong road, East Cavifield, Vic.)—Thanks for your problems. They may be used later. ‘ Aubrey Stonham (Cunnamulla, Queensland) —Anotkher article dealing with bantams may appear later on. An announcement about “Pals Annual’ is published in “Pals.” C. Bryant (38 Bourke st., East Malvern, Vic.)—Simple experiments in chemistry are published from time to time. Thanks for your letter. “‘Hobbo’’ (Apollo Bay,. Vic.)—The ferret should be kept in a double hutch. one compartment dark and the other Hgbt. A piece of the floor in the light compartment should be cut out and wire netting tacked over to keep the hutch clean. Thanks for your interesting details of the history of Apollo Bay. Your article on heating @ model steam cngine may be used jater. Alan Porter (Langwarry, Vic.)—A Jand- scape, for the purposes of the come petition may include a river. Thanks for your reference to the success of “Pals.” D. f. O'Keefe (Chilwell, Vic.).—Send the articles direct to the address given in the exchange nctice. I thank you for wishing continued success to our paper. — A CAREER FOR BOYS THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY The Royal Australian Navy offers boys who are fond of the sea an vpportunity of following a calling congenial to their tastes. Parents and guardians are enjoined to con- sider the following:— : The conditions o: ¢ervice in the Royal Australian Navy preseut solid induce- ments, viz., literal and increasing rates of pay, additional deferred pay, clothing, rations, and everything found, with medical attention free, permanent employment, gcod_ prospects of promotion, from 35 to 42 days’ léave on full pay annually, and six months’ leave on full pay after twenty years’ service, 4n opportunity to travel, etc., etc. ‘The avenues leading to promotion are neither Inadequate nor narrow. To a smart youth who is entered in the Training Ship, jt is possible for the progressive steps lead- ing to Petty Officer and then to Warrant Officer to be attained. There are also avenues of promotion to Commissioned Rank— (a) For youug Petty Officers and Warrant Officers on passing certain examita- tions. (b) For Senior Warrant Officers of long and meritorfous service. It will be found that these conditions com- pare more than favorably with those obtain- ing on shore, : For full particulars, in Victorfa, rpply to- THE NAVAL RECRUITING OFFICER, Navy Office, Melbourne; or in olher States to the DISTRICT NAVAL OPPICER at the Chief Port of your State,

Page 32

vill PALS October 15, 1921 How in a Few Hours | Learned The Secret of Skelehing From boyhood I have always wanted to draw things. I suppose there are hundreds of young fellows who fect the same way as I did. I often said that if it were possible I should choose commercial art as a profession. ‘It was not only the big salaries and independence enjoyed by artists and cartoonists that appealed to me: it was the fascination of the game itself. But I could hardly draw a straight line. My friends used ts have laughing hysterics at my attempts to sketch things. One mornings, as IT was coming into town on. the 8 30 train, I met Har ry Jennings, 1 had come into town with hiin every day for years, usually passing the time dts- eussing the morning papers. But this particular morning he had a pad and pencil in his hand. He was drawing little pictures. There was scarcely any detail in them, but they were alive with move- ment, and Marry was drawing them rapidly and accu- rately. “What co earth are you dving?’ I asked in amazement. Warry smiled. “Don't be afraid. To am quite sane. These little pictures are just to illustrate some points in & business discussion which 1 expect to have to-day. They speak louder than words.” | watched him, amazed to sve that he drew very well indeed, As he proceeded, and the drawings became more Jife-like, my curiosity was aroused. I asked him about it. “Why, IT am surprised that you ask me!” he answered. “Look how easy it all is—and he quickly sketched a few other figures and grinned at my amazement. “There is just one little secret of the whule thing,” he added. “IE never drew before in my life, and, you see— these little sketches really are not bad, are they? You have always wanted to draw, and even if you don’t he- come an artist, you will find it a mighty convenient thing to know. This secret makes drawing as easy as writing. Get’s have a shot at it this evening. and Vil show you how simple it is. I'l! give you a Httle lesson.” ‘The Greatest Surprise of My Life. That night I was astonished to learn that there was but One Great Rule that covered every sort of drawing. I mastered this rule in just fifty minutes, and in two hours found that I coula draw. Think of it! It was al- most like magic. I had never before been able to draw a recognisable object. At this time I was a salesman, that 1 had to practice and apply this Secret, was in spare minutes when at the office or at home, ¥ prosressed with almost unbelievable rapidity. My First Real Drawing. so that the only time this Rule, But One day I was talking with a customer of the firm where I was employed. Remembering Harry's “idea pic- tures,” I drew some figures to illustrate the point L was trying to establish. He looked at the pictures and caught my idea at once. Before I left he gave me a larger order than I had ever before received from him. My pictures had done the business for me. This worked so well that I tried it again, several times in fact—and each time I got the same results. My nic- tures seemed to make a stronger appeal than my words, and my sules increased tremendously. But that was not all. A few weeks later I thought of a good advertising idea, and sat down and illustrated it, and, just for fun, sent it to a firm who were advertising their product jargely at the time. A few days later, to my great surprise and pleasure, 1 received a cheque from the advertising manager, and a request for more drawings of a simijJar nature. Frem that time on 1 sent sketches to this and other advertisers more or less regularly, and was making a substantial income from my pen. J told Harry Jennings what his idea had led to. When he heurd that I had actually been selling my drawings to advertisers, he gasped with amazement. I told him how the One Great Rule of drawing which made it easy for him to draw had meant even more to me -—and how this simple home-study course, which we had gone over that evening, had given me the secret which had meant so much. Harry laughed at my enthusiasm, but admitted that such a remarkable success as mine was enough to make a man a bit optimistic. Easier than Learning to Operate a Typewriter. : Through this amazing system, drawing can be taught as easily as‘ anything else. In this simple, home study Course, the Australian School of Sketching, teaches you to draw just as-a business school teaches you to keep books, .or operate a:typewriter, or write ‘shorthand. - But ~ if is a hundred times simpler than any of those accotn- plishments. And the best part of it all is thal the you to draw so that you can sell your pictures. eourse teaches Not only that, but the Australian School of Sketching gives you valuable assisianee in selling your drawings, and shows you how and where to dispose of every kind of sketch you execute to the best advantage. That is really the most impertant part after all, Everyone wants to sell his work, and that is just what you can do with the Australian School of Sketching system. Don't misunderstand me; I am not praising myself. The point is this: If I, who never was able to draw at all, could achieve this really reinmarkabie success, others* can do the same or better. See for yourself—you can enrol with the Australian School of Sketching, and try out the course without risk- ing a penny. If you can draw at all you will probably get along even faster than I, and you will find modern commercial ars the most fascinating and delightful work imaginable. ILemember that opportunities in this une crowded field are timitless, Phere js a coustantly grow- ing demand for illustrators and designers. If you like to draw, or if you think that you wenld itke to draw, don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to learn in an even- ing or two of your spare time. Get this Free Booklet: “Sketching for Pleasure and Profit.” booklet has a message for you—it is unique and inspiring. It brings you news that no matter where you live, or what you are doing, your talent for drawing can be developed in the privacy of your own home surely and simply, and without drudgery. Jt contains deeply in- teresting literature dealing with black and white sketch- This ing, and tells how various kinds of drawings are done, what prices are paid tor drawings, the opportunities as well as giving you some splen- hlachk and white sketches. You have it for the asking. which are open to you, did examples of modern need, this booklet. You can But act AT ONCK, Learn to draw—whether or not your aim is commercial art. It is a big asset, no matter what field you are in. Fill out the coupon below and post to-day. THE AUSTRALIAN SCHOOL OF SKETCHING, 420 Daily Telegraph Buildings, Sydacy, Australia. “Sketching for Pleasure in stamps to cover Ptease send me your booklet, and Profit.” {£ enclose herewith 34d. eost of postage, etc, NAME... .sssoveeeee Prevererrrrecrrerrrrrrrrirrirrry: | AAATEGB i skecsvescnisuaceciessusscSenecestecconssnacdandssausteanssessces mocscaceesconce: Prinied’ acd Published by Waltcr TR. May- for the Herald and -Weekly Times (Ltd:)‘at the Office, cor Flinders ‘and Russell st#.,Melb.