“On the night of October eleventh last,” he began, “there was held in the local hall a social and dance. In point of attendance it was most successful, nearly all the townsfolk being present as well as most of the people from the surrounding stations. Mrs James, the wife of the parson, organized it in aid of the aborigines’ missions, and what she organizes is always successful.

“There was also present George Kendall, a stockman employed on Wattle Creek Station, riding from a hut at a place called Sandy Flat, which is three miles due east of Merino and close against the Walls of China.

“Nothing much of Kendall’s history is known. He came east from the Darling River stations about a year ago, and got the job on Wattle Creek Station. He was unmarried and apparently had no relatives. His age was thought to be about thirty-eight. He was a good stockman. He never drank to excess, and he never gave us any trouble. He was a gambler but a poor sportsman, and his movements that night of October eleventh were as follows:

“He arrived in town about six o’clock and checked in at the hotel for the night. He stabled his horse at the rear of the hotel, had a few drinks at the bar, then had dinner, and later was seen by Gleeson, my constable, playing poker for matches with three travellers. He left the hotel with the licensee and his wife to go to the function at the hall, which was timed to begin at eight, the social part lasting till ten o’clock and the dancing continuing from then until midnight.”

“There was a full moon that night?” Bony interposed.

“Yes, there was a moon… a full moon, I think.”

“What were the weather conditions?”

“Clear sky and a wind.”

“About what was the velocity of the wind?”

“I couldn’t say. It was not a very strong wind that night.”

“No matter. I can find that out later. Proceed.”

“I didn’t go thechivoo,” Marshall continued. “I had a lot of those damn-fool statistics to make up, but Gleeson was on duty outside the hall and he had my permission to have a dance or two. He’s fairly popular, although you wouldn’t think so to look at him. Stickler for duty and regulations is Mounted Constable Gleeson.