"See here. I don't know who you lads are, and you don't know much about me. But I've got to get to Oodnadatta some way or another. There's a plant of horses and niggers waiting for me up there. I'll fix up something. Would you care to come along with me?"
The boys' faces instantly showed their eager pleasure, and the man did not need their words of thanks to assure him that he was doing them a good turn.
"Thanks awfully!" they exclaimed. "Thank you very much, Mr.——"
"My name's Peter," said the man. "And there's no 'Mister' about me. What shall I call you two?"
"This is Vaughan," said Stobart, pointing to his friend. "My name's Stobart."
"Stobart! Stobart!" said Peter in surprise. "Anything to do with Boss Stobart?"
Sax had never heard his father's nickname, so he answered in a puzzled tone, "Boss Stobart?"
"Yes, bless you. Boss Stobart. And a fine man too. The best drover that ever crossed a horse in this country. Don't I know it too? We punched cattle together for ten years, did the Boss and me."
Sax's face beamed with delight. "That's my father," he said proudly.
Peter's big hand shot out in greeting. "So you're Boss Stobart's son, are you? Well, well, you seem a fine lad, and you've sure got a fine father." He also shook hands with Vaughan, and added: "So we're to be mates, are we? You leave things to me. I'll let you know about it when I've fixed things up."