Part 39 (1/2)

'It seems hard,' said Townley to Moncrieff one day, 'that you should be put to so much trouble and expense Why does not the Government protect its settlers?'

'The Government will in course of time,' replied Moncrieff 'At present, as we lie pretty lon in the western map, we are looked upon as rich pioneers, and left to protect ourselves'

They were riding then round the _estancias_, visiting outlying _puestos_

'You have your rockets and red-lights for night signals, and your flags for day use?' Moncrieff was saying to each _puestero_ or shepherd

'We have,' was the invariable reply

'Well, if the Indians are sighted, signal at once, pointing the fan in their direction, then proceed to drive the flocks towards the _estancias_

There,' continued Moncrieff, 'there is plenty of corraling room, and we can concentrate a fire that will, I believe, effectually hold back these raiding thieves'

One day there came a report that a fort had been carried by a cloud of Indians

This was in the forenoon Towards evening soht the old ugly story of conflagration andsince become used

But now the cloud was about to burst over our _estancia_ We all ate our ether at the present awful crisis, just, I think, to be company to each other, and to talk and keep up each other's heart

But to-day Moncrieff had ordered an early dinner, and this was o the meal A heaviness was on every heart, and if any one of us made an effort to smile and look cheerful, others saw that this was only assumed, and scarcely responded

Perhaps old Jenny spoke ether And her reh the situation was

'They reeving Philistines are coain, are they? Well, laddie, if the worst should happen I'll just treat thee'

'What, e, laddie It was boiled maize I poured ower the shoulders o' them in the caravan But oat beats a drap parridge Bombazo,' she said presently,'you've been unco quiet and douce for days back, I hope you'll no show the white feather this time and bury yoursel' in the moold like a rabbit'

Poor Bo from his appearance, he had been ill at ease for weeks back There was no singing now, and the guitar lay unheeded in its case

'Do not fear foralready to see the foe'

'Weel, Bombazo ills already, but orth the rigging o' you if ye dinna fecht My arhamrella yet'

'Hush, mither, hush!+' said Moncrieff

Immediately after dinner Moncrieff beckoned to Townley, and the two left the rooether

'You think the Indians will coht?' said Townley, after a time

'I know they will, and in force too'