and, inviting the Dandy "to come and lend a hand," led the way
to the telegraph office; and presently there quivered into Darwin
the first hint tbat a missus was not wanted at the Elsey. 

"Would advise leaving wife behind till homestead can be repaired,"
it said; and, still confident of success, Mac felt that
"ought to do the trick." "If it doesn't," he added, " we'll give her
something stronger." 

We in Darwin, having exhausted the sight-seeing resources of the little town,
were wishing "something interesting would happen," when the message
was handed to the Maluka. 

"This may do as a stopgap," he said, opening it, adding as he
read it, "It looks brimful of possibilities for interested onlookers,
seeing it advises leaving the wife behind." The Maluka spoke from experience,
having heen himself an interested onlooker "down south," when
it had been suggested there that the wife should be left behind
while he spied out the land; for although the Maluka knew most
of the Territory, he had not yet been to the Elsey Cattle Station.