"_Pietro Cigole_."

--Cigole! the name brought singular associations. Had this man still any
connection with Potts? The words of his father's letter rushed into his
mind--"His arm may reach even to the antipodes to strike you. Be on your
guard. Watch every one. He has some dark plan against you."

With these thoughts in his mind Brandon went up to his room.




CHAPTER III.


"A MAN OVERBOARD!"

In so small a town as Sydney then was Brandon could hope to learn all
that could be learned about Cigole. By casual inquiries he learned that
the Italian had come out in the _Rival_, and had given out that he
was agent for a London house in the wool business. He had bought up a
considerable quantity which he was preparing to ship.

Brandon could not help feeling that there was some ruse about this. Yet
he thought, on the other hand, why should he flaunt his name so boldly
before the world? If he is in reality following me why should he not
drop his name? But then, again, why should he? Perhaps he thinks that I
can not possibly know any thing about his name. Why should I? I was a
child when Despard was murdered. It may be merely a similarity of names.