Dromoora replied that he would look out a good deal now, as he had to be all round the country to procure some plain-turkeys, or bustards, which Mrs. Bell wanted him to shoot.
So Mat, bidding farewell to Mrs. Bell and Annie, rode away with his two companions to the out-station.
[1] The writer learnt these verses in Northern Queensland many years ago from an old Bushman (since dead), who had picked them up in the same casual manner.
CHAPTER XIII.
Tim’s unpleasant reception at Bulinda—The bushranger’s camp—The robbery—Annie kidnapped—Tim’s good Samaritans.
We will now take up the thread of Tim’s movements since he quitted the “Keen” family. He first made his way by sea to Sydney, and, hiring a horse, rode out to the first station on the road to Bulinda Creek, leaving his “traps” to be sent direct to the squire’s by one of the drays which were passing at intervals between the town and the station.
Having arrived at his destination, he found, upon making the acquaintance of the family who owned it, that they were so glad to welcome him, and so hospitably inclined, that he determined to stay there a few days. At the end of that time he felt himself so much improved in health, that he made up his mind to walk the rest of the way to Bulinda Creek.
Having informed his newly-made friends of his intention, and bidding them farewell, he started one bright moonlight night, having before him, as he had been told, a well-defined track as far as the outside fence of Bell’s property.
Tim had just reached the Bulinda home-paddock fence, when a horseman rode out from a neighbouring scrub, and, without the slightest warning or preface, came close up to him, and exclaimed, “Be your name Stanley?”
Tim, rather taken off his guard at this sudden question, answered, “Yes! Why?”