“Tap another barrel, for the well’s gone dry,” hummed Never-Never, and they rode slowly off.
“Why did you think Steve will have made for the Ridge, Aleck?” asked Ned Gunliffe, as they rode together.
“Because for one thing I had a word in his ear while Mulachy was speaking to him,” said Aleck, “and I know he’ll want to see——” he broke off and glanced sharply at Ned Gunliffe, cleared his throat and finished “see about some tucker and so on. He’ll want that of course, as he’ll have to keep clear of stores till he’s clear away.”
CHAPTER X.
Scottie was sitting on the verandah enjoying an after-breakfast smoke, while Ess was busy inside washing up.
It was wonderfully quiet and still, and the hills lay drowsing in the heat, though, back on the Ridge there, a pleasant breath of wind sighed soft and cool.
The rapid tat-at-at tat-at-at of a horse at a hard canter and the clash of iron-shod hoofs on the rocky track made Scottie look up sharply. It was early for any of the men to be back from the township he knew, and this man was riding hard. He glanced quickly inside the room at the girl, rose quietly and slipped off the verandah, and walked with long unhurried strides towards the gate. The clatter rose sharply as the horseman cleared the crest and rode down for the gate. Scottie saw it was Steve Knight, and as he came nearer saw too that his horse was black with sweat and had been ridden cruelly hard. Steve took the rails at a leap, pulled his horse up hard, and slid to the ground, while the horse stood with legs propped apart, his head hanging, and his sides working like a bellows.
“If it’s bad news lat’s have it afore Ess comes oot,” said Scottie, quietly.
“It’s bad for me only, Scottie,” said Steve. “The pol—” he checked himself, and looked hard at Scottie for an instant.