Part 37 (1/2)

The boys hurried off to one of the stores, and purchased a stock of provisions, a small tent, and some cooking utensils. An hour later, they drove away in pursuit of the fugitives, following the road along the creek.

The girls had been unsuccessful in finding out anything. As they walked along the street, they noticed a trap with two men in it drive out of a yard.

”I wonder where they are off to,” said May.

”Some squatter's turn-out, I suppose. Let's go to the yard they came out of,” answered Hil.

”They've gone after a gent who started this morning,” said the proprietor, in answer to her enquiry.

”Which way are they making?”

”Along the river, I think.”

”I suppose you have not another trap and horses ready.”

”No, sir. I've only got the two, and one of them I sold this morning to the first gent.”

”What's on there?” asked Hil, pointing to a crowd round some stockyards.

”Auction, that's all.”

”Are they selling horses?”

”Yes, some scrubbers, I think.”

”Come on, May. Let's have a look: we can do with a pair of saddle-horses, for we must follow on horseback, or we shall never overtake them.”

”I'm agreeable.”

”That's not a bad hack. Rather weak in the fore shoulder. Thirty bob, eh?” ”Well it's cheap at that,” said Hil, examining the horse. ”Now this looks better. Come closer, I like the look of this one,” and strolling into the yard she opened the horse's mouth.

”I'll give you a couple of notes,” she said to the auctioneer.

”Two pounds, two-ten, three, three-five, three-ten. It's gone. You've got a bargain, young fellow. What name?” sang out the auctioneer.

”Cash,” said she, promptly planking down the money.

Several other lots had been disposed of, but nothing seemed to suit Hil, whose practised eye could pick out a blemish at a glance.

”Now then, stand aside. Look out. Hallo there, look out,” shouted several of the runners-in, as they drove an untameable colt into the yard.

”Look out, young fellow. Come out,” shouted the auctioneer to Hil, who was quietly leaning against the post fixed in the centre of the ring.

”Look out,” said he again, as the colt ran open-mouthed at her, but a smack on the nose sent him back, and letting fly with his heels, just missed her, as she stepped quietly on one side.

”Now then,” said the auctioneer, with a wink at the crowd, ”the breeding of this horse is well-known. What shall we say for her? A tenner? Well then, a fiver.”

”Six,” said Hil.