Part 38 (2/2)

”Only since about twelve I camped yesterday in the Dead Man's Bend, on Mondunbarra I've been kept on the move since dinner-ti in the shade of a tree, having a s or another, when I heard so from the other side of the river It was Mosey Price; and he told lanced toward the south-east, produced a cigar-case, took thence three cigars, handed one to o Park lit the third himself, then smoked listlessly andaway the inch-long stu his reins ”What's your na,” replied the African explorer ”I worked on Kooltopa, o, but I don't suppose you remember me”

”I'm not sure However, I'll find a nice coive you credit You should have gone into politics You'd have lad you think so, Mr Stewart But the main body of the story has to come You see, I was, in a sense, no farther forward than at first

Alf's bullocks were only respited, and briefly at that So, as I was telling you, I left theainst the boundary fence, and walked across to interview this Terrible To ho, sir,'

says I, as sweet as sugar” &c, &c

Stewart glanced at the blazing orb, noly cliar, and smoked impassively

”D----d if I approve of your action in that instance, Collins,”

he re for soy-seat

”Indeed, Mr Stewart, I don't defend the action I only endeavour to palliate it on the plea of necessity And, if Adam fell in the days of innocency, what should poor Tom Collins do in the days of villainy?”

”Shakespear,” observed the squatter approvingly, as he drew a bottle and glass froh, unlessin this way----The Poondoo people put a couple of bottles of Albury into the buggy; and I think we can do one of theain? Eh?

How is that for aptness? A Roland for your (adj) Oliver--I look at the thing in this way, Collins--But youon an empty stomach I have some sandwiches here” He handed a couple to me, a couple to Bob, and reserved a couple for hi in this way I put myself in Tommy's place Now, if any man presumed to play such a trick on me--why, d--n me, I should take it very ill

Now, Collins”----

”O, stop, please! don't fill that glass for me! I'm very sensible of your disapproval, Mr Stewart I'm more sorry than I can express--not in the way of penitence, certainly, but that I should be unfortunate enough to have incurred your displeasure I wish you could put yourself inlife to you, Mr Stewart, both for your own sake and the sake of the public”

”Thanks for the good wish, Collins, and to (sheol) with the flattery

I may tell you that I do put myself in your place, as well as in Tommy's

But, d----n it, you don't see---- You're not a blue-ribboner, I suppose?” And he tendered the replenished glass to Bob ”Bad hand you've got, poor fellow Severe accident apparently?”

”Sepoy bullet at Lucknow, sir I was a lad of nineteen then; just joined”

”You've been a soldier?”

”Yes, sir; I was an ensign in the Queen's 64th We formed part of Havelock's column of relief” The placid, unassertive, incapable face told the rest of the poor fellow's story

”You don't see,” repeated Stewart, turning again tomistake

Every h you'll find many most excellent fellows of all races, yet, if you want the real thing, you must look”----

”May God bless you, Mr Stewart!” lass to his lips

”Thank you, my friend----You must look to Scotland for it And, d----n it,at Of course, I don't dwell on the subject because I happen to be a Scotsman myself; only, I must say I should never have expected--But what do you think is the matter with Alf Morris?”

”Difficult to say Some sort of arthrodynic coone in most of his joints”