Nicholas Crips was drinking whisky slightly diluted with creek water.

His drinking cup was a rusty sardine tin.
Two hours later the Living Skeleton and Mahdi, the man-monkey, snored side by side in the shade of the bridge, the creek rippled at their feet, the sun blazed on the bushland on the left and right, and the whisky bottle stood between them.
Meanwhile, Professor Thunder's Museum of Marvels was decorated with a placard, reading: "Closed on account of illness in the family." Professor Thunder himself was racing about the township and through the surrounding scrub, seeking his missing exhibits, fearing the worst, and promising himself the satisfaction of a terrible vengeance when he laid hands on the recreant pair.

He knew that Nickie had gone off in his skin as the Missing Link, and realised the danger of a possible exposure.

To communicate his loss to the people of 'Tween Bridge would practically mean giving the game away.

At the inn he had been given a description of the two strangers who had refreshed themselves with three long beers, and then bought a bottle of whisky and certain edibles, and taken the road to One Tree Hill.